Venus Leaning on Her Beloved Adonis
1767
François Boucher, the undisputed king of Rococo fluff, sketches a tender moment between the goddess Venus and her mortal lover Adonis. Signed in 1767 near the end of his life, the scene is packed with his signature chubby cherubs tumbling through clouds, one even holding a floral garland. To the left, a large discarded helmet hints at the drama of divine love—perhaps suggesting Venus has abandoned the god of war for this handsome hunter. The soft, smoky texture suggests Boucher working quickly, capturing the fleeting romance before the tragic end of the Adonis myth.