Diana after the Hunt (1745) by Francois Boucher

Diana after the Hunt - Francois Boucher - 1745

Artwork Information

TitleDiana after the Hunt
ArtistFrancois Boucher
Date1745
Mediumoil,canvas
Dimensions52 x 37 cm
Art MovementRococo
Current LocationMusée Cognacq-Jay, Paris, France

About Diana after the Hunt

The artwork “Diana after the Hunt” by Francois Boucher is a mythological painting from the Rococo era, completed in 1745. Measuring 52 by 37 centimeters, this oil on canvas piece is part of the collection at the Musée Cognacq-Jay in Paris, France. It portrays a scene from classical mythology, reflecting the elegance and decorative style characteristic of the Rococo movement.

In the artwork, the central figure of Diana, the goddess of the hunt from Roman mythology, is depicted at a moment of rest after the hunt. She is partially draped in flowing fabrics, with her right breast exposed, showcasing the Rococo style’s delight in sensual pleasures. Beside her are two of her attendants or nymphs, focusing on the removal of an arrow from her foot, which likely alludes to the hazards of the hunt.

The tone of the painting is one of delicate intimacy and leisure. The ethereal palette and soft, diffused light enhance the sense of an idyllic, mythological landscape. The lush, forested background envelopes the figures, adding to the tranquility of the scene. The scattered hunting gear and game, such as the quiver of arrows and the dead bird, attest to the prowess and success of Diana’s hunt, though they seem far removed from the serene interaction taking place.

Boucher’s attention to texture—from the satiny garments and soft flesh to the dead fowl’s feathers and the leopard’s fur—is meticulously realized, inviting the viewer’s eyes to linger on the differing surfaces. The abundance of curvilinear forms and pastel hues is also indicative of Rococo art’s taste for playfulness and ornate decorations, which opposes the heavier, more somber tones, and rigorous lines of the preceding Baroque period.

Overall, Boucher’s piece exudes a sense of graceful ease and artful composition, emblematic of the artist’s mastery within the Rococo period and its mythological genre.

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