Angelica and Medoro
1763
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Oval, 26 1/4 x 22 1/8 in. (66.7 x 56.2 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Department
European Paintings
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Jack and Belle Linsky Collection, 1982
Accession Number
1982.60.46
Tags
Art Historical Context
François Boucher, the quintessential Rococo master and favorite artist of Louis XV, captures a tender, sensual moment in *Angelica and Medoro*1763). Drawing from Ludovico Ariosto's poem *Orlando Furioso*, painting depicts the Saracen princess Angelica and her lover Medoro in an intimate embrace amid a lush, idyllic landscape. This oval oil on canvas, measuring 26¼ x 22⅛ inches, exemplifies Boucher's flair for mythological romance, blending eroticism with playful fantasy—evident in the female nude and frolicsome putti (chubby cupids) that tag this work. Boucher's virtuoso technique shines thro...
About the Artist
François Boucher · 1703–1770
François Boucher (1703–1770) stands as the quintessential master of French Rococo painting and the most celebrated decorative artist of the 18th century. Born in Paris to a lace designer, Boucher created a visual language that perfectly embodied the refined taste, sensuality, and elegance of Louis XV's court. His prolific output—encompassing paintings, tapestry designs, theatrical sets, and decora...