François Boucher - Venus And Cupid - Pencil Enhanced With Chalk

33.5 × 26.5 cm (sight size) (51 × 43 cm framed). Drawing by François Boucher and his workshop. Signed lower right. Venus is depicted reclining, partially unclothed, in an elegant pose. Goddess of love and beauty, she gazes towards Cupid. He, portrayed as a winged child according to classical iconography, is sharpening an arrow, a symbol of the power of love. The most celebrated painter of the 18th century, François Boucher is particularly renowned for his mythological subjects, which occupy a central place in his work. A court artist under Louis XV and a protégé of Madame de Pompadour, he was appointed First Painter to the King and director of the Royal Academy in 1765. His output was considerable, with several thousand drawings produced throughout his career. This drawing belongs to this body of work and reflects his characteristic style. It is certified that François Boucher participated in the creation of this work. Authentic drawings by François Boucher and his workshop are rare on the market, especially in this format and with this level of quality.