"Portrait of Marquise de Pompadour 2"

François Boucher - öl
Portrait of Marquise de Pompadour (1758) is an oil on canvas painting by François Boucher. He painted her (Madame de Pompadour, the mistress to King Louix XV) portrait numerous times, but perhaps none of them are as splendid as this one from 1758. By this time, the Marquise de Pompadour had ceased being the sexual partner of the King, but remained his closest advisor on intellectual and artistic matters. Thus, it is ironic and touching that Boucher has chosen to paint her younger than her years, surrounded by her beloved flowers (but not books), and prominently wearing a cameo with the likeness of the King. This painting (32 x 25 9/16 inches) is now in the Collection of the Fogg Art Museum, Harvard University.