Artwork
La Nuit (Night)
La Nuit (Night) is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Pierre-Antoine Baudouin. It dates from 1756 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created circa 1756, La Nuit is an oil painting by French artist Pierre‑Antoine Baudouin, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1756, La Nuit is an oil painting by French artist Pierre‑Antoine Baudouin, now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Executed in the Rococo idiom, the work presents a calm nocturnal scene populated by two figures and a small cherubic statue amid a lush, natural setting.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a man in a brown coat and white stockings leaning toward a seated woman in a pink dress, whose head is tipped back and right arm extended behind her. A stone cherub rests on a pedestal to the left, while trees, bushes and a waterfall frame the figures, suggesting a tranquil, perhaps intimate, moment in an outdoor night landscape.
Technique & Style
Baudouin employs the light, decorative brushwork typical of mid‑century Rococo, with soft modeling of flesh and delicate rendering of foliage. The palette balances warm earth tones with pastel pinks and the cool blues of the sky, while the atmospheric clouds and gentle illumination convey a sense of serenity.
History & Provenance
Born into a family of artists, Baudouin was closely associated with his father‑in‑law François Boucher, whose influence is evident in the painting’s graceful figures and ornamental setting. La Nuit entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection in the 20th century, where it remains on display.
Context
During the 1750s, French Rococo art favored playful, intimate scenes set in idyllic nature, often infused with mythological or allegorical elements. Baudouin’s work reflects this trend, combining a narrative pose with decorative landscape details that echo the tastes of aristocratic patrons of the period.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Pierre-Antoine Baudouin (French pronunciation: ; 17 October 1723 – 15 December 1769) was a French painter. He worked in the same Rococo style of his father-in-law, François Boucher.
