Skip to main content

François Boucher Decorative Art

French, 1703-1770
The extraordinary career of Francois Boucher was unmatched by his contemporaries in versatility, consistency and output. For many, particularly the writers and collectors who led the revival of interest in the French rococo during the last century, his sensuous beauties and plump cupids represent the French eighteenth century at its most typical. His facility with the brush, even when betraying the occasional superficiality of his art, enabled him to master every aspect of painting – history and mythology, portraiture, landscape, ordinary life and, as part of larger compositions, even still life. He had been trained as an engraver, and the skills of a draftsman, which he imbued in the studio of Jean-Francois Cars (1661 – 1738), stood him in good stead throughout his career; his delightful drawings are one of the most sought-after aspects of his oeuvre. As a student of Francois Lemoyne (1688 - 1737), he mastered the art of composition. The four years he spent in Italy, from 1727-1731, educated him in the works of the masters, classics and history, that his modest upbringing had denied him. On his return to Paris in 1734, he gained full membership of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture with his splendid Rinaldo and Armida (Paris, Musée du Louvre). Although, throughout his career, he occasionally painted subjects taken from the Bible, and would always have considered himself first as a history painter, his own repertoire of heroines, seductresses, flirtatious peasant girls and erotic beauties was better suited to a lighter, more decorative subject matter. His mastery of technique and composition enabled him to move from large scale tapestry cartoons (he worked throughout his career for both the Beauvais and Gobelins tapestry factories, becoming director of the latter in 1755), to intimate masterpieces such as Diana Resting (Paris, Louvre) or Leda and the Swan and the occasional scene from everyday life such as The Luncheon (Paris, Louvre), with its elegantly dressed figures grouped around a well-laid table. Enormously successful and widely bought, Boucher’s output was prodigious. First patronized by the Crown in the 1730s, and appointed Premier Peintre du Roi in 1765, he executed numerous royal and princely commissions until his death in 1770, working particularly for Louis XV’s mistress, the Marquise de Pompadour in each of her several palaces. Always ready to utilize his talents in other fields, he designed stage sets for theatre and opera and supplied drawings to be used as designs for figures at the Vincennes (later Sèvres) porcelain factory. As a teacher, he was much loved by his many students, who included Fragonard, Le Prince, Deshays, Brenet, Baudouin, Lagrenee, and Madame de Pompadour herself. In his earliest surviving works with their colourful rococo palette, even David, a distant cousin, was clearly influenced by Boucher. Not since Le Brun had a single French artist held such a monopoly on the imagery of a particular society or left such a mark on the art of his time.
to
2
2

Use search to find more

2
2
2

Use search to find more

8
376
247
237
78

Use search to find more

Creator: François Boucher
Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher
Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

$700

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

Antique engraving prints, make a great gift! Fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and condi...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

François Boucher 18th Century Color Engraving Print, Rare Antique
François Boucher 18th Century Color Engraving Print, Rare Antique

François Boucher 18th Century Color Engraving Print, Rare Antique

$700

François Boucher 18th Century Color Engraving Print, Rare Antique

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

Antique engraving prints - make a great gift! Fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and cond...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Related Items
18th Century French Buffon Botanical Prints Composition with Black new Frame
18th Century French Buffon Botanical Prints Composition with Black new Frame

18th Century French Buffon Botanical Prints Composition with Black new Frame

$4,825

H 50.01 in W 77.96 in D 1.58 in

18th Century French Buffon Botanical Prints Composition with Black new Frame

Located in Scandicci, Florence

Composition of 18 antique botanical prints from the iconic encyclopaedia "Histoire Naturelle" Buffon 1749-1804, each print is individually matted an...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Country François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

French 19th Century Oil on Canvas "Venus Disarming Cupid" after François Boucher
French 19th Century Oil on Canvas "Venus Disarming Cupid" after François Boucher

French 19th Century Oil on Canvas "Venus Disarming Cupid" after François Boucher

$8,450Sale Price|32% Off

H 44.38 in W 56.38 in D 2 in

French 19th Century Oil on Canvas "Venus Disarming Cupid" after François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Los Angeles, CA

A large French 19th century oil on canvas laid on board painting in the manner of François Boucher (French, 1703-1770). The oval framed canvas depicting a version of Boucher's "Venus...

Category

Late 19th Century French Romantic Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Plywood

18th Century Portrait Color Engraving, Original Frame, 'A Saint Giles's Beauty'
18th Century Portrait Color Engraving, Original Frame, 'A Saint Giles's Beauty'

18th Century Portrait Color Engraving, Original Frame, 'A Saint Giles's Beauty'

$395

H 13 in W 11.25 in D 0.5 in

18th Century Portrait Color Engraving, Original Frame, 'A Saint Giles's Beauty'

By Francesco Bartolozzi

Located in Stamford, CT

Stipple and etching, printed in dark brown ink with hand-coloring.  Likely the original late 18th century frame and thus the print is in excellent condition. Print made by Francesco Bartolozzi...

Category

Late 18th Century English Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Hats by Racinet
Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Hats by Racinet

Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Hats by Racinet

$114

H 8.67 in W 7.68 in D 0.02 in

Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Hats by Racinet

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print titled 'France XVIIIth Cent - France XVIIIe, Siecle - Frankreich XVIIItes Jahr'. Chromolithograph of French 18th Century Women's Hats...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of Red-Backed Shrike, 18th Century
Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of Red-Backed Shrike, 18th Century

Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of Red-Backed Shrike, 18th Century

$723

H 21.26 in W 14.73 in D 0.02 in

Antique Hand-Colored Engraving of Red-Backed Shrike, 18th Century

By M. Houttuyn, Cornelius Nozeman, J.C. Sepp

Located in Langweer, NL

The image is an original antique hand-colored engraving from "Nederlandsche Vogelen" (Dutch Birds), which translates to "Dutch Birds; described according to their domestic, nature, a...

Category

Late 18th Century Dutch Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Rare Burlesque Engraving print Rancor Cuts the Hat of Ragotin, 18th Century
Rare Burlesque Engraving print Rancor Cuts the Hat of Ragotin, 18th Century

Rare Burlesque Engraving print Rancor Cuts the Hat of Ragotin, 18th Century

$533Sale Price|74% Off

H 10.24 in W 14.57 in D 0.79 in

Rare Burlesque Engraving print Rancor Cuts the Hat of Ragotin, 18th Century

Located in Beuzevillette, FR

Engraving by Louis de Surgis de Surugue after a painting by Jacques Dumont dit Le Romain. It is part of a series of 16 engravings illustrating "Le Rom...

Category

Early 18th Century French Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Pair of 18th French Hand Colored Engravings of a Frisian Man, Woman and Child
Pair of 18th French Hand Colored Engravings of a Frisian Man, Woman and Child

Pair of 18th French Hand Colored Engravings of a Frisian Man, Woman and Child

$595

H 10 in W 8 in D 0.01 in

Pair of 18th French Hand Colored Engravings of a Frisian Man, Woman and Child

By Jacques Grasset de Saint-Sauveur

Located in Stamford, CT

Pair of depicting 'Homme and Femme de la Frise' or 'Frisian Man and Woman', people of the Frisian Islands off the coast of the Netherlands. The first showing the man in a wonderful n...

Category

Early 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Pl 123 Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Costumes by Racinet
Pl 123 Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Costumes by Racinet

Pl 123 Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Costumes by Racinet

$114

H 8.67 in W 7.68 in D 0.02 in

Pl 123 Antique Print of French 18th Century Women's Costumes by Racinet

Located in Langweer, NL

Antique print titled 'France XVIIIth Cent - France XVIIIe, Siecle - Frankreich XVIIItes Jahr'. Chromolithograph of French 18th century women's cost...

Category

Late 19th Century Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Rare 18th Century Bird Print – Marsh Tit and Nest Scene by Sepp & Nozeman
Rare 18th Century Bird Print – Marsh Tit and Nest Scene by Sepp & Nozeman

Rare 18th Century Bird Print – Marsh Tit and Nest Scene by Sepp & Nozeman

$758

H 21.26 in W 14.77 in D 0.02 in

Rare 18th Century Bird Print – Marsh Tit and Nest Scene by Sepp & Nozeman

By J.C. Sepp, Cornelius Nozeman

Located in Langweer, NL

Marsh Tit with Nest Antique Dutch Bird Print by Sepp and Nozeman, c.1770 This delicately hand-coloured engraving titled Parus Palustris depicts the marsh tit (Poecile palustris), kn...

Category

Late 18th Century Dutch Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Previously Available Items
French 18th Century Neoclassical Engraving Print by François Boucher
French 18th Century Neoclassical Engraving Print by François Boucher

French 18th Century Neoclassical Engraving Print by François Boucher

Sold

H 19 in W 13.88 in D 0.07 in

French 18th Century Neoclassical Engraving Print by François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

Antique engraving prints - make a great gift! Fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and cond...

Category

Mid-18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher
Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Sold

H 19 in W 13.88 in D 0.07 in

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

Antique engraving prints - make a great gift! Fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and cond...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher
Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Sold

H 19 in W 13.88 in D 0.07 in

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

A fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and condition in today’s print market. Rare engravin...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher
Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Sold

H 19 in W 13.88 in D 0.07 in

Late 18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

A fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a 18th century color engraving print of this quality and condition in today’s print market. Rare engraving print by famed artist François Boucher. François Boucher was a prolific French painter, draftsman and etcher, considered among the leading artists of the 18th century. He seems to have been one of the first artists to exploit the market for engravings after paintings, which spread his artistic influence throughout Europe at a time when Paris was the style setter...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher
18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

Sold

H 19 in W 13.88 in D 0.07 in

18th Century Neoclassical French Fashion Engraving Print, François Boucher

By François Boucher

Located in Miami, FL

A fine crisp impression of great rarity; it is particularly unusual to find a color engraving of this quality and condition in today’s print market. Rare engraving print by famed ar...

Category

Late 18th Century French Neoclassical Antique François Boucher Decorative Art

Materials

Paper

François Boucher decorative art for sale on 1stDibs.

François Boucher decorative art are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of François Boucher decorative art, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original decorative art by François Boucher were created in the neoclassical style in france during the 18th century and earlier. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider decorative art by Manufacture Nationale de Sèvres, and Hermès. Prices for François Boucher decorative art can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $395 and can go as high as $395, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $395.

More François Boucher Furniture

François Boucher Prints
François Boucher Decorative Objects
François Boucher Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
François Boucher Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass
François Boucher Tables
François Boucher Vases
François Boucher Jewelry Boxes
View All Popular Decorative Art Searches