Fragonard L'enfant chéri de Grasse, exhibition’s catalogue

Through some thirty major works, including several previously unpublished pieces, drawn from prestigious institutions and private collections, this catalogue explores the central place of childhood and motherhood in the work of the master of the Enlightenment. Drawing on recent archival discoveries in Grasse and Paris, the book sheds light on the painter’s intimate history, tracing his upbringing within a benevolent and protective family environment shaped by strong female figures.

Under his brush, woman becomes the luminous centre of the household, while the mother embodies a vital impulse guiding the child towards awakening. A true scholarly reappraisal, this volume also challenges traditional interpretations of some of the artist’s masterpieces.

By deciphering the subtle choreography of gestures, the silent poetry of light and the freedom of the brushstroke, it reveals how Fragonard drew inspiration from the philosophical spirit of his century to sanctify fleeting moments of innocence and elevate the maternal figure to the status of an Enlightenment ideal.