Boucher's Four Seasons

Franois Boucher (17031770) made the four paintings known as the Four Seasons in 1755 for Madame De Pompadour, King Louis XVs long-term official mistress. Their original location is unknown, but their unusual shape suggests that they were used as overdoors, no doubt in one of Pompadours many properties in France. In place of the labours that traditionally illustrate the theme of the four seasons, Boucher depicts delightful amorous encounters in joyous colours. This combination of luxury and seductionall treated in a fanciful, even humorous manneris typical of Boucher.Accompanying the Boucher paintings are images of Flora Yuknovichs contribution, an extraordinary cycle of paintings inspired by Bouchers Four Seasons, to be displayed at the Frick, in a space on the first floor, occupied between 1935 and 2020 by the Boucher Room.