Wishing my countrymen a happy Presidents Day!
Martha Dandridge Custis Washington
wife to the first President of the United States
b. 2nd of June 1731
d. 22nd of May 1802
Mary Ann (née Todd) Lincoln
wife of the 16th President of the United States
b. 13th of December 1818
d. 16th of July 1882
“Lady Washington”
Mrs. Lincoln
1850-1856
Martha Dandridge Custis
after the 1757 painting by John Wollaston
Mrs. Lincoln
Thank you Ladies!
Happy Presidents Day,
Respectfully submitted,
Babylon Baroque
As it is now 5:15 am in the city of Paris, in a few hours there will be an opportunity to either celebrate or mourn depending upon your ideology. Two hundred and eighteen years ago, Louis Auguste de France,better known as Louis XVI, King of France and Navarre was executed on the 21st of January 1793; the maddening crowds who had gathered to see the only king of France executed, let out “shouts of joy” at 10:30 am.
The King was dead.
I am only an armchair historian, dilettantish at best; but I am romantic, Louis’s tale is tragic, I merely want to honor his death.
Louis XVI
portrait rondel
1787
Philippe-Laurent Roland
1746-1816
Often remembered as the king who wished to be a locksmith, Marie Antoinette’s star burnt much brighter, her image more glamorous , it is easy for the casual historian to overlook Louis XVI. From the accounts I have read, he was a man of intelligence and devotion to God, his country, and his family. His indecisiveness has been recently attributed to symptoms of clinical depression; as the spouse of a psychologist, I am eager to look into this.
But as I said I am not a historian, for now, I will just present images of the late king.
Louis XVI, King of France
painted porcelain
18th century
Louis XVI
aged 22
b.23rd august 1754
d.21st January 1793
King of France and Navarre 1174-1791
King of the French 1791-1792
painted 1776
Joseph-Siffred Duplessis
1725-1802
Musée national du Chåteau et des Trianons
Versailles
Recquiscat in Pace
As King of the French, the king and his image underwent many humiliations;this engraving from happier times, 1775, was defaced in 1792, the king now known as Louis Capet is seen wearing the phrygian cap of the sans-culotte. It’s an unfortunate image.
Ultimately the king and his family endured being separated from one another when the comfort of family was most needed.
Louis XVI at the Tour du Temple
Jean-Francois Garneray
1755-1837
Death of Louis XVI,King of France
English Engraving
1798
If interested, and you are fluent in French, there is a site devoted to the late king.
Musically the memory of the king lives on,the following Funeral March for the Death of the King LouisXVI by Pavel Wranitzky carries the torch for his majesty.
Pavel Wranitzky
1756-1808
Over two centuries ago Louis Capet was having his prayerbook fetched at six o’clock in the morning.
Say a little prayer for the man.
Respectfully submitted,
Babylon Baroque
As the frantic rush for the upcoming day of gluttony fasts approaches , I have turned to thoughts of Demeter, goddess of the Harvest.
Ceres mit zwei Nymphen
Peter Paul Rubens
Franz Snyder
ca. 1620-1628
Demeter is best known for the horror of her loss, her beloved daughter Persephone swept to the underworld in a rage of Pluto’s lust. In her anguish, Demeter tears cause the world to chill, germinating seed wither within their husks, and man huddles hungry and fearful, at the mercy of his gods.
Pluto and Proserpina
ca. 1565-1571
Vincenzo de Rossi
bronze
Pluto Abducting Proserpine
Francois Girardon
ca. 1693-1710
bronze
Of course this situation cannot continue, if the altar remain bare, will the gods continue to exist?
Worship provides the deities identity.
Like a marriage gone awry, Demeter and Pluto arrange visitation rights. Having tasted of the Fruit of the Dead, the pomegranate, Persephone will remain in Hades one month per kernel eaten.The Earth shall remain darkened by Demeter’s shroud of grief until this time has passed.
Upon release, Persephone back in the arms of devoted Demeter, seed will once again sprout, life will begin anew.
The Return of Persephone
1891
Frederic Leighton
It is indeed time to give thanks.
Statue of Ceres
oil on wood
ca. 1612-1615
Peter Paul Rubens
Hermitage, St.Petersburg
Demeter, or her Roman equivalent have been a popular motif in fine and decorative arts. The allusions to bounty and the table too great a temptation.
Ceres
17th cent., after 1652
after design by Michel Anguier
bronze
From bronze to porcelain her figure has delighted.
The Goddess Ceres
ca. 1765
William Dueberg and Company
soft paste porcelain
I have a great fondness for the theme Without Bacchus and Ceres , Venus Grows Cold, the artist Hendrick Goltzius was particularly adept at depicting the scene; lewd and provocative, they still delight.
ca.1602
ca.1599
Perhaps more chaste, yet no less delightful, this calling card depicts our Goddess o’ Plenty.
Decorative Design
ca. 1750
artist unknown
pen and ink, red chalk on paper
Demeter continued to be a popular theme well into the 19th century as this staged image attests.
Actress Fanny Coleman as Ceres
Guy Little Theatrical Photograph
1864
As no Thanksgiving spread is complete without a gravy boat, I thought this little number would suit the theme.
Sauce Boat
ca.1550-1600
Bernard Palissy
Paris
lead glazed earthenware
Wishing everyone the bounty of the season,
Happy Thanksgiving!
Babylon Baroque
Before we begin the frivolities of the weekend, I thought it important to remember that tomorrow, October 16th , at 12:15 p.m. marks the 217th anniversary of this great woman’s murder.
Recquiscat in Pace
Queen Marie Antoinette of France
b. 2nd November 1755
d. 16th October 1793, 12:15 pm
Daughter of Empress Maria Theresia of Austria and Holy Roman Emperor Franz I. Stephan of Austria
ca. 1786
Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun
Art Institute, Detroit
(of all places)
There are two anniversaries on the annual calendar that upon my ritual reading of the events causes my heart to ache. The first being the reading of the Passion , the second being the cruelties inflicted upon Marie Antoinette that October morning 1793. Faith and politics aside, both illustrate man’s ability to disregard humanity , particularly shocking when faced with another who has been reduced to abject wretchedness. My great hope is that I would rise above such base behavior, but even Peter found strength elusive.
I love this image of the Queen by Alexandre Kucharski (ca. 1791).
It expresses a great humanity, unlike so many of the “glamour” shoots which we are most familiar with.
The softness of her coloring, the luminous quality of her skin prompting Vigée Le Brun to comment that the Queen’s skin “so transparent that it allowed no shadow,”.
Source: Antonia Fraser
As much as I may admire the subtle humanity captured by Kucharsky, we have all fallen for her royal public image.
Be it a formal court painting, inspiring reverence and awe,
or a fashion spread, few have been able to ignore her charms ; save for humorless republicans and godless anarchists.
To our very day, folks who share a love of glamour, romance, and style find inspiration in the Martyr Marie.
My dear friend Patrick Ediger of the design house French American has wittily designed a new fabric due out this winter.
It has been dubbed Queen of Pop, I am particularly attracted to the “chandelier” head dress.
Queen of Pop
Winter 2010
click for detail.
As an aspiring artist I am particularly touched by Vigée Le Brun’s remembrance of an awkward moment before the Queen. After having cancelled a sitting with the Queen due to illness, Le Brun went to apologize the next day ;the Queen graciously cancelled her own scheduled plans for an impromptu sitting. The Queen’s kindness caused Le Brun to fumble .
” I remember that, in my confusion and my eagerness to make a fitting response to her kind words,I opened my paint-box so excited that I spilled my brushes on the floor. I stooped down to pick them up. “Never mind, never mind,” said the Queen, and for aught I could say, she insisted on picking them all up herself…”. source
Le Brun, a favored and ridiculously prolific court painter, remained true to the memory of Her Majesty. Her allegiance complicated matters when the upstart Napoleon sat upon the republican throne.
Elizabeth Vigée Le Brun
b. 16th March 1755
d. 30th March 1842
If interested her fascinating memoir is easily downloaded.
In the early hours of October 16th 1793, Marie Antoinette demonstrated her courage and faith in a final letter to her sister-in law, Madame Elizabeth:
“October 16. 4:40 in the morning
I have just been condemned to death, not to a shameful death, that can only be for criminals, but in order to rejoin your brother. Innocent like him, I hope to demonstrate the same firmness as he did at the end. I am calm, as people are whose conscience is clear. My deepest regret is at having to abandon our poor children; you know that I only lived on for them and for you, my good and tender sister.”
source: Marie Antoinette, the Journey, Antonia Frazer, pg. 436
Denying the Queen the dignity of Widows Weeds, “Antoinette Capet”was forced to wear a common white dress. The trip to the guillotine was designed to be a trail of humiliation.
The Queen would defy their base intentions.
The hateful David took pleasure in depicting the Queen in her final humiliating moments. Her critics saw imperial Hapsburg haughtiness, justification for their cruel perversions; I see a woman of great breeding, brutally shorn of hair, a sad cap with a few black ribbons of morning, a body and spirit broken, forced to sit in a donkey cart. Willful hatefulness only elicited dignity from this great Queen.
Final sketch by the odious David.
Her breeding and innate kindness apparent even as she approached the blade. Having stepped upon her executioner’s foot, she instinctively apologized, ” I did not do it on purpose”.
For all of her perceived “sins” that is perhaps a fitting response.
True to the Catholic faith , she chided the false priest Abbé Girard when he suggested she gather her courage.
This great Queen , daughter of the great Empress Maria Theresia did not require this traitor’s words of encouragement.
“Courage! The moment when my ills are going to end is not the moment when courage is going to fail me.”
Well put dear Queen.
Much of her reputation has been restored, aside from the tiresome”cake” references, many folks hold a tender place in their hearts for this unfortunate woman.
Her final resting spot, the Basilica of Saint-Denis.
So tomorrow, no matter what your time zone, a t 12:15 pm give a “shout-out ” to dear Marie Antoinette.
Viva la Reine!
Viva la Reine!
Viva la Reine!
Have a great weekend.
Respectfully submitted,
BabylonBaroque
How the hell I let the 3rd pass without honoring Marie Antoinette’s greatest friend, I haven’t a clue.
But today is that great lady’s birthday, so she must be honored, happy 218th birthday sweet Princesse.
On September 3rd 1792 Princesse de Lamballe was brutally murdered and mutilated by roving mobs of madmen, primarily the sans culottes, hungry for “liberty” and blood. Please refer to sidebar for more info on the Sans Culottes.
Princess Marie Thérèse Louise of Savoy -Carignan, Princess of Lamballe
b. September 8th 1749
d. September 3rd 1792
Her end, part of a wave of horror known as the September Massacres, was a violent bloody affair. God knows her final thoughts , loyal to the end to her great friends, Marie and Louis, she was separated from Marie earlier in “92. A pity for both women to have lost the companionship of one another when it was needed most urgently.
The evil crowds blaspheming her in name and ultimately in body , placed her head upon a pike. A grisly gift they thought fit for a Divine Sovereign.
Recquiscat in Pace dear Princesse.
It is also appropriate to remember the others martyred defending the Faith : the 24 True priests, massacred on route to the prison/Abbe of Saint Germain, the 150 other priests brutally murdered in a Carmelite sanctuary, the brave-hearted Swiss Guard, the average common Catholic, loyal to his King and his God.
Pax Vobiscum
I have read that blue is the color favored by most folks, men in particular. After having been critical of President Obama’s timid attempts at redecoration , I thought it fair to show examples of color.
Beginning with the beautiful Blue Room seemed appropriate.
An early depiction, ca. President Pierce , in office 1853-1857
Old Abe didn’t do much with the place, perhaps the fancy bed Mary bought had created enough outrage.
Lincoln reception in the Blue Room.
Lincoln presidency
March 1861- April 15th 1865
Recquiscat in Pace President Lincoln
As I am now engaged in study concerning Reconstruction, President Andrew Johnson is of interest to me.
Apparently a stubborn , willful man, and a racist to boot. His decorating, left to the hand of his daughter,seems a bit rigid for my taste.
Blue Room during the Johnson administration, 1865-1869
President Andrew Johnson
Note: Andrew Johnson was the first U.S. President to be impeached.
Good old Ulysses does a bit of redecorating. He was responsible for the new carpet, the sconces , and the impressive gasolier.
Blue Room, ca. 1874
Ulysses S. Grant administration 1869-1877
Swell guy.
My favorite Dandy President, “Elegant Arthur”, made the greatest impact. In a future post I will explore his tastes more thoroughly, but for now I will focus on the Blue Room. “Chet”, a man of fashion and style wisely chose the forward thinking Louis Comfort Tiffany to redecorate his new digs.
Blue Room refurbished by Tiffany for President Arthur, administration 1881-1885
Note the Aesthetic paper, the wild Starburst sconces.
Perfection.
Official White House portrait
President Chester (Chet) Arthur
We mustn’t forget to thank the always fabulous Louis Comfort.
Louis Comfort Tiffany
ca. 1880’s
1848-1933
Note: for years I dated a madly wonderful fellow, direct descendent of L.C. Tiffany; the physical resemblance striking.
The collaboration truly dazzled as this coloured reconstruction demonstrates.
via Nest magazine
Recquiscat in Pace Nest magazine.
The following, another coloured depiction , ca. 1887, shows that President Cleveland made few if any changes.
Blue Room during President Grover Cleveland’s administration, 1885-1889
President Benjamin Harrison seems to have made a few patriotic changes. Do I detect a Federal crest on the ceiling?
Out with that pansy Aesthetic stuff.
What will they think, that we’re England!!
Blue Room , ca. Harrison administration 1889-1893
Another coloured view , ca. 1898, William Mc Kinley’s administration.
Blue Room, Mc Kinley administration 1897-1901
I love Teddy Roosevelt, our only self admitted Imperialist President. I love how he brashly swept away the fusty Victoriana, bringing in his own bold ,taxidermic splendour.
The following is what he inherited.
ca. 1901
And the following to suit his own distinct taste. Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my…
Blue Room Splendor
Theodore Roosevelt Administration 1901-1909
I love the Imperial lambrequin.
The room seems to undergo few interesting changes ,
at least according to my own humble opinion.
Truman tarts it up a bit in ’52.
Blue Room
Administration of Harry S. Truman
1945-1953
Re-using Teddy’s window treatment.
It isn’t until Her Majesty Jackie ascends the throne that the magic returns.
We haven’t seen such beauty since the Tiffany/Arthur collaboration.
Drawing inspiration from the James Madison administration ( 1709-1717), a stunning room is revealed.
Blue Room
Kennedy Administration
1961-1963
Thank you Mrs. Kennedy
Perfection
I find it of interest that President Nixon felt it necessary to redecorate such a perfect room.
I do admire the chutzpah of the Napoleonic candelabra, a room should reflect it’s occupant.
Blue Room
ca. administration of President Richard Nixon
1969-1974
(As in the Nixon Oval Office, I admire the grandeur and color of the window dressings.)
Apparently the room needed further freshening up.
Here we have Hillary acting as Decorator-in Charge.
I don’t know why I find this so amusing. She doesn’t look terribly comfortable in the role.
In closing , a detail of a Blue Room bergère, upholstered in Scalamandre silk.
Blue Room bergére
ca. 1815
Pierre-Antoine Bellange
L’Shanah Tovah my friends!
As I was having breakfast with the Beloved and his colleague , a dear friend and fellow “shrink”,our conversation naturally shifted from the banalities of life to the State of Man. I am not nearly intelligent enough to keep pace, so I found myself drifting off with thoughts of the dearly loved Three Penny Opera, and in particular the marvelous Pirate Jenny.
Original German poster
Berlin 1928
The Three Penny Opera was inspired by John Gay’s 1728 hit The Beggar’s Opera
The Beggar’s Opera, Act V
Hogarth
1728
The Beggar’s Opera which explores Man’s rather unsavory side provided rich inspiration for the lyricist Bertolt Brecht, who first wrote Pirate Jenny in 1927;perhaps inspired by the London revival of The Beggar’s Opera in the twenties.
With Kurt Weill providing both the music, and the muse, in this case his wife the marvelous Lotte Lenya; Three Penny explores the theme more deeply.
Lotte Lenya photographed by Carl Van Vechten
I love many recordings of ” Seeräeban Jenny”, Nina, Uta, Ella, but one cannot help feeling that Weill’s muse was the finest. This clip from the 1931 film of Three Penny bears that bias out.
This unidentified sketch of our beloved Jenny, captures her spirit in the fashion of George Grosz.
George Grosz was particularly adept at capturing the despair and wretchedness of man. Why his images beguile me as they repulse is perhaps a question best left to an analyst.
Matrose Im Nachtlokal
George Grosz
1925
Grosz certainly captures the lonely despair many have experienced sitting at a bar into the wee hours of the night. Sad painful hopefulness. Jenny must feel this, hence her desire to chop off the heads of her oppressors. Can’t blame the gal.
I first became aware of Brecht/Weill/ThreeePenny through my first partner Douglas. Douglas had marvelous taste and an incredible love for dark art. He adored Three Penny, and he particularly loved the production starring Raul Julia as Macheath. Douglas fancied a physical similarity to Mr. Julia, he was correct in possessing that vanity.
Raul Julia
March 9th 1940
October 24th 1994
In the following clip, The Cannon Song,Julia captures Man’s brutality, I particulary love the “beefstak tartar” refrain, it has always amused me.
Again I turn to Grosz, his famous “Made in Germany” captures the silly pompousness of so many folks, men in particular.
Made in Germany
George Grosz
1920
What actually inspired my thoughts of Jenny and wretchedness, was the always divine Marianne Faithful and her evocative interpretation of “Pirate Jenny”. I have a particular fondness for the line “as the soft heads fall”, chilling revenge.
I would like to include this clip of the Tiger Lillies “Bully Boys” which illustrates what ultimately happens to all those wretched Silly Bully Boys.
In closing I would like to dedicate this post to the aforementioned Douglas, who ultimately found our wretched state too much to bear.
I miss him and wished he could have seen past the ugliness.
God bless you Doug.
Good night.
In fairness I thought we ought to explore the working drones of the Third Estate, the sans-culotte.
the Bonnet Rouge
The sans-culotte, with their pantaloons ,utilitarian skirts and modest fichu obviously lack the glamour of our beloved Aristo-loving Merveliluisse and Incroyables; that said a visual journey is in order to gain a greater understanding of what happened during the course of a few bloody years.
As members of the Third Estate, which represented 95 percent of France’s population at the time, their garb was in sharp contrast to aristocratic fashion. As the Revolution progressed, nobility pared down the sumptuous aspects of their apparel. Even poor dear Louis XVI was forced to don the Phrygian cap ( bonnet rouge).
My heart breaks for the Queen, she was mortified. From what I have read Louis was more pragmatic about the situation, perhaps recognizing more vividly the symbolic power this silly little cockaded hat had .
The symbolism of the cockade’s coloring represented moderate forces at work; the white of his Majesty mingled with the red and blue of France.
Too bad the red became more emblematic of spilt blood.
The Phrygian cap of course has noble and ancient roots, long associated with the liberty loving Phrygians.
Bust of Attis
2nd century
Hadrian’s reign
This bust is thought to bear a resemblence to his beloved Antinous, certainly a pretty boy.
If Lady Liberté felt it prudent to adorn herself with the Bonnet Rouge;mere mortals with less radical notions also felt it wise to blend in with the Great Unwashed.The coiffures so admired and emblematic of the now despised ancien regime, had fallen deeply out of favor.
Street fashion became THE fashion.
Armed to the teeth and itchin’ for a fight.
Note how the lower class women were free to expose their ankles.
A rather romantic image of a sans-culotte, a fresh clean, blood-less pike,
as of yet…
This fellow seems more prepared for the September Massacres of ’92.
I may never forgive the sans-culotte, anymore then I can understand Bastille Day, but I do want to understand and appreciate the oppression that drove such mind-numbing violence. Those living abroad, including the Brits were baffled by the savagery . Political cartoons appeared lampooning the revolutionary excesses.
Gallows humor perhaps.
political cartoon
George Cruishank
British
1819
I really like the Mad Guillotine complete with a bonnet rouge.
Another cartoon by Cruishank follows.
Again, the same marvelously animated Death Machines.
Dancing about the Liberty Tree, note Bastille looming in the background.
British cartoon
1792
After the September Massacres of 1792, the British were particularly disturbed by the barbarity.
We were fortunate that our own quest for liberty was far less bloody.
As we continue our quest for democracy, the image of the sans-culotte still has relevance. In my research I stumbled upon this image from Irag. I thought it a fitting end for this conversation. Please check out the site from which this arresting image was pulled, IraqWar.html
Good Night Gentle Citoyen.
Always eager to explore the excesses of fashion and monarchy, my thoughts of late have been on that fleeting moment of time when the Merveiilleuse flirted with the Incroyable. As all youth must, the fashion forward of the Directoire were compelled to assert their individuality by embracing allegience to the ancien régime. The Children of the Revolution were Royalists, at least concerning fashion.
After the fall of the dreaded Robespierre, the Reign of Terror a recent memory, the parties began. The most pervesely beautiful party theme being the Bal à la Victime, the horrors of the guillotine being refashioned to suit coiffure and sartorial splendor.
Boys in cropped hair,( replicating shorn locks which would have allowed the blade easier access )and saucy girls in gauzy dresses trussed with ribbons( as those unfortunates that had faced the block) spent their evenings dancing on recently mopped blood.
The Bal was an exclusive affair , attendance was only allowed to those who had lost a relative to the Terror.
A louche form of therapy perhaps.
Combining a fascination with anglaise fashion, aristocratic anachronism, and a romantic notion of Classical garb à la Grecque, the result was fantastic. Exaggerated lapels, indecently tight trousers, gauzy dresses alluding to Athenian nudity ( the maillot, a flesh coloured body stocking enhanced this illusion), comical eyewear, and the most inventive bonnets, the forms both fascinated and incited ridicule.
The Eternal Generational Divide
“New” fashion vs. “Old”
fashion plate by Chataignier, 1797
Les Incroyables 1795
Green seems to have been a particular popular color.
The Grecian Ideal always a popular theme as the following images illustrate.
I admire how this Directoire Darling combined a Robespierre bob with Grecian draping. Love the illusion to bacchic leopard, smart touch.
Has there been a fashion moment like this since? The Aeshetic affectations of Wilde and Beardsley seem middle class next to this posturing.
Perhaps the horror of Robespierre and his crew had one positive (certainly charming and inventive)result.
Maxilmillen Robespierre
b. 6 May 1758
d. 28 July 1794
(not soon enough)
In the spirit of dandies, I was thinking of our own fashion forward. the Steam Punks are of course a delightful bunch, like the Merveilleus looking to the past to refashion their present presence.
Hot young fellow, any self respecting Incroyable would have envied his goggles.
Adore the macabre beauty of this corset, the Merveilleus blood-ribbon seems frivolous in comparison.
Alexander McQueen was able to tap into excess with tremendous grace and beauty,
The white pantaloons remind me of the maillot, suggestive yet holding back.
Of course no conversation concerning dandies and sartorial excess is complete without the ever marvelous Mr. Patrick McDonald. This gentleman truly carries the torch, carry on Mr. McDonald.
Have a Merveilleus day,
sorry, I couldn’t help myself.
As the always marvelous Chateau Thombeau, (link on my blog roll) kindly supplied the Think Pink clip from the delightful “Funny Face”, I was inspired to indeed Think Pink. When I think pink I think Boucher, when I of think Boucher I think of joy.
Joy is in order.
Just one of those days of benign irritations and disappointments, Boucher always makes me smile.
Madame de Pompadour
ca. 1756
b. Dec. 29th 1721
d. Apr. 15th 1764
I thought it fitting to start with his great patroness, the ever lovely Pompadour
Now on to some Olympian lovemaking.
The Rape of Europa
ca. 1734
The Wallace Collection
Detail of the adorable bull.
Leda and the Swan
National Museum
Stockholm, Sweden
I have always loved this swan, such strength.
On to some images of dear Venus.
Vulcan presenting Venus with the Arms of Aeneas
ca. 1757
Louvre
A pretty hot Vulcan for a god who is supposed to be both lame and ungainly.
Venus Consoling Love
ca. 1751
National Gallery of Art
I have always admired the chubby doves.
Now for some Christian piety.
St. John the Baptist
ca. 1755
Evidently intended as a private devotional painting for the Pompadour. Again, pretty hot looking Blessed Saint John, cousin of our Lord and Savior.
I have always been drawn to the way Boucher renders fir boughs, they appear almost chinois.
Onto my eternal favorite, Chinoiserie.
Chinese Hunting
ca. 1742
Musee des Beaux-Arts
From Chinese Hunting, to plain old Anglo hunting.
The Crocodile Hunt
ca. 1739
Musee de Picardie
I particularly love the dragon -like crocodile.
I am not an expert on Boucher (or frankly anything else), but I am pretty certain this is Boucher. Picked it up from another source it prompted my thinking of Boucher.
As a draughtsman, he held his own.
ca. 1770
I understand folks, particularly “Art” folks, dismiss Boucher.
Fragonard is recognized as legitimate, even with his Rococo roots, but Boucher is often not treated with great respect. I find that peculiar, I have always loved his work, a master of color and the graceful line. The delightful and distinct red of the lips, the pink blush of the buttocks, the rumpled hair of the putti. What isn’t there to love and admire?
portrait of Boucher by Gustav Lundberg
ca. 1741
b. Sept. 29th 1703
d. May 30th 1770
Good Night
Babylon Baroque 
