Angelica and Medoro 1763

Francois Boucher painted 'Angelica and Medoro' with oil on canvas; its oval form echoes the sensuality that was in vogue in 18th-century France. Boucher situates the viewer in a romantic and pastoral setting populated with classical figures. Here, we see Angelica and Medoro in repose, surrounded by cherubic figures. The lushness of the scene obscures the history from which it draws. Based on a story from Ariosto’s 'Orlando Furioso,' the scene depicts an intimate moment between Angelica, a princess, and Medoro, a North African soldier, who she nurses back to health after he is wounded in battle. Their love defied racial and cultural boundaries, a bold statement in a time of entrenched social hierarchies. Boucher’s work, however, frequently reduces the narratives to their erotic elements, often overlooking the complexities of race, power, and identity. The painting invites us to consider the varied ways in which love and desire are portrayed, and how these representations intersect with historical and societal norms.