The reception piece
The Royal Academy approved Watteau in 1712. He submitted this picture to it in 1717 as his reception piece.
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The Embarkation for Cythera
Antoine Watteau · 1717
painting
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Watteau submitted this gathering of lovers to the Royal Academy in 1717 as the painting through which he sought admission. It now belongs to the Louvre. The courtship scene became a formal statement of his art.
Details
Move between the couples and the small cupids, or putti, around them. The landscape recedes into haze, letting the gathering soften into its surroundings.
In its time
1717
Books from this period
Where it hangs
Musée du Louvre
Room 917
In context
A new category
Watteau was admitted to the Academy with this picture. The Academy created a new category for him, the fête galante.
Setting out or leaving
It is still an open question whether the lovers are setting out for Cythera or leaving it. The picture is known both as The Embarkation for Cythera and as Pilgrimage to the Isle of Cythera.
Oil on canvas
It is an oil painting on canvas. The canvas is 129 centimetres high and 194 centimetres wide.
The story
1712. The Royal Academy approves Watteau.
1717. Watteau submits the picture to the Royal Academy as his reception piece and is admitted to it.
Watteau later paints a second version of the picture.
Today. The picture is in the Louvre, in Paris.
Fête galante
A fête galante is a scene of aristocratic life. This picture is one, and its subject is lovers.