Boilly: Scenes of Parisian Life


Delightful exhibition at the National Gallery looking at the life and work of Louis-Leopold Boilly.

Boilly lived and worked through the French Revolution, the Reign of Terror, the rise and fall of Napoleon and the restoration and fall of the Bourbon monarchy. He was the ultimate survivor and adapted his work to suit his changing audiences. He was one of the first artists to use the streets of Paris as a subject. The pictures were from Harry Hyam’s collection and were on show her for the first time publicly.

The pictures ranged from what was virtually 18th century soft porn with a picture of two ladies taking off their stockings through to detailed studies of Parisian street life. I loved a picture of 31 artists, performers and men of letters in an artist’s studio in 1798 as well as a wonderfully detailed picture of a carnival scene which referenced some of the turbulent times he’d lived through.

Boilly paints lovely dogs and you know I appreciate that. I liked one of a small boy, probably his son, pulling a dog’s ears. The look on the dogs face is of such patience as he knows he can’t bite the boy! My favourite picture was a fine drawing of seven members of the Darcet family.

I was also fascinated to see that he invented the term trompe-l’oeil, literally a trick upon the eye, and there was a stunning crucifix to demonstrate this. 

Closes on 19 May 2019.

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