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- Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732 - 1806)
- The Musical Contest
- France
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- Date: c. 1749–52
- Object Type: Painting
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Image size: 62 x 74 cm
- Inv: P471
- Location: Study
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- Description
- Provenance
- Further Reading
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- Mistakenly thought to be by Boucher when acquired by the 4th Marquess of Hertford, The Musical Contest is an early work by Fragonard. He directly refers to figures from Boucher's 'Summer Pastoral' (P489) of 1749 which suggest that this work dates from his time as a pupil in Boucher’s studio (c. 1748–52).
The subject is inspired by Boucher's pastorals. However, the handling is characteristic of Fragonard, with a more daring palette and use of impasto. Similarly, the theatrical flickering light effects, calligraphic foliage, and twisting poses with swirling drapery all reveal the hand of the young Fragonard.
The painting had been enlarged at a later date. The additions were folded over at the last conservation treatment in 1986.
- Mistakenly thought to be by Boucher when acquired by the 4th Marquess of Hertford, The Musical Contest is an early work by Fragonard. He directly refers to figures from Boucher's 'Summer Pastoral' (P489) of 1749 which suggest that this work dates from his time as a pupil in Boucher’s studio (c. 1748–52).