Discount Pamono Circle of Francois Bouche, Gallant Scenes, 1750, Oil on Canvases, Framed, Set of 2

Pair of paintings
The Surprised Lovers (Les amants surpris)
The Pleasant Lesson (‘LAgréable Leçon’)

18th century

Oil on canvas
46 x 39 cm – Framed 71 x 61 cm

We present this splendid pair of paintings, works by a French painter from the circle of Francois Boucher (Paris, 1703 – 1770), one of the most admired and accomplished artists of mid-18th-century France. They represent a triumph of the canons of the Rococo period—the most delicate, light, and elegant of styles—capable of interpreting the peculiarities of French society during the Ancien Régime in painting.

Particularly known for his idyllic, Arcadian, sensual, and intimately amorous paintings, Boucher had the ability to delight French aristocrats with the subtle irony of his scenes.

These two compositions, created around the 18th century by an artist from his workshop, are taken from the series dedicated to pastoral themes, which depicts joyful children, always immersed in bucolic settings, engaged in romantic activities.

Love, depicted in all its lightness and as a hymn to joy, was always highlighted by erotic nuances, and our paintings also contain symbols and allusions that would have been clearly understood and interpreted by viewers of the time.

The first, “The Pleasant Lesson,” derives from a painting by François Boucher (1748; oil on canvas, 92 x 78 cm, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne) in which a pair of young shepherds are immersed in an Arcadian setting. They are intent on tending their flock of sheep, while the young man lets his companion play the flute, not without ambiguity, capturing the playful spirit so beloved at the French court of the time.

Noteworthy is the detail of the ruined fountain, whose pediment reads “Fountain of Truth,” surmounted by a splendid stone lion with its head raised, an image and icon of faith and fortitude.

The second painting, “The Surprised Lovers,” also draws on a painting by François Boucher, now lost but known from the famous engraving by René Gaillard.

The painting depicts the same amorous dynamics, capturing an intimate and romantic moment between a young couple of lovers, hidden in a wooded setting among unkempt grass, the perfect place for a secret rendezvous. The two lovers are embraced, and while the young man seems intent on whispering something sweet to her, they are interrupted by a farmer with a scythe and his dog, traditionally a symbol of amorous skill, barking at their feet.

Looking at the scenes, the overwhelming sense of gracefulness is emphasized by the graceful poses of the protagonists and the masterful use of the palette, where the colors are light and luminous.

François Boucher and his workshop devoted much of their attention to this type of subject, a quintessential symbol of the frivolous pleasures of life coveted by the aristocracy. This was due to the master’s great fame and the abundant demand from collectors. Our works are attributed to one of the painter’s students or studio assistants.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The paintings are sold complete with two attractive gilded frames and come with a certificate of authenticity and a descriptive iconographic sheet.