ALLEN MEMORIAL ART MUSEUM PRESENTS ACQUISITION OF FRENCH ‘ALLEGORY’

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OBERLIN, OHIO — The Allen Memorial Art Museum (AMAM) presents “Allegory of the Education of Louis XV,” circa 1756, by François Boucher.

This Eighteenth Century French painting is a recent and important acquisition to the AMAM. “Allegory” is a grisaille (a painting done entirely in shades of gray, black and white), which was used by the artist as a preliminary sketch for a series of engravings depicting the life of King Louis XV.

Boucher excelled in painting, drawing and printmaking and was especially known for the virtuosity and freedom of his draftsmanship. This is evident in the AMAM’s work, executed at a time when Boucher was at the height of his artistic powers and popularity. He was the favorite painter of Madame de Pompadour, mistress to the king, and held the important positions of First Painter to the King and Director of the Royal Academy. This painting joins other distinguished French works from the late Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries in the Allen’s collection, such as Antoine Coypel, Jean- Marc Nattier and Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin.

The Allen Memorial Art Museum is at 87 North Main Street. For more information, www.oberlin.edu/amam or 440-775-8665.