Jean-Honoré Fragonard was a highly celebrated artist who initially studied under renowned artists such as Francois Boucher and Jean Chardin and was influenced by the works of artists such as Nicolas Poussin and Giambattista Tiepolo.
It is believed that Baron de Saint-Julien originally commissioned this painting. He wanted a portrait of his mistress on a swing pulled by a bishop, while Baron de Saint-Julien was positioned so that he could look up the woman’s skirt.
Cupid can be seen to the left of the canvas, telling the two Venus-putti to not say anything about what is going on by putting his finger to his lips. A putto is a being that is often portrayed as a chubby masculine youngster who is occasionally winged.
Power, wealth, and sex were the three fundamental desires in France throughout the 18th-century Rococo period. The Swing painting is brimming with seductive possibilities.
The composition’s depth has been drastically restored, as have the background elements and the texture of the paint surface. Basic underdrawings or preliminary sketches were discovered, revealing that the artist worked directly on the canvas.
The Swing painting influenced art styles and artists significantly over the years. Numerous artists have been influenced by its amusing and sensual themes.