Jean-Honoré Fragonard
The Swing was commissioned by a courtier who wanted himself depicted looking up his mistress's skirt as she swung above. A bishop pushes the swing in the background. The original commissioner first approached another painter, who refused the subject as undignified. Fragonard accepted.
Biography
He was born in Grasse, in Provence, in 1732. He trained under Boucher, the leading Rococo painter, won the Prix de Rome, and spent five years in Italy studying Tiepolo and the Baroque illusionists. He painted so-called figures de fantaisie, full portraits, in about an hour each. He was enormously prolific: over 550 paintings are attributed to him.
The Revolution destroyed his client base. The aristocracy who bought his paintings were dead, exiled, or ruined. Jacques-Louis David, the leading Revolutionary painter and stylistically his opposite, intervened on his behalf. David got Fragonard appointed to an administrative arts committee, which likely saved his life. This is remarkable: David was sending former aristocrats to the guillotine while protecting their favourite painter. Fragonard also helped organise what would become the Louvre's collection.
He lost his position under Napoleon and died in 1806. The story that he died eating an ice on a hot day is probably anecdotal but frequently repeated. His reputation collapsed after death and was not revived for fifty years.
Timeline
- 1732Born on 5 April in Grasse, Provence, the only child of a glover. The family relocated to Paris in 1738, where his artistic talent was soon recognised.
- 1752At 20, won the Prix de Rome in Paris, having trained briefly with Chardin before studying under Francois Boucher, who became his principal mentor.
- 1756At 24, departed for the French Academy in Rome, where he formed a close friendship with the painter Hubert Robert. They toured Italy together sketching landscapes and ruins.
- 1765At 33, exhibited Coresus Sacrificing Himself to Save Callirhoe at the Paris Salon. The painting secured his admission to the Academy and was purchased by the king.
- 1767At 35, painted The Swing in Paris, the work that would become his most celebrated image. It epitomised the playful eroticism and colour of the late Rococo.
- 1769At 37, married Marie-Anne Gerard in Paris. Their daughter Rosalie was born the same year, and a son, Alexandre-Evariste, followed in 1780.
- 1790At 58, fled Paris as the Revolution stripped away his aristocratic patrons. He found shelter with his cousin in Grasse, decorating the house with a series of pastoral panels.
- 1806Died on 22 August in Paris, aged 74. His death passed almost unnoticed; the Neoclassical taste of the era had made his Rococo style deeply unfashionable.
Notable Works
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Where to See Jean-Honoré Fragonard
3 museums worldwide.
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88 worksLouvre
Paris, France
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1 worksNational Gallery of Armenia
Yerevan, Armenia
Jean-Honoré Fragonard prints
Hand-finished archival prints from Jean-Honoré Fragonard's body of work.
Warrior Before a Tribunal - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
Two Women on a Cloud - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
The Armoire - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
Monsieur Fanfan - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
Sketchbook from the Italian Period - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
Modern Folio with Typed Text and Inscriptions - Jean-Honoré Fragonard
From £28.00
Related Artists
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See all Jean-Honoré Fragonard prints →Frequently Asked Questions
When was Jean-Honoré Fragonard born?
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was born in 1732 and died in 1806.What art movement was Jean-Honoré Fragonard part of?
Jean-Honoré Fragonard was associated with Rococo.Where can I see Jean-Honoré Fragonard's paintings?
Jean-Honoré Fragonard's works can be seen in 73 museums worldwide, including National Gallery of Art, Louvre, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen.What is Jean-Honoré Fragonard known for?
Jean-Honoré Fragonard is known for painting The Swing for a man who wanted to look up his mistress's skirt, surviving the Revolution because the man sending aristocrats to the guillotine saved him.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Jean-Honoré Fragonard.
- [1] academic Jean-Honoré Fragonard | French Rococo Painter & Draftsman - Britannica Used for: biography.
- [2] academic Jean-Honoré Fragonard - Smarthistory Used for: biography.
- [3] book Zuffi, Stefano, 1961-, Baroque painting : two centuries of masterpieces from the era preceding the dawn modern art Used for: biography.
- [4] book Victoria Charles, Le Rococo Used for: biography.
- [5] book Jean-Honoré Fragonard, Masters of Art - Jean-Honoré Fragonard Used for: biography.
- [6] museum Perrin Stein, Jean Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806) - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Used for: biography.
- [7] museum The Fountain of Love (Getty Museum) Used for: notable works.
- [8] museum Young Girl Reading by Jean Honoré Fragonard - National Gallery of Art Used for: notable works.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-28. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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