Studies of a Couple Seated on the Ground, Looking at a Songbook 1735 - 1745

Nicolas Lancret made this sheet of studies of a couple with chalk on paper. The image gives us a glimpse into the leisure activities of the French upper class in the early 18th century. The scene evokes the fashionable outdoor parties, known as "fêtes galantes", that were popular among the aristocracy during the reign of Louis XV. These gatherings were important social rituals that served to reinforce class distinctions and to showcase wealth, taste, and refinement. Lancret, like other artists of the period, catered to the tastes of this elite clientele, producing idealized images that reflected their values and aspirations. The popularity of the fêtes galantes speaks to the changing social landscape of the time. The aristocracy, while still holding considerable power, were beginning to face challenges from a rising bourgeoisie. It is through the study of objects and documents that we can better understand the complex dynamics of patronage and artistic production in 18th-century France.