When François Boucher Was Seduced by Chinoiserie

Published on 24 November 2023, by Sophie Reyssat

Auction on 13 December 2023 - 13:30 (CET) - Salle 13 - Hôtel Drouot - 75009

The allure of this painting—with its hidden double meaning—is a marvellous illustration of chinoiserie in the age of Louis XV, which took delight in fantasizing about Asia.

François Boucher (1703-1770), “Le Mérite de tout pays” (The Merit of All Countries),... When François Boucher Was Seduced by Chinoiserie

François Boucher (1703-1770), “Le Mérite de tout pays” (The Merit of All Countries), canvas, 105.5 x 80 cm/41.5 x 31.4 in.
Estimate: €80,000/120,000

Shimmering silks for garments with striking tailoring, exuberant hairstyles for the women, the children's heads shaved leaving only a few tufts of hair and a large blue-and-white porcelain vase in the background... François Boucher 's decor is idealized chinoiserie, with protagonists whose only Asian features are their slightly almond-shaped eyes. From the late 1730s onwards, he was undoubtedly the best ambassador…

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