Surprised Young Couple Under a Tree
1730-70
François Boucher, the favorite painter of Madame de Pompadour, whisks us away to a dreamy, pastoral world in this charming scene. A young shepherd, cradling a lamb, sits intimately beside a woman in a billowing dress beneath the protective canopy of a large tree, perhaps sharing a romantic surprise. They aren't alone, though; a flock of sheep naps nearby while a goat dips its head to drink from a stream in the foreground. The energetic, scratchy lines capture the rustling leaves and soft textures typical of the Rococo style, showing off Boucher's talent for creating idyllic scenes even in monochrome.