MADRID.- The lavish, sensual world of French Rococo just got brighter in Madrid. The Museo Nacional del Prado has announced a major acquisition that cements its standing as a premier destination for 18th-century art: two exceptional mythological paintings by François Boucher, the undisputed star of the era.

The newly acquired works, The Birth of Adonis and The Death of Adonis, offer a crucial glimpse into the early genius of Boucher (1703–1770), who would later become the court decorator par excellence for Louis XV and the favorite painter of Madame de Pompadour.

The two canvases, which cost €2.2 million, were purchased using funds generated by the generous bequest of Juan José Luna Fernández, a beloved former Prado curator and a pivotal scholar of French painting who passed away in 2020. His legacy—a Madrid home auctioned for €3.2 million—now beautifully bridges a research past with the museum's artistic future.

A Deeper Dive into the Myth

Boucher's interpretation of the Adonis myth—which blends love, tragedy, and eroticism in delicate pastoral settings—was perfectly suited to the refined taste of the Rococo. With the acquisition, the Prado can now tell a richer, more complete story of the artist.

In The Birth of Adonis, Boucher captures the myth's genesis, showing the sorrowful transformation of Myrrha into a tree, from which Adonis is born. The Death of Adonis, conversely, develops the tragic farewell scene between the goddess Venus and her lover after he is fatally wounded by a wild boar.

These pieces were painted on the same bolt of canvas early in Boucher's career, shortly after his return from Italy in 1731. They display a technical fluidity influenced by his predecessors Antoine Watteau and Sebastiano Ricci. The recent restoration not only brightened the luminous colors characteristic of Boucher but also revealed visible changes and the artist’s signature, confirming the works’ authenticity and offering a window into his creative process.

Honoring a Legacy

The new paintings join another important Boucher work in the collection, Pan and Syrinx, which Luna was instrumental in acquiring in 1985. The newest additions powerfully expand the Prado's representation of the Rococo master, complementing his mature style with a view of his formative years.

While Boucher's glamorous, optimistic style—characterized by graceful lines and light color—was the height of courtly fashion across Europe, his works are comparatively scarce in Spanish collections. Historically, the Spanish Bourbon court favored Italian art or the stricter Neoclassicism championed by artists like Mengs. Boucher’s focus on gallant and mythological themes simply contrasted with the predominantly religious and historical tastes of the Spanish monarchy, meaning his major works largely remained tied to French aristocratic commissions.

This acquisition, therefore, is not just a triumph of taste but an important historical correction. It gives the Spanish public access to the visual language of the 18th century’s great narrator and pays a final, fitting tribute to the curator who tirelessly championed his work.

To mark the occasion, Françoise Joulie, the world’s leading specialist on Boucher, will deliver a conference on November 12th at the Prado auditorium, inviting the public to delve deeper into the seductive genius of the artist who truly defined the spirit of the Ancien Régime.