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The Broken Pitcher
Jean-Baptiste Greuze · Rococo & Neoclassicism
- Artist
- Jean-Baptiste Greuze (1725–1805)
- Date
- c. 1771
- Dimensions
- 110 x 85 cm
- Medium
- Oil on canvas
- Location
- Musée du Louvre, Paris, France
The Broken Pitcher shows a young girl standing by a stone fountain with a lion's head, holding a broken pitcher on her arm. Her white dress is crumpled and slipping from her shoulder, and she clutches flowers in her skirt, looking out at us with a dazed, melancholy expression.
A closer look
Behind the innocent appearance lies a moral message typical of the 18th century: the broken pitcher, the torn bodice and the scattered roses are symbols of lost virginity, suggesting that the girl has just been seduced. Greuze, the master of moralising sentimental scenes, combines tender charm with a hint of eroticism that fascinated the public of his time. The soft modelling of the face and the pearly whites of the dress show his skill as a colourist, while the dark, overgrown background increases the sense of sadness.