Diploma of the Freemasons of Bordeaux
Medium
Black and white oil paint on brown paper
Dimensions
15 3/8 x 10 5/8 in. (39.1 x 27 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1961
Accession Number
61.127.1
Tags
Art Historical Context
François Boucher, the French Rococo artist (3–1770), is for his lavish, playful depictions of mythological and pastoral scenes. Yet, this intriguing *Diploma of the Freem of Bordeaux* reveals a lesser-known facet of his oeuvre: designs for ceremonial documents. Created for the Freemasons of Bordeaux—a prominent Enlightenment-era lodge—this piece blends Boucher's signature elegance with Masonic symbolism, likely evoking themes of fraternity and renewal through tender motifs of infants and mothers as suggested by its classification. Executed in black and white oil paint on brown paper, the work...
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...