"La Cage" - 19th Century Homage to Francois Butcher

“La Cage” – 19th-Century Homage to François Boucher

A romantic 19th-century oil on wood panel paying homage to the Rococo master François Boucher (French, 1703–1770). Boucher was celebrated for his idyllic, sensuous depictions of pastoral love and playful intimacy, often portraying shepherds, shepherdesses, and allegorical landscapes in the lush, ornate style that defined the Rococo era.

This work, titled “La Cage”, reimagines Boucher’s original 1763 composition — a tender scene in which a young man offers a birdcage to a seated woman beneath a sprawling tree. She gazes up at him, hand brushing the cage, with a basket of flowers at her side. The scene exudes charm, flirtation, and the lighthearted elegance that became Boucher’s signature.

 

About the Original Painting:

The original La Cage was painted in 1763 and, for a time, was displayed at Versailles in the former apartments of Madame de Pompadour, Boucher’s most influential patron. It was later housed at the Musée du Petit Palais in Avignon before being acquired by the Louvre in 1976, where it remains part of their esteemed collection.

 

Details:

• Title: La Cage (Homage to François Boucher)

• Medium: Oil on wood panel

• Era: 19th century

• Origin: France

• Condition: Very good antique condition; minor edge wear consistent with age

• Dimensions: 

 

A refined piece that not only captures the romance of Boucher’s original but also connects to a remarkable lineage of French art history — from Versailles to the Louvre. Ideal for collectors of French Rococo art and lovers of timeless romantic imagery.