Marie Antoinette's

Baudouin, Pierre-Antoine, Modele Honnete (The Honest Model). 1769, gouache. National Gallery of Art, DC.

If you like the work of Fragonard, but perfer a little more spice, you will probably like that of Pierre-Antoine Baudoüin. Baudoüin studied under the François Boucher, and ended up marrying the artist's daughter!




Skill-wise, Baudoüin was very talented and worked mostly in gauche.  His subjects were saucy boudoir scenes, and everyone wanted them! Like Fragonard, who made what sells,  Baudoüin's work was popular with the aristocrats and the non-aristos.

His piece titled "The Honest Model" caused quite a controversy when it was exhibited in 1769. The  reception of this work is discussed in  The Age of Watteau, Chardin, and Fragonard. It was exhibited with a frame that was inscribed with "What does not poverty compel one to do" a very suggestive message that stirred viewers! Some critics attacked not only the subject of his work (and lack of moral instruction) but also his own behavior, which was apparently, very libertine /fans self