For your delectation on this bright, sunny Thursday morning after the constant drip of rain over Easter.
Sarah x
The Swing, 1767
On the 5th of April 1732, the French painter and printmaker Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born in Grasse, France. He was one of the greatest French painters in the two brilliant and productive pre-Revolution decades; although, due to his highly individual style, he was officially less recognised than, for example, his teacher, Boucher. In his work he focused mainly on large canvases with erotic themes, which he executed in an improvised Rococo manner. A very prolific painter (in his lifetime he produced over 550 paintings), after the Revolution he found himself in a very difficult position as the stern virtues of ancient Rome had become extolled again, and the fame and popularity of classical painters such as David pushed him to the margins of public interest. As a result of this, he died a poor man in 1806.
When talking of eighteenth-century erotic pictorial themes…
View original post 1,001 more words
First Night Design 
I love this painting Sarah ~ it brings back memories of an A level Art and Design evening course, which I took in my late thirties. I never finished the second year because my workplace offered to fund a qualification in Housing Studies. For a while I swung between the desire to follow my dreams and the necessity of earning my living and furthering my career. Thank you posting this article to bring back happy memories of art history classes, in the carefree days before I had to make that choice! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure. As you can imagine, I know that swinging between dreams and earning a living very well indeed!
LikeLike
That’s a lovely image indeed. The theme of glamorous girls on swings did not escape modern soft-porn photographers either. Elmer Batters liked to pose his models on swings occasionally, and he wasn’t alone.
Best wishes, Pete. x
LikeLiked by 1 person
Indeed so! x
LikeLiked by 1 person
What so nice about your blog, among other things, is you can introduce me to talented people, current or from history, who always add something to my awareness and knowledge for which many thanks 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
My pleasure entirely, Peter!
LikeLike
Thank you very much for introducing me to this artist who I knew nothing about. Such a lovely work. Best
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Roger!
LikeLike