Boucher
()
About this ebook
Read more from Haldane Macfall
Vigée Le Brun Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFragonard Masterpieces in Colour Series Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5Fragonard Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Masterfolk: Wherein is Attempted the Unravelling of the Strange Affair of my Lord Wyntwarde of Cavil and Miss Betty Modeyne Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBoucher Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Boucher
Related ebooks
Fragonard Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Prince of Bohemia Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMadame de Staël Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsParis, City of Light: 1919–1939 (Text Only) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Elisabeth Louise Vigée-Lebrun Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Art is a Tyrant: The Unconventional Life of Rosa Bonheur Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMadame Roland: A Biographical Study Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Temptation of St. Anthony Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings"Monsieur Henri": A Foot-Note to French History Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNight and Morning, Volume 3 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSix Centuries of Painting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Temptation of Saint Anthony Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEssential Novelists - Alexandre Dumas: historical novels of high adventure Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsScenes of Bohemian Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe life of Voltaire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLouis XIV and La Grande Mademoiselle, 1652-1693 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCorinne; or, Italy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsQueens of the French Stage Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Days of the French Revolution Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDroll Stories Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition, Vol. 21 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMemoirs of Casanova — Volume 30: Old Age and Death Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Spy of Napoleon Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsMeissonier Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTrilby Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Gargantua and his son Pantagruel Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDelacroix Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Baker's Blood: Nicolas Le Floch Investigation #6 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh: “Follow your honest convictions, and stay strong.” Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Balzac Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reference For You
The Emotion Thesaurus (Second Edition): A Writer's Guide to Character Expression Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Everything Sign Language Book: American Sign Language Made Easy... All new photos! Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Learn Sign Language in a Hurry: Grasp the Basics of American Sign Language Quickly and Easily Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51,001 Facts that Will Scare the S#*t Out of You: The Ultimate Bathroom Reader Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Legal Words You Should Know: Over 1,000 Essential Terms to Understand Contracts, Wills, and the Legal System Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/51001 First Lines Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Spy the Lie: Former CIA Officers Teach You How to Detect Deception Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buddhism 101: From Karma to the Four Noble Truths, Your Guide to Understanding the Principles of Buddhism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bored Games: 100+ In-Person and Online Games to Keep Everyone Entertained Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5THE EMOTIONAL WOUND THESAURUS: A Writer's Guide to Psychological Trauma Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Emily Post's Etiquette in Society, in Business, in Politics, and at Home Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mythology 101: From Gods and Goddesses to Monsters and Mortals, Your Guide to Ancient Mythology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Astrology 101: From Sun Signs to Moon Signs, Your Guide to Astrology Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Robert's Rules For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Show, Don't Tell: How to Write Vivid Descriptions, Handle Backstory, and Describe Your Characters’ Emotions Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5U.S. History 101: Historic Events, Key People, Important Locations, and More! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Everything Essential Spanish Book: All You Need to Learn Spanish in No Time Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Reviews for Boucher
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Boucher - Haldane Macfall
Haldane MacFall
Boucher
Published by Good Press, 2021
goodpress@okpublishing.info
EAN 4064066186357
Table of Contents
I THE SMALL BEGINNINGS
II THE STUDENT
III VENUS AND MARRIAGE
IV LE MONDE QUI S’AMUSE
V THE CHÂTEAUROUX
VI THE POMPADOUR
VII THE END
I
THE SMALL BEGINNINGS
Table of Contents
The year after good Queen Anne came to rule over us, Louis the Fourteenth being still King of France, on an autumn day in the October of 1703, that saw the trees of Paris shedding their parched leaves as a carpet to the feet of the much-bewigged dandified folk who stepped it swaggeringly down the walks of the Palais Royal, swinging long canes, and strutting along the shaded promenades of the more fashionable places of the city, there stood in the vestry of the parish church of Saint Jean-en-Grève a little group of the small burgess folk, gathered about a little infant, whilst the tipstaff to the king’s palace, one François Prévost, signed solemnly as witness to the birth-certificate and as acknowledged godfather to the aforesaid morsel of humanity, which, as the certificate badly set forth in black and white for ever, was henceforth to be known for good or ill as François Boucher, first-born son, on the 29th of September, four days past, of the tipstaff’s friend, Nicolas Boucher, maître-peintre,
who stood hard by, and of his wife Elizabeth Lemesle.
The worthy tipstaff’s writing done, he bowed in the best Court manner to Mademoiselle Boullenois, daughter to yonder consequential fellow, the law officer from the Police Court; and handed her the inked quill to bear witness in her turn as godmother.
PLATE II.—MADAME DE POMPADOUR
(In the Wallace Collection)
Here we have one of the handsomest portraits of his great patron and friend, the notorious Marquise de Pompadour, painted by Boucher at the most brilliant phase of his art. It is a glittering achievement. The figure is superbly placed in its surroundings. The play of limpid light upon the beautifully gowned woman, of which Boucher was such a master-painter, proves it to be of his best period. The Pompadour stands, wreathed in smiles, as the mistress of a great domain; and masks as usual behind her pretty ways all hint of that calculating hand and remorseless will that sent her enemies without a sigh to the Bastille or banishment or worse—she who was past-mistress of the art of the lettre de cachet.
The sand being flung upon the wet ink, and the blotting done, there was exchange of compliments in the stilted manner of good-fellowship of the day between priest and party—tapping of snuff-boxes and taking of snuff, with more than a little gossip of the Court and some shaking of heads, and under-lips solemnly thrust forth; the gossip is not without authority and weight, for is not godfather Prévost tipstaff to the king’s majesty, therefore in the whirl of things?
The child, indeed, was born into a Paris agog with stirring affairs. Well might heads be shaken solemnly. The French arms were knowing defeat. The Englishman, Marlborough, was flinging back the French armies wheresoever he gave them battle. Europe was one great armed camp. France was suffering