2-745-340 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

The Presentation in the Temple, c. 1770. This powerful religious subject by Boucher is one of the masterpieces of his late drawing style. Combining strong pen lines with loosely brushed washes, it is similar to an oil sketch (Louvre, Paris) that Boucher executed the last year of his life. The blind priest Simeon, whom we see on the left, was promised the sight of the Messiah before his death. When the infant Jesus was brought into the temple, Simeon regained his sight. Boucher emphasized this moment with the divine light streaming down onto the priest from the dove of the Holy Spirit above.