(1732-1734)

The most striking examples of the Rococo style in French art were the works by Francois Boucher, chief painter in the court of King Louis XV. The painting Hercules and Omphale is undoubtedly a masterpiece of Boucher’s early oeuvre. It is inspired by a myth recounted by the Ancient Greek scholar Apollodorus of Athens and the Roman poet Ovid. According to the legend, Hercules was condemned by the gods to redemption through servitude for accidentally killing the young man Iphitus. The mighty hero was sentenced by the supreme God Zeus to servitude under the Lydian queen Omphale and sentenced to carry out women’s work. The queen herself is pictured draped in his lion skin and carrying a club, while Hercules is dressed in women’s clothing. However, the hero managed to seduce the Queen. The artist turns this ancient myth into a torrid love scene. It was influenced by a highly expressive painting by Rubens, but executed in typical Rococo style. Boucher’s subjects always had an enticing subtext, an intriguing or surprising development. The decor in Boucher’s work involves gleaming gold and shimmers with colour, giving his art a particularly elegant appearance. The bold and rich colour scheme used in his work creates a sense of the celebration, while also enhancing its sensual atmosphere.