Nicolas LancretFrench, 1689–1743Le Berger Indécis
Can I see it?
Yes, on view now
Where is “Le Berger Indécis” now? Victoria and Albert Museum, Europe 1600-1815, Room 2a, London. Yes, on view now. Checked September 25, 2026.
Closed· opens tomorrow at 10:00 AM
On public display.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the painting
Nicolas Lancret (1690-1743) was born in Paris where he first trained as an engraver before becoming the apprentice of the history painter Pierre Dulin (1669–1748), and enrolled as a student at the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. He later entered the workshop of the genre and decorative painter Claude Gillot (1673-1722), who had been Watteau’s master (1684-1721). He specialised in the genre of the fêtes galantes inaugurated by Watteau and decorative works for which enjoyed a considerable success.
Read on
This painting is a fine example of Lancret’s production of genre paintings showing elegant figures in an outdoor setting. The present picture shows two young ladies conversing with a man on a path in a landscape, the French title, Le berger indécis (‘the undecided shepherd’) evokes the amorous encounter that may follow this scene. Lancret’s genre scenes, influenced artists as diverse as François Boucher (1703-1770), William Hogarth (1697-1764) and Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788).
Victoria and Albert Museum
Details
- Accession number
- 547-1882
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Image: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the life of Nicolas Lancret
The whole life1735
Councillor of the Academy
Lancret becomes a councillor of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture.
1741
A late marriage
Lancret marries the eighteen-year-old granddaughter of the playwright Boursault.
14 September 1743
Died
