Why it matters
Elegant couples prepare to board a golden boat to or from Cythera, the island of love, among flying cupids and a statue of Venus. It is the defining image of the fête galante, the amorous outdoor party of the French aristocracy after the death of Louis XIV.
Did you know?
- Watteau submitted it to the Royal Academy as his reception piece in 1717.
- A second version is in Charlottenburg Palace, Berlin.
- Despite the title, the couples seem to be leaving the island rather than arriving.
- It featured in the 1980 BBC series 100 Great Paintings.
Based on the Wikipedia article The Embarkation for Cythera (CC BY-SA 4.0).
