Noël Hallé, Venus and Cupid, 1760, Oil on Canvas

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Noël Hallé (Paris, 1711 - 1781)

Venus and Cupid

Oil on canvas

70 x 100 cm. - Framed 87 x … Read more Noël Hallé (Paris, 1711 - 1781)

Venus and Cupid

Oil on canvas

70 x 100 cm. - Framed 87 x 118 cm.

Excellent condition. The work comes complete with a sumptuous frame with shell and scroll motifs, further accentuating its aristocratic elegance.

This enchanting 18th-century painting, depicting Venus and Cupid, captures in every detail the essence of French Rococo, a style renowned for its elegance and the delicacy of its themes, often linked to love and mythology.

This is a valuable work attributed to the French master Noël Hallé (Paris, 1711–1781), who conceived this subject, entitled "Le Midi," around 1746. The composition, in particular, was part of an allegorical series of overdoor paintings depicting the four moments of the day. They were originally commissioned by the French aristocratic financier Jean-François Gaillard de La Bouëxière from the architect Antoine-Mathieu Le Carpentier—with whom Hallé collaborated frequently—to decorate his villa in Paris.

Their iconographic success came in 1753, when Hallé re-presented them at the Salon de Paris. from then on, these models were frequently replicated, with different sizes and pictorial levels. Today, they can be found in public collections or on the antiques market. One of these, signed and dated, appeared at a Christie's Monaco sale on December 7, 1991.

In the center, a splendid Venus reclining on a bed of soft, billowing clouds, which lend the whole a sense of ethereal lightness, is captured in a tender moment as she receives an affectionate kiss from the young Cupid, emphasizing the theme of tender love.

Her body follows a soft, sinuous pose, typical of the taste of the period, and the light drapery emphasizes the grace typical of the classical deities portrayed during this period. On the right, another putto playfully plays with doves, universal symbols of Venus and peace, which convey dynamism and vitality.

Stylistically, too, we are presented with a triumph of Rococo canons, a style that interpreted the peculiarities of French society during the Ancien Régime in painting. Undisputed masters of this period, along with Noël Hallé, include François Boucher and Jean-Honoré Fragonard, each with his own stylistic peculiarities, bringing the grace and playfulness of Rococo to the highest levels.

Halé expressed himself with more composed and academic features, and his figures have a more defined solidity, compared to Boucher, who instead focused entirely on sensuality and the richness of decorative details. Regarding the painter's choice of colors, the painter typically uses a delicate palette, dominated by pastel tones, the pure white of the clouds and the rosy complexions of the figures.

The soft lighting makes the figures seem to float in the sky, conveying a sense of serenity. The celebration of ideal beauty and the joy of living, central elements of 18th-century French aristocratic commissions, shines through.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The work is sold framed and comes with a certificate of authenticity and an iconographic . This piece is attributed to the mentioned designer/maker. It has no attribution mark and no
official proof of authenticity,
however it is well documented in design history. I take full responsibility for any authenticity



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