Francois Boucher

Born. 29.09.1703 in Paris
Died. 30.05.1770 in Paris

French Artist, draftsman, engraver, Rococo style

About the artist

François Boucher was born on 29 September 1703 in Paris. His father, Nicolas Boucher, was a little known artist and gave him his first art training. One of François Boucher’s paintings was admired by François Lemoyne who subsequently offered him an apprenticeship. This only lasted three months before he left to work for Jean-François Cars the engraver.

In 1720, he won the elite Grand Prix de Rome for painting but did not take up the consequential opportunity to study in Italy until five years later. On his return from Italy, he was admitted to the Académie de peinture et de sculpture

Boucher is known for his idyllic and voluptuous paintings on classical themes, decorative allegories, and pastoral scenes. He was perhaps the most celebrated painter and decorative artist of the 18th century. He married Marie-Jeanne Buzeau in 1733 and became a faculty member in 1734. His career took off as he was promoted to Professor then Rector of the Academy, inspector at the Royal Gobelins Manufactory and finally Premier Peintre du Roi (First Painter of the King) in 1765.

Boucher died on 30 May 1770 in his native Paris.