The Stolen Kiss  1760

One of a few highly finished works painted by Fragonard during his first Italian sojourn, the canvas was painted between 1756 and 1761. It belonged to the Bailli de Bréteuil, who was ambassador to Rome from Malta. While the figure group reminds us that Fragonard was trained under Boucher, the intensity, the color harmonies, and the warm, dark atmosphere are his own. (Sourc...