François Boucher (1703–1770) is more closely associated than any other artist with the development and spread of the Rococo style across Europe. One of the most prolific artists of his time, he worked in nearly every medium and genre, creating a distinctive style that was widely reproduced in prints. Boucher was also highly skilled at marketing his work, designing for various decorative arts, including porcelain and tapestry. His emphasis on a painterly surface and his use of a vibrant palette, dominated by blues and pinks, perfectly complemented Rococo interiors. However, as the style declined in popularity, his work became the subject of critical disapproval later in his career.

Boucher’s most innovative contribution to Rococo painting was his reimagining of the pastoral, an idealised landscape featuring elegantly dressed shepherds and shepherdesses engaged in scenes of romantic and sentimental love.