Book excerpt: A celebrated painter in 18th-century France who eventually became prémier peintre to Louis XV in 1765, François Boucher (1703 - 1770) was equally gifted as a draftsman. His best-known drawings exemplify the intimate and light-hearted style of rococo, which dominated much of the 18th century. He produced some 10,000 drawings during his career, often employing his wife and children as sitters. This outstanding book assembles new research on Boucher's drawings, examining his role in shaping the growing market for drawings in 18th-century France. It explores his development as a draftsman, his range of subjects and his innovations in the context of the greatest French draftsmen of his time.