Francois BoucherFrench, 1703–1770The Presentation in the Temple
Can I see it?
Not on view at present
Where is “The Presentation in the Temple” now? Collection: The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland. Not on view at present. Checked September 29, 2026.
Cleveland, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
About the work
Late in his career, François Boucher adopted a drawing style characterized by strong pen lines and loosely brushed washes. This sheet, which dates from that period, depicts the blind priest Simeon, at left, who was promised that he would see the Messiah before his death. When the Christ child was brought into the temple near him, Simeon regained his sight. Boucher emphasized the miraculous event by showing divine light streaming down onto the priest from the dove above, which represents the Holy Spirit. The drawing is similar to an oil sketch (Louvre, Paris) that Boucher completed during the last year of his life -- one of the very last projects he ever completed.
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Details
- Accession number
- 1925.1005
In the catalog
Sources
- The Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image: The Cleveland Museum of Art — Museum open access
In the life of Francois Boucher
The whole life1720–1770 · Workplace
Paris
1765–1770
Post: Premier peintre du Roi
1770
Honorary Member of the Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg
A few months before his death he was elected an honorary member of the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.
30 May 1770
Died
