Genre Scenes & Ceremonies

It was when Antoine Watteau's Pilgrimage to Kythera Island was admitted to the Academy in 1717 that the institution created the category "Fête galante". The creation of this new genre corresponded to the relaxation of morals at the beginning of the regency of the Duke of Orleans; the term covers charming scenes taking place in gardens where young aristocrats meet lovers.
Two interpretations are given as to the meaning of the scene. The first indicates that the characters are embarking for Kythera, the island of Venus and Love. On the other hand, the other interpretation places the lovers on the island and therefore on the point of leaving it. The evanescent touch and the distant mists mark the influence of both Rubens' and Leonardo da Vinci's painting.