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Jean-Honoré Fragonard(1732-11806)FrenchJean-Honoré Fragonard is a French painterwhose scenes of frivolity and gallantry are among themost complete embodiments of the Rococo spirit. Hewas a pupil of Boucher, before winning the Prix deRome in 1752. From 1756 to 1761 he was in Italy,where he tended to ignore the work of the approvedmasters of the High Renaissance, instead forming aparticular admiration for Tiepolo.He travelled and drew landscapes with HubertRobert and responded with special sensitivity to thegardens of the Villa d'Este at Tivoli, memories of whichoccur in paintings throughout his career. In 1765 hebecame a member of the Academy with his historicalpicture, Coroesus Sacrificing himself to Save Callirhoe (Louvre, Paris).Jean-Honoré Fragonard,Inspiration (Self-Portrait), 1769,oil on canvas, Louvre.He soon abandoned this style for thesecular canvases by which he is chieflyknown. After his marriage in 1769 he alsopainted children and family scenes. Hestopped exhibiting at the Salon in 1767 andalmost all of his work thereafter was donefor private patrons. Among them was Mmedu Barry, Louis XV's most beautifulmistress, for whom he painted the worksthat are often regarded as his masterpieces- the four canvases representing TheProgress of Love (1771-73). These, however,were returned by Mme du Barry and itseems that taste was already turning against Fragonard's lighthearted style. Hetried unsuccessfully to adapt himself to the new neoclassical vogue, but inspite of the admiration and support of David he was ruined by the FrenchRevolution and died in poverty.Jean-Honore Fragonard, A Gathering at Wood’sEdge, 1760-80, red chalk, The MetropolitanMuseum of Art.Fragonard was a prolific painter, but he rarely dated his works so that itis not easy to chart his stylistic development. Nevertheless, alongside Boucher,his paintings seem to sum up an era. His delicate coloring, wittycharacterization, and spontaneous brushwork ensured that even his mostsecular subjects are never vulgar and his finest work has an irresistible verveand joyfulness.Artist Biographies Page 18