Jean-Honore Fragonard
A Young Girl Reading c. 1776
Jean Honore Fragonard Famous Paintings
Jean-Honore Fragonard- The lasting fame of Ancient Regime
Introduction
Jean-Honore Fragonard, an 18th-century French painter, and printmaker is best known for his vibrant Rococo painting style. In fact, Jean-Honore Fragonard's style was different from that of his contemporaries, which brought him an independent reputation among French painters.
He is one of the most famous, skillful painters of the Ancien Regime of France. Jean-Honore Fragonard's body of work is extensive, with 550 paintings to his credit. He was also highly skilled in drawing and etchings. His paintings are renowned for their distinct characteristic of veiled eroticism.
Early Life
Born in Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes on 5 april, 1732, Jean-Honore was the son of Francois Fragonard. Jean-Honore was first taken to a notary for an apprenticeship, but he was soon apprenticed to a painter, Francois Boucher, because of his remarkable talent in art and painting. However, Jean-Honore was transferred from the guardianship of Boucher to Chardin's atelier.
The young painter trained under Chardin for six months and soon became more skillful than Boucher. In his early career, he painted the Christ washing the Feet of the Apostles, which is one of his first paintings. In 1756, Fragonard shifted from France to Italy and took his place at the French Academy in Rome. Even though Jean-Honore was highly skilled, he was greatly ignored in the European Art scenario for a long time.
Famous Artworks
Fragonard has many famous artworks to his credit, like the Blindman's Buff, which he painted in the 1770s and finished by 1780. He also created a famous engraving titled the Chaumiére Italienne. His other paintings include Le collin maillard, Serment d'amour, Le Verrou , La Culbute, La Chemise enlevée, most of these painted during 1770-1780. He also painted The Happy Accidents of the Swing in 1767, which is one of his most famous paintings to date.
Final Years and Death
Towards the end of his life, as the nineteenth century commenced, Jean-Honore Fragonard returned to his native country and resided in Paris. In the year 1806, aged 74, Fragonard died in near oblivion.