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National Collection:
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American artists should not and are not overlooked in the NGA's permanent collection. Bon vivant James McNeill Whistler is a natural inclusion given his creative genius. A popular man in London his friends included Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Oscar Wilde. His work was discreet and in many ways completely opposite to his character. As Whistler once said, 'Art should be independent of all claptrap, should stand alone, and appeal to the artistic sense of eye and ear, without confounding this with emotions, entirely foreign to it, as devotion, pity, love, patriotism and the like....that is why I insist on calling my works 'arrangements' and 'harmonies', or 'symphonies'. |
Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Title: A Young Girl Reading, c. 1776
Artist: Jean-Honoré Fragonard (French, 1732 - 1806)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 81.1 x 64.8 cm (31 15/16 x 25 1/2 in.)
Gift of Mrs. Mellon Bruce in memory of her father, Andrew W. Mellon
Permanent Collection: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Rococo artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard became Boucher's favorite student and won the Prix de Rome in 1752 earning him a prestigious scholarship to study in Italy. Mythological scenes were popular but in 1769, following his marriage, his subjects expanded to include children and women such as A Young Girl Reading.
Jacques-Louis David
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Boucher, a distant cousin of Jacques-Louis David, certainly had an influence on the great Neo-classical artist. David won the Prix de Rome in 1774. Originally he output was in the Rococo style but his time of study in Italy changed his work. Raphael and Poussin's work impressed the Frenchman who made a study of ancient works particularly sculpture. |
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David was sympathetic to the revolutionaries in France, became involved in politics and actually voted for King Louis XVI's execution. His friendship with Robespierre led to his imprisonment and very nearly earned him a trip to France's guillotine. His ex-wife, who was a Royalist and had divorced him after his entry into politics, fought for his release. He remarried her.
While in prison he began work on Intervention of the Sabine Women, 1794-9 and it's theme of love triumphing over conflict was believed to honor his wife. It did more than rekindle his romance with her, it managed to convince the French government that he opted for reconciliation and encouraged it within the French. The new leader, Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte chose him as a portraitist and showered the artists with commissions and honors for his work.
Jean Siméon Chardin
Title: The House of Cards, c. 1735
Artist: Jean Siméon Chardin (French, 1699-1779)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 82.2 x 66 cm (32 3/8 x 26 in.)
Andrew W. Mellon Collection
Permanent Collection: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Image Courtesy: National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Both a contemporary of Boucher, Jean Siméon Chardin for a short time taught Fragonard. He is know as a still life and genre painter. He was popular with the Bourbons, Louis XV provided an allowance and importantly accommodation at the Louvre. Chardin devoted himself to his art and to the Académie Royale, for almost two decades he served as its treasurer. With the growing appreciation of Neo-Classical works, Chardin's popularity suffered after his death but Realism brought new and appreciative eyes to his paintings.
The people of Washington, DC and the city's visitors are lucky to have the chance to enjoy one of the finest art collections in the world.
Crosscurrents
National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC:
through December 31, 2007