Triomphe de Pomone (Triumph of Pomona)

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints collection, where you'll find *Triomphe de Pom (Triumph of Pomona)*, an exquisite 18th-century etching engraving by François Boucher and Charles Nicolaschin II. This ornamental print captures a jubilant mythological procession honoring Pomona, the Roman goddess of gardens fruit trees, and orchards Boucher, a master of theoco style, designed the elegant, playful scene filled with graceful figures—men and women amid lush trees and architectural motifs—evoking the opulent decorative arts of Louis XV's France. Etching and engraving were ideal printmaking techniques for the era, allowing precise reproduction of Boucher's intricate designs through Cochin's skilled burin work on copper plates. Measuring 19 7/8 x 5 ¾ inches, this trimmed sheet exemplifies how such prints adorned interiors, books, and furniture, spreading Rococo's whimsical mythology to a wider audience beyond paintings. Acquired through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund in 1953, *Triomphe de Pomone* reflects the cultural fascination with classical triumphs—grand parades celebrating deities—blended with 18th-century frivolity. It's a delightful window into how art glorified nature's bounty in an age of aristocratic indulgence.