Jean Jacques Francois Lebarbier was accepted as a member of the Academy in 1785 and exhibited there regularly until 1814. He showed classical and heroic subjects and, especially, scenes from French history which earned him an important place in the Neo-classical movement.1

In their discussion of the present work at the time of the 1810 exhibition, most contemporary critics praised Lebarbier's fluid technique and use of color. However, they offered little comment on the rather unusual subject matter. The painting depicts a beautiful walled garden, filled with blooming roses, in which young maidens pursue butterflies, some trying to catch them by hand while others attempt to shoot them with arr...