L'amour En Scène ! François Boucher, Du Théâtre À L'opéra

Exhibition at the Musée des beaux-arts, Tours, 5 November 2022 - 30 January 2023

An emblematic artist of Rococo art, renowned for his mythological and pastoral paintings, François Boucher made an important contribution to the performing arts. However, his set and costume designs are still relatively unknown, even though he worked on nearly a hundred shows, mostly at the Paris Opera.

This exhibition catalogue presents four paintings, related to the theatre and the opera, by this major painter in the service of Louis XV and the Marquise de Pompadour. These paintings, which have become emblematic, have inspired a multitude of artists up to the 21st century. Some sixty works (paintings, prints, drawings, tapestries, photographs, costumes, etc.) also invite visitors to rediscover some of François Boucher's other contributions to the performing arts and the way in which he continues to inspire today's creators.