A quick check for similar items on eBay and liveauctioneers.com might be helpful. She notes that swinging was a leisure activity for the aristocratic class that loosened up its participants. We will start with a brief contextual analysis and the significance of such subject matter during 18th-century France, as well as what made this painting quite salacious for its time. The sculpture looks down at the man admiring his mistress, and its as if he gestures to us to keep our voices down. Just under 60 years ago, the very same painting, then generally reckoned to be. www.TheHistoryOfArt.org 2023. A gallery incudes further paintings from his career, all of which follow a similar style as painters at that time were not as experimental as they are today. Artist: Jean-Honore This put a halt to the reign of the monarchy until the reign of King Louis XV in 1722, and the aristocracy reigned free during this time. Her suspension high above the ground is enabled by a swing consisting of a crimson velvet cushioned seat and a pair of ropes tied around the knobby branches of an enormous tree. An analysis of The Swing would involve exploring the hidden messages in the painting. Line, form, and shape in The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard;Jean-Honor Fragonard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. (i.e. A close-up of The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard;Jean-Honor Fragonard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. In 18th-century France, gardens were becoming romantic sites of bourgeois escape; the fashionably dressed woman here appears like a flower in full bloom. of faithfulness - sounds the alarm by barking, but the woman's husband ", http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26084224, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ1G27SgMUU&feature=youtu.be&t=4m26s, http://aty.sdsu.edu/bibliog/latex/scan/dots.html, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0Xae0GkTi4&feature=youtu.be&t=1m8s, (Spot Valuable Paintings). A detail of The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard;Jean-Honor Fragonard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. A detail of the dog in The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard;Jean-Honor Fragonard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. The Swing painting by Jean-Honor Fragonard is more than just a woman on a swing, it is a peepshow into 18th-century French aristocratic customs and cultures, including the art style at the time, which was known as Rococo. The way sunlight strikes the elements from the top left corner, everything apart from the woman seems like a part of the garden, unless you start looking closely. The Swing depicts a young man - The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". There was an overall playfulness and frivolity to it, as it has been described. The womans dress may be likened to a pink rose, a symbol of infatuation and admiration. Only a written report prepared by a qualified professional appraiser may serve as a legal document. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. There is a sense of movement and dynamism created by the forward motion of the swing, this is highlighted by the ropes tied to the trees above the woman. The Swings implied narrative, like the best gossip, has contributed to the paintings enduring popularity among aesthetes and sophisticatesscandal never gets old. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Therefore, while your own research initiative on askART is encouraged as a learning experience, askART cannot be held responsible for, nor can it validate, the conclusions you or others may have derived. picture is deliberately risque and rather rascally. A Genre Painting Peasant, Read More PeasantWedding Painting: An in-depth analysisContinue, Nicholas Poussin was a French classical painter who spent most of his life studying and creating art in Rome. I have several paintings that I have collected over the years. Artists captured these popular games and pastimes in numerous works of art created for private patrons, such as two of Fragonards earlier paintings: Jean-Honor Fragonard, The See-Saw, 1750-52, oil on canvas, 120 x 94.5 cm (Museo Nacional Thyssean-Bornemisza, Madrid), Intimate garden-parks like the one depicted in, Etienne-Maurice Falconet, Menacing Cupid, 1757, marble, 185 x 47.5 x 68.5 x 63.5 cm (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam). While Fragonards rendition of an aristocratic past-time and pleasure catalyzed more serious subject matter in the later Neoclassical movement, it has also impacted contemporary artists like the British-Nigerian Yinka Shonibare. What is known, however, is that Fragonards client, as we will refer to him, requested a depiction of his mistress and himself. If it is a print, it may still be worth something. Explore our inspiring collection of fine art in one of our upcoming auctions. When Fragonard was given this request, he did not depict a bishop, but instead someone who appeared to be the mistress husband. The woman is an embodiment of letting loose, so to say. As she swings forward, she flings her heeled slipper from her left foot, her left leg is held out straight in the air and her right leg is bent. Following is an in-depth analysis, Read More The Death of Germanicus: All Emotions ExplainedContinue. Winner of the Prix de Rome run by the French -AnimeBoston. However, there are various other lines and shapes at play in this composition, noticeable by the wrangling tree branches and the curving forms of the trees around the central figure. For example, in 2019 a Picasso painting from 1932 sold for $28 million. Background Before buying an oil painting, check to make sure that the surface has texture. Unlike large-scale history paintings, or the widely collected genres of portraiture and landscape, these works were relatively small (81 x 64.2 cm in the case of, Female figure (detail), Jean-Honor Fragonard, The Swing, 1767, oil on canvas, 81 x 64.2 cm (Wallace Collection, London; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). If the back of a frame is mostly dark but has a few bright streaks in it, theres a good chance the painting is authentic but had to be relined at some point. He was married to Marie-Anne Grard, who was also an artist and worked alongside him. There are various bushes and what appear to be small and low hedges around these. Use our search tools to find your artist. Her head is slightly tilted to her right and her eyes are gazing at something ahead of her. Interestingly, Fragonard was not initially chosen to make this oil painting, but was brought in by Gabriel Franois Doyen who did not approve of the specification himself. These cooler colors are offset by the warmer colors of the womans dress. The Swing is the central focus of this painting, as a young lady relaxes on it amongst an attractive brackdrop which gives the painting a mystical finish. Research suggests that the painting was commissioned to be part of a private collection, ordered by a member of the French Royal Court in the 18th Century. LEFT: A detail of the cupid in The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard;Jean-Honor Fragonard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons| RIGHT: Menacing Cupid (1757) by Etienne-Maurice Falconet, Louvre Museum, Paris;Tangopaso, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Have the colors faded, or is there water damage? Related articles: Top 10 most expensive artworks sold in 2020 - Top 5 Art Books to read - 4 Most Expensive Artworks by Living Artists Have you ever wondered how much Leonardo da Vinci's The Mona Lisa is worth today? The painting indubitably centers around the woman in the pink dress. The Painting of the surrounding foliage, as well as by its glowing pastel colours and : Composition, Origin, and Examples.Continue, Through his work, douard Manet created a bridge between the academic standards of idealized beauty and modernism. Fragonard uses different shades of blue-green to make us aware of the depth of the garden. As a result, Court focused on smaller paintings that he could sell easily. The size of an oil painting is an important factor in determining its price. If you'd like to learn more about valuable paintings, check out our in-depth interview with Claire Wentzel. There are at least 8 paintings in the world with an estimated price tag above $200 million and over 4 dozen paintings that have a value above $100 million, with Mona Lista price at the very top of the list. She was requested to be portrayed on a swing with a bishop pushing her, while the client was in the bushes with a full-frontal view of his matresse. She is held in place between both and yet just out of their reach, in mid-air. Claire Wentzel is an award-winning Artist and Strategic Creative Consultant. Erte Art Deco prints are credited for a refreshed interest in the Art Deco movement in the artist's later years. been commissioned by the Baron de Saint-Julien, who wanted a picture of (i.e. In contrast, the activity of The Swing takes place outside. One of the less subtle signs of eroticism is the womans extended leg that exposes her thigh. He was commissioned by wealthy clientele from the aristocracy. more traditional figure of a cuckolded husband, but otherwise fullfilled Genre: Genre painting Interpretation The Swing has a charmingly classic style which attracts many in an instant, and helps to promote the Rococo period of art which remains relatively lesser known when compared to other art movements such as impressionism or cubism. First of all, are you thinking of buying it because you like it? An interesting fact about this painting, according to records from Charles Coll, who was a dramatist and writer during the 1700s, is that the client first approached another artist, namely Gabriel-Franois Doyen, but the latter declined the offer due to the lascivious nature of the painting. Doyen painted more serious subject matter within the History painting genre, and reportedly referred the client to Fragonard. You can also transform your interior with new artwork. The Baron's insistence on a bishop was probably a private joke, as he Joseph-Dsir Court belonged to a family of artists, more specifically portraitists. For a better idea of value in paintings, try working with an appraiser. Jean-Honor Fragonard, Les Hasards Heureux de L'Escarpolette (The Swing), 1767. the commission almost to the letter. INDEX. His smiling expression as he gazes at his wife suggests that he is blissfully unaware of her hidden lover. ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ART EDUCATION The Swing (c. 1767-1768) by Jean-Honor Fragonard symbolizes ideas of infidelity, desire, eroticism, love, and power. To identify the artist, look for a signature, initials, or monogram. Interpretation of Other 18th Century Paintings Description Name: The Swing (L'Escarpolette) (1767) Artist: Jean-Honore Fragonard (1732-1806) Medium: Oil painting on canvas Genre: Genre painting Movement: Rococo art Location: Wallace Collection, London For the meaning of other celebrated masterpieces, Look for a legible signature or notation on the artwork, including the back, and also on the bottom if it is a sculpture. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. She flings her kitten-heeled shoe towards a mischievous cupid sculpture while she gazes at the man sprawled in the bushes beneath her. The Swing As it was, Fragonard replaced the bishop with the The natural setting also contributes to the keen sense of romantic storytelling embedded in Fragonards masterpiece. Award-Winning Artist and Strategic Creative Consultant. Thank you so much! The ropes the husband uses to pull his wife toward him resemble a set of reigns and are evocative of both the bonds of marriage and the restrictions placed on female sexuality during the period. the time, a swing was a conventional symbol for infidelity.) They had a daughter Henriette-Rosalie Fragonard and a son Alexandre-variste Fragonard. - and Jean Chardin, famous I do believe I have a real piece of artwork. To log in and use all the features of Khan Academy, please enable JavaScript in your browser. The one putto is looking up at the woman with a worried facial expression. That was all for now. Furthermore, the mens outstretched arms create a horizontal focus, also emphasizing this back-and-forth motion that the woman enacts. The area around The Swing is far more colourful than it's background meaning that the viewer will immediately be drawn to the key parts of the work, as Fragonard will have intended. Death of Marat (1793) by Jacques-Louis David. She is held in place between both and yet just out of their reach, in mid-air. Both Cupids have a finger to their lips as if they are keeping a secret. She earned her BA in Fine Art with Distinction from the University of Colorado-Boulder and completed a painting residency at the International School of Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture. Beside the gardens trellis and fountain, the older man operating the swing is presumably the husband of the young woman. She is not constrained by the societal rules of how women were supposed to behave, and she does not seem ashamed of the fact that her dress is revealing her legs and possibly more. Oath What makes the art truly unique or worth such an extravagant price tag is the subject of much debate. However, please be aware that your own research may not be a substitute for the type of formal analysis and appraisal that can come from contracting a qualified professional appraisal service. Louvre, Paris; Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Here, a young man leans against the statues pedestal carved with images of dancing, Older man (detail), Jean-Honor Fragonard, The Swing, 1767, oil on canvas, 81 x 64.2 cm (Wallace Collection, London; photo: Steven Zucker, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0). not a photo or a print multiple). Unlike laser prints, paintings made using a pointillist technique will have dots of varying sizes and shapes. While the roses below the woman echo the color of her dress, the rest of the composition, the background, and two male figures are darker in color with more neutral, cooler greens and blues denoting the shadows.