Blog post by Ibrahim Kante

 

Vulcan Presenting Arms to Venus for Aeneas, Francois Boucher, oil on canvas, 1756. Clark Museum.

 

I enjoyed the trip to Mass Moca and the Clark museum. The Clark museum has more interesting art work. One of my favorites is the Vulcan Presenting Arms to Venus for Aeneas by Francois Boucher. This oil on canvas was made in France around 1756. The painting is about mythological Gods, which are Vulcan, Venus, and Aeneas. It comes from the story called Aenei. The story is about Venus seducing Vulcan to forge weapons for her son Aeneas. The image shows Venus is receiving a forged weapon from Vulcan. Surrounding him are two putti by his feet playing with a helmet, and forged equipment. Venus is surrounded by putti and other creatures, which can be Gods or goddesses and white doves, clouds, and flowers. The painting’s colors are very vivid and intense in certain areas like the sky and Vulcan’s red robe. Boucher style was pleasant and optimistic, especially his paintings. His painting had rural and classical element to it as well as very lively decorative patterns in the foreground. In the 18th century, Francois Boucher was one of the well-known artists for the Rococo style. Rococo is also called “Late Baroque” and the style is very elegant. Vulcan Presenting Arms to Venus for Aeneas is a perfect example of Rococo because of its lighthearted, fancy, and elegant colors. Francois Boucher made the colors really creamy and pastel-like. The designs look very detailed and look painted very carefully.

http://www.clarkart.edu/museum/collections/early_eur/content.cfm?ID=28&marker=8&start=8