The Sense of Smell 1744 - 1747

"The Sense of Smell" is a 1744-1747 painting by Philippe Mercier that depicts four figures in an outdoor setting. The figures engage in activities related to the sense of smell, including a man smelling a melon, a woman smelling a flower, and another woman holding a basket of flowers. Mercier was a British-born artist who spent much of his career in France and Italy, his diverse style reflected in the painting, which combines elements of Rococo, Baroque, and Renaissance art. This work exemplifies the 18th-century fascination with the senses and the natural world.