1745
chalk
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Venus Reclining on a Dolphin is a 1745 chalk by François Boucher, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This drawing shows a woman lying on her back on a dolphin. Her hair is loose, and she looks relaxed, almost dreaming. The dolphin’s body curves under her, and the waves around them are drawn with quick, sketchy lines. The artist used only black and white chalk on brown paper, making the light parts pop against the dark. The soft shading gives the scene a dreamy, almost floating feel. Next, check out Baroque to see how this style played with movement and drama.
François Boucher was a French painter, draughtsman and etcher, who worked in the Rococo style.
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