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Attributed to François Boucher

Bird-Catching Cherubs (Summer) L'Amour Oiseleur (L’Eté), 1732-1733

Description

Maker

  • Workshop of François Boucher, 1703-1770, French

Title

Bird-Catching Cherubs (Summer) L'Amour Oiseleur (L’Eté)

Year

1732-1733

Medium

Oil on canvas

Materials/Techniques

Materials

  • oil paint

Supports

  • canvas

Dimensions

71.1 x 72.1 cm (28 x 28 3/8 inches)

Signature / Inscription / Marks

Signed LC:S Boucher

Place

France

Type

  • Paintings

Credit

Anonymous gift

Object Number

64.115

About

Plump, naked children known as “putti” have appeared in Western art since the Renaissance. Emerging from the ranks of angelic choirs, they often represent mischievous and frisky heralds of love. In the 18th century their role was to amuse and delight, whether in service to a mythological figure or in fraternal bands such as this group of bird-catchers. The French court, particularly King Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour, favored François Boucher’s treatment of classical and amorous themes. His voluptuous subjects reflected Rococo taste in fashion and decorative arts and represented a dominant style in both easel painting and interior decoration. Boucher excelled at setting his joyous figures in nature, as in this scene—one of a series based on the activities of putti—in which he celebrates the charms of summer.

Signed LC:S Boucher

France
{"69466":"Attributed to"}

Exhibition History

Exhibition History

Stranger Than Paradise

July 14, 2017 - February 25, 2018

This painting depicts putti—childlike angels that have appeared in Western art since the Renaissance—as a brotherly group of bird-catchers. Intended to amuse and delight, the putti are presented in a natural setting, celebrating the virtues of summer.

Boucher’s interpretations of classical subjects and themes of love were extremely popular with French royalty in the 1700s—and in particular King Louis XV’s mistress, Madame de Pompadour—and became synonymous with the frivolous aspect of Rococo tastes in fashion, interior decoration, and easel painting.

Intermission

December 16, 2016 - July 2, 2017

From the Reserve I

April 9 - August 3, 1994

Use

The images on this website can enable discovery and collaboration and support new scholarship, and we encourage their use. This object is in the public domain (CC0 1.0). This object is Bird-Catching Cherubs (Summer) L'Amour Oiseleur (L’Eté) with the accession number of 64.115. To request high-resolution files or new photography, please send an email to imagerequest@risd.edu and include your name and the object's accession number.

Feedback

We view our online collection as a living documents, and our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you have additional information or have spotted an error, please send feedback to curatorial@risd.edu.

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