Lecture - Fragonard’s Young Girl Reading: New Perspectives

Saturday, July 29, 2017
On loan to the Harvard Art Museums from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, Jean-Honoré Fragonard’s Young Girl Reading is one of the most famous French rococo paintings in America. Part of a series known as figures de fantaisie, this painting has recently been the subject of art historical discovery and technical analysis.
This event brought together two scholars working on Fragonard and on the period in question: Yuriko Jackall, assistant curator of French paintings at the National Gallery of Art and organizer of an upcoming exhibition on Fragonard (Fall 2017); and Marika T. Knowles, junior fellow in the Harvard Society of Fellows and a specialist in French art, culture, and literature of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
harvardartmuseums.org/visit/calendar/fragonards-young-girl-reading-new-perspectives

[@yuanzhang2737]

In my opinion, I think this piece is a brave challenge for himself. In the draft maybe he summarized his work and try to look for some differences, so he cover the first version with the young girl, and the modification made a special scene where the girl's head and her body form a different angle which shows her concentration in the book.

[@goldenorchids4112]

I asked my siblings and mom if they remembered a painting in our house when I was 5 yrs old I described everything in this painting except the lady is looking towars the painter and has the book and her left hand resting on her laps. Holding the book exactly like this one. No one remembers the painting except my older sister who told me that I its so important to me or my childhood memories then I should just paint it myself. Yet I come here today and I find something that looks like someone took the painting from my memories. Oh also in my memory the dress was baby blue.

[@ChristopherHemsworthCreative]

Thank you for putting this online.

[@AttiMatter]

I was just in Washington. This has become my favorite painting in the past couple days. Won’t be back for another year. Didn’t know it was there 😪

[@ritabiro5105]

READING IN AN FEUTEL IS VERY CHARACTERISTIC FOR WOMEN NOWDAYS ALSO.What kind of books.Happy easter.Much light is also important.

[@Alice-yx7tf]

😍😍😍

[@dolphinsmlb5656]

The original face doesn’t look anything like the young girl. Had the original model and the pose been used it would’ve been called “Young Girl’s Mom Paused Reading After Someone Called Her Name”

[@aprill.4575]

I would like to disagree. When I look at my painting it looks to be painted over her the warrior painting. I know how tech equipment was used. But I am still disagreeing.

[@dianasalles0]

What?

[@aminahella8887]

Franchement les roi et son des montres il vivent un monde paranormal a la nôtre de route façon finirons par etre envoiyer en effeter

[@jonnyrotic]

Is this a vocal fry competition? Their pretentious voices make this impossible to listen to. One of my favorite paintings though!

[@fabienneparis4989]

What a shame !!! Jh Fragonard was such an alive, colourful, sensible and sensual artist ! This présentation is just ready to eat delivered, read and not alive. French and fluent english i would have done such a better présentation as i Know at least much more than this Ladies and beyond every " poor" text would have never delivered all those so called knowledges without dramatic présentation. It is what Fragonard the painter deserves ; understanding, sensuality and life.