Madame Bergeret 1766

François Boucher painted this portrait of Madame Bergeret in the effervescent style of the French Rococo. At first glance, roses evoke ideals of love and beauty, symbols deeply rooted in classical antiquity. But look closer, and you will see that Madame Bergeret's connection to these symbols extends beyond mere representation. She is not merely surrounded by roses; she is actively engaging with them, even adorned with them. This recalls Botticelli's Venus, who is likewise reborn amidst roses. In both images, this floral motif suggests the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, aligning the sitter with the eternal qualities of the goddess, and nature. The image, therefore, touches something profound in our collective memory, a visual echo that resonates across centuries.