Fragonard has to be my favorite artist. I remember looking at the print of “The Meeting” that hung over my mother’s bed and being mesmerized by the dramatic stances of the figures. I think that these images are so charming. And even though they are hedonistic, they still have restraint. Fragonard is able to create images of a perfect day spent with your lover.
I remember vividly the one and only time I have been in this room at the Frick (some 45 years ago), and how I loved it. David was a remarkable master, too, of course, in his very different way. But Fragonard must have been so much more fun.
Wow, I never knew about any of his other artworks other than The Swing. There are now by far and above my favorite, especially the last one where the couple is looking back fondly on their early memories! Absolutely lovely. Such a great video
It is very interesting because I realized, reading the comments on TH-cam, that the most famous painting by Fragonard outside France is The Swing, whereas the most famous in France is "Le Verrou" (The Lock, in English, I guess). Do you know this painting ?
I've missed you guys this week. ❤❤ So much applying to be done and so little time left to do so. What a surprise to learn that The Meeting belongs to a panel of 4! I've only ever seen the first one... Work-related chaos notwithstanding, love is very much on my mind and agenda - I had a cute surprise date just last night, lol. Cupid was naughty for me too, it seems. Our indulgence and pleasure would've been represented very differently. "Nature can't be controlled" was an interesting comment. I often find myself wondering how true that is regarding human nature.
This may be one the oldest videos on Smarthistory. Since this was recorded, the Frick forbid photography, they sought and were denied approval for a building expansion of their historic structure, they eventually succeeded in obtaining approval for a modified plan, they shut done the Fifth Avenue mansion and moved the collection to the Breuer building that was built to house the Whitney Museum (and then was a Met extension), and they are now finally in the process of preparing for the reopening of their expanded space (so this painting shares some of the chaos you mentioned). I think everyone who loves that museum hopes they haven't infringed on the Fragonard room. We should know soon.
@@smarthistory-art-history Oh wow... So much hot tea and transition (like in the piece itself)! Here's hoping for no infringement and photography being permitted again..
The philosophers of the Enlightenment attacked paintings about indulgence and pleasure? 3:35 Hmm. That seems rather hypocritical of them. Or at least Diderot who's highest moral value was pleasure especially erotic pleasure. Note in his novel "Jacques le fataliste" the narrator proposes a simple contract to his audience: "Carry on fucking like rabbits, but you've got to let me say fuck: I grant you the action and you must let me have the word." Physical love, he informs his readers, is "natural, necessary and right."
Rejected the paintings, Really!! Who didn't know about their liaison-rendezvous!! Practically, if not all, male authority figures had their concubines...so what's the secret?! Of course everyone in the kingdom and world knew, it was standard practice and expected!! Oh, I know hierarchy has its privileges and such. Who was Ever Gonna say Anything about...!! The critique and explanation about this artist and work is superb!!
Fragonard has to be my favorite artist. I remember looking at the print of “The Meeting” that hung over my mother’s bed and being mesmerized by the dramatic stances of the figures. I think that these images are so charming. And even though they are hedonistic, they still have restraint. Fragonard is able to create images of a perfect day spent with your lover.
I remember vividly the one and only time I have been in this room at the Frick (some 45 years ago), and how I loved it.
David was a remarkable master, too, of course, in his very different way. But Fragonard must have been so much more fun.
Wow, I never knew about any of his other artworks other than The Swing. There are now by far and above my favorite, especially the last one where the couple is looking back fondly on their early memories! Absolutely lovely. Such a great video
It is very interesting because I realized, reading the comments on TH-cam, that the most famous painting by Fragonard outside France is The Swing, whereas the most famous in France is "Le Verrou" (The Lock, in English, I guess). Do you know this painting ?
I've missed you guys this week. ❤❤ So much applying to be done and so little time left to do so.
What a surprise to learn that The Meeting belongs to a panel of 4! I've only ever seen the first one...
Work-related chaos notwithstanding, love is very much on my mind and agenda - I had a cute surprise date just last night, lol. Cupid was naughty for me too, it seems. Our indulgence and pleasure would've been represented very differently.
"Nature can't be controlled" was an interesting comment. I often find myself wondering how true that is regarding human nature.
This may be one the oldest videos on Smarthistory. Since this was recorded, the Frick forbid photography, they sought and were denied approval for a building expansion of their historic structure, they eventually succeeded in obtaining approval for a modified plan, they shut done the Fifth Avenue mansion and moved the collection to the Breuer building that was built to house the Whitney Museum (and then was a Met extension), and they are now finally in the process of preparing for the reopening of their expanded space (so this painting shares some of the chaos you mentioned). I think everyone who loves that museum hopes they haven't infringed on the Fragonard room. We should know soon.
@@smarthistory-art-history Oh wow... So much hot tea and transition (like in the piece itself)! Here's hoping for no infringement and photography being permitted again..
The philosophers of the Enlightenment attacked paintings about indulgence and pleasure? 3:35
Hmm. That seems rather hypocritical of them. Or at least Diderot who's highest moral value was pleasure especially erotic pleasure. Note in his novel "Jacques le fataliste" the narrator proposes a simple contract to his audience: "Carry on fucking like rabbits, but you've got to let me say fuck: I grant you the action and you must let me have the word." Physical love, he informs his readers, is "natural, necessary and right."
Voltaire wrote: “The pursuit of pleasure must be the goal of every rational person.”
Rejected the paintings, Really!! Who didn't know about their liaison-rendezvous!! Practically, if not all, male authority figures had their concubines...so what's the secret?! Of course everyone in the kingdom and world knew, it was standard practice and expected!! Oh, I know hierarchy has its privileges and such. Who was Ever Gonna say Anything about...!! The critique and explanation about this artist and work is superb!!
IN THESE BEAUTIFUL ENVIROMENT CAN BEE EVERYTING EASIER. ESPECIALLY ART EMOTIONS AND BETTERLIFE AND KEEP COMMANDS AND HAPPY EASTER.?!
ROCOCO!!!!!!!
The Meeting, denouncing the capitalist hold on sex, 240 years before the French National Assembly!