Tiger hunt
Nicolas Lancret·1736
Historical Context
A dramatic hunting scene painted in 1736, this unusual subject in Lancret"s oeuvre reflects the fashion for exotic themes among French collectors during the reign of Louis XV. Tiger hunts appeared in European art through the influence of Rubens and earlier Flemish masters, but Lancret translates the subject into a more decorative, Rococo idiom. Now in the Louvre"s painting collection, the work demonstrates Lancret"s versatility beyond the fetes galantes and theatrical scenes for which he was primarily known.
Technical Analysis
The dynamic composition breaks from Lancret"s typically serene arrangements, substituting violent diagonal movement for the gentle curves of his garden scenes. The palette shifts to warmer, more intense oranges and golds to evoke the exotic setting, while the animal"s striped form creates bold patterns against the landscape. Lancret"s brushwork becomes more vigorous in the action passages, though he retains his characteristic delicacy in the figures and costumes of the mounted hunters.
