Antione Watteau's "Fêtes Vénitiennes"

Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1684-1721
Creation Date: 1718-1719
Size: 93.9 x 47.7 in (55.9 x 45.7 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas 
Location: The National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK


This wonderful painting is another example of a work that was given a title after the death of the artist.  Apparently the lutist is a depiction of Watteau himself.  It appears as if the primary figures in this painting are about to engage in a very serious dance.  As is typical of Watteau, it also appears as if some sexual advances are being made by other characters.

Jean-Marc Nattier's "Thalia, Muse of Comedy" and "Terpsichore, Muse of Music and Dance"

Nationality: French
Born-Died: 1869-1895


Creation Date: 1739
Size: 53.5 x 49 in (135.9 x 124.5 cm)
Media: Oil on canvas 
Location: The California Palace of the Legion of Honor, San Francisco, California, USA

Anton Raphael Mengs' "Maria Luisa of Parma"

Nationality: German

Born-Died: 1728 - 1779

Creation Date: 1756

Size: 59.8 x 43.3 inch (152 x 110 cm)

Media: Oil on canvas

Location: The Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

Totally bizarre portrait, but sort of beautiful too.

Jean Siméon Chardin's "The Schoolmistress"

Positive Portrayals of Sex in Art: Jean-Honoré Fragonard's "The Swing"

This is another Rococo painting and while it may seem un-sexual today, at the time it was quite scandalous. You may notice that the wide-eyed man and the woman both seem to be enjoying the fact that the man is looking up the girl's dress. This painting is also known as The Happy Accident of the Swing for this reason. I'm sure that the rhythm and dizzying movement of the swing is meant to be suggestive as well.

Positive Portrayals of Sex in Art: Francois Boucher's "Hercules and Omphale"

Although there are thousands and thousands of sexual works in art museums, this is painting is particularly explicit for a Western oil painting. The stylized, wriggling lines, warm colors, overall composition and the gestures of the figures are all nicely integrated into the scene. A wonderful and sexy work of art.