1779
oil
canvas
From the collection of Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Mother and Child is a 1779 oil by Jean Honoré Fragonard, held at Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
The painting depicts a woman and a child, likely a mother and child, in a tender moment. The woman is dressed in a white dress with puffed sleeves, while the child is wearing a white tunic. The background of the painting is a warm, golden color. A notable detail in the painting is the way the artist has used light and shadow to create a sense of depth and dimensionality. The woman's face and the child's body are illuminated, while the background is darker, creating a sense of contrast. To learn more about the artist's use of light and shadow, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born on 5 April 1732 in Grasse, the son of a glover, and moved with his family to Paris in 1738.
See the richer artist page
