Fragonard, a French painter born in Grasse, France in 1732, although not a student in the Royal Academy School of Art in France, was recognized by the popular Rococo artist Boucher. Through Boucher's connections, Fragonard gained entrance to compete in the Prix de Rome of 1752. The Prix de Rome was an annual contest in which French academy artists competed for the grand prize of a 4 year scholarship to Rome to study art. Fragonard submitted his works, won the grand prize, and was then admitted into the Academy in 1753 where he painted history paintings before traveling on to Rome. After he arrived in Rome he became somewhat bewildered with the works of the Renaissance masters, but he continued to travel and created numerous landscape drawings with antique architectural motifs.

Fragonard returned to France to continue working but after 1767 he was no longer interested in exhibiting in the Salon, tired of their strict guidelines for historical and religious themes. Instead Fragonard preferred to cater to a private clientele of wealthy aristocrats. Erotic, amorous scenes, rustic landscapes, and decorative panels were the bulk of his production and the basis of his reputation. Like his mentor Boucher, Fragonard's paintings are filled with mythology dealing with themes of love and passion Fragonard made quite a comfortable living off the commission of his aristocratic patrons.

The Rococo style was to be replaced by the Neo-Classical style of David. Though his art was the epitome of the old regime, Fragonard welcomed the objective principles of the French Revolution even though it deprived him of his clientele and prestige. In fact Fragonard was friends with and indebted to David, who through his influence, made Fragonard Curator and President of painting of the new Conservatory of the Musee du Louvre.

Whether working in oils, watercolors, color washes, chalks or Chinese inks, Fragonard was a genius at portraying the excesses of the Bourbon Kings.