Jean-Honore Fragonard was born in Grasse, in Provence, France in April 5, 1732. He was the son of a glove maker, and was brought to Paris by the age of five. He was at first a notary clerk but showed little disposition for that profession. His artistic talent was never in doubt, and in 1747 he gained acceptance as an apprentice in the studio of Francois Boucher.

At first Boucher paid little attention to him and passed him along to Chardin, but a year later he relented and took him on for four years. His formal education consisted of studying at a school within the Louvre for exceptionally gifted students under Carle van Loo and later at the French school in Rome. There he was captivated by Tiepolo's incandescent paintings. In 1752 F...