Francois Boucher 1703-1770

Boucher, more than any other artist, exemplified French taste during the Age of Enlightenment, and under the patronage of Madame de Pompadour his career flourished. By the end of Louis XVs reign the sweet, mildly erotic images had lost their appeal, and the artist never regained his former popularity. The organizers of this exhibition had hoped to revive an interest in Boucher, and it is unfortunate that owners of some of his better-known paintings refused to lend them. Tapestries and porcelain are included, drawings and engravings are not. The documentation is mainly a synthesis of previous research, and beause of the missing works it will have to be used in conjunction with other publications a catalogue raisonne has yet to be written. More of the illustrations should have been in color. Lack of an index makes reference use difficult. Eleanor Riley, Getty Conservation Inst. Lib., Marina Del Rey, Cal.