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Artwork dossier

Artwork dossier: Juno

Order Juno as a hand-painted oil edition

Charles-André van Loo, Juno (1736). Public domain. See this canvas under a moving light: the drawing, the true colour under the varnish, the bare pigment

Juno artwork fact sheet

Artist
Charles-André van Loo originaluniqueart.com/en/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/
Artist’s dates
1705 – 1765
Painted
1736
Medium
Oil
Original size
132 x 141 cm
Movement
Rococo Light, playful, pastel-coloured pictures of leisure, made for private rooms rather than public halls.
Period
Early Modern
Artistic style
Rococo
Notable elements or techniques
Wings on shoulders, two birds, a bowl
Subject or theme
Goddess Juno feeding her baby

In context

Juno — Charles-André van Loo

How big is it?

The original measures 132 × 141 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.

When was this painted?

  1. 1700
  2. 1710
  3. 1720
  4. 1730
  5. 1740
  6. 1750
  7. 1760

Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 60 at death.

Painted when the artist was 31. The artist lived to 60. 23 of the 105 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.

Shaded: the lifetime of Charles-André van Loo (1705–1765) ▲ this work, 1736 every dated painting, decade by decade

First works: up to 1736 Main working years: 1736–1757 Late works: from 1757

Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: originaluniqueart.com/en/art/similar/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Phthalo Green #2f251c

    Catalogued palette

    • #2F251C
    • #CC8F68
    • #764E2D
    • #5E696E

    These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour

    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Phthalo Green
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Balanced How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Strong Color Unity How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Where in the world is this painting looked at?

    • under 1%
    • 1–3%
    • 3–8%
    • 8–20%
    • 20% and over
    This painting alone has too few recorded visitors to map, so the plate reads every work by Charles-André van Loo over the last twelve months — 24 countries in all. Where these figures come from

    The ten leading countries

    1. 1 China 38.7%5,300 visits
    2. 2 France 11.7%1,600 visits
    3. 3 United States of America 10.9%1,500 visits
    4. 4 Italy 9.5%1,300 visits
    5. 5 Germany 3.6%500 visits
    6. 6 Tunisia 3.6%500 visits
    7. 7 Czechia 2.9%400 visits
    8. 8 Russia 2.9%400 visits
    9. 9 Türkiye 2.2%300 visits
    10. 10 Bulgaria 1.5%200 visits
    11. · 14 other countries 12.5%1,700 visits

    Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.

    The 20 most looked-at works by Charles-André van Loo

    1. 1 ENEE PORTANT ANCHISE 7.1%1,100 visits
    2. 2 Jerusalem Delivered Tancredi Fighting Clorinda, 1733 5.8%900 visits
    3. 3 Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (study), 1759 5.2%800 visits
    4. 4 Aeneas Carrying Anchises, 1729 4.5%700 visits
    5. 5 Jerusalem Delivered Clorinda Appearing in a Dream to Tancredi, 1733 4.5%700 visits
    6. 6 MARIE LECZINSKA 3.9%600 visits
    7. 7 Life of St Augustine Saint Augustine Disputing with the Donatists, 1753 3.2%500 visits
    8. 8 Halt of the Hunt, 1737 2.6%400 visits
    9. 9 Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (small version), 1760 2.6%400 visits
    10. 10 Perseus and Andromeda, 1735 2.6%400 visits
    11. 11 The Grand Turk Giving a Concert to his Mistress, 1737 2.6%400 visits
    12. 12 Mary Magdalene in the Desert, 1761 2.6%400 visits
    13. 13 Head of a Child 2.6%400 visits
    14. 14 The Grand Turk Giving a Concert to his Mistress, 1737 1.9%300 visits
    15. 15 The Drunken Silenus, 1747 1.9%300 visits
    16. 16 Life of St Augustine Louis XIII Dedicating the Church of Notre Dame des Victoires to the Virgin, 1746 1.9%300 visits
    17. 17 Bacchus and Ariadne 1.9%300 visits
    18. 18 Jahel and Tamah (study), 1733 1.9%300 visits
    19. 19 Jerusalem Delivered Erminia Taking the Armor of Clorinda, 1733 1.9%300 visits
    20. — Juno, 1736 this painting 0.0%0 visits

    Together these works take 61.2% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 162 works by this artist, of which 66 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month

    Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.

    About this artwork

    Juno — Charles-André van Loo

    Identification of the Portrait of Juno

    The painting titled Juno is a work by the artist Charles-André van Loo. Created about 1736, this portrait captures the goddess in a moment of quietude. The figure is identified by the wings resting upon her shoulders, marking her divine status through a single, physical attribute.

    Charles-André van Loo renders the subject with a focus on the intimate connection between mother and child. The goddess sits, tending to her infant. A bowl rests near the lower edge of the frame, a solid object amidst the soft forms of the figures. Two birds occupy the periphery, one in the upper right and another toward the bottom left, watching the scene unfold.

    The canvas holds a stillness. Light settles on the skin of the woman and the small body of the child. It is a study of a goddess in a domestic, maternal light. The wings remain still.

    Visual Composition and Subject Matter

    A seated woman anchors the scene, her form defined by the soft weight of motherhood. She holds her child close, focused on the quiet act of feeding. From her shoulders, wings emerge, marking her as the goddess Juno. The light catches the curve of her silhouette and the delicate features of the infant. It is a moment of stillness held within a larger, silent world.

    Two birds inhabit the space around the central figures. One rests near the top right corner, a small presence in the upper reaches of the composition. The other bird settles toward the bottom left. Below the subjects, a bowl sits at the lower part of the image, its shape grounding the arrangement. The scene is a study of maternal gravity and the presence of the divine in a domestic gesture.

    Related Works by Charles-André van Loo

    The artist’s hand moves through many rooms of the human experience. In the Kunsthalle Bremen, Venus and Amor captures a moment of divine intimacy. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds Halt of the Hunt, where the leisure of the elite is frozen in oil. Royal presence finds a steady gaze in the portrait of Marie Leszczynska. In the Louvre, The Marriage of the Virgin remains preserved. These works reflect a life spent navigating the light of the French court.

    Mythology provides a heavy, dramatic weight to his brush. Jupiter and Antiope carries the gravity of ancient legends. Multiple versions of Perseus and Andromeda show a recurring fascination with the hero's struggle. In 1760, the portrait of Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea emerged as a sharp study of character. Even the artist’s own Self Portrait offers a glimpse into his own perception, a quiet mirror held up to the maker.

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Charles-André van Loo

    Born in Nice, France

    Early Life and Training

    Born: February 15, 1705, in Nice, France

    Family Background: Son of Louis-Abraham van Loo and younger brother of Jean-Baptiste van Loo. Member of a successful dynasty of Dutch painters.

    Early Education: Initial training in Turin, followed by studies in Rome (1712) under Benedetto Luti and Pierre Legros.

    Parisian Studies: Attended the Académie royale, winning first prize for drawing in 1723 and historical painting in 1727.

    Artistic Career and Notable Works

    Style: Primarily known as a Rococo painter, characterized by elegance, grace, and ornate detail.

    Subject Matter: Diverse range including portraits, mythological scenes, historical paintings, allegories, and genre scenes.

    Significant Works:

    Venus and Amor (Kunsthalle Bremen) - Demonstrates mastery of the Rococo style.

    Halt of the Hunt (The Metropolitan Museum of Art) – Captures aristocratic activities.

    Portrait of Marie Leszczynska, Queen of France – A notable royal portrait.

    Jupiter and Antiope - Showcases mythological themes.

    Self Portrait – Provides insight into the artist's self-perception.

    Perseus and Andromeda (multiple versions) – Illustrates skill in depicting classical mythology.

    Mademoiselle Clairon as Medea (small version) - A captivating Rococo portrait of 1760.

    Patronage and Royal Recognition

    Royal Patronage: Enjoyed the patronage of Madame de Pompadour and the French court.

    Appointment to the Court: Became First Painter to King Louis XV in 1762, a prestigious position.

    Order of Saint Michael: Decorated with the Order of Saint Michael, signifying royal favor.

    Influences and Legacy

    Family Influence: Heavily influenced by his father and brother, both accomplished painters.

    Rivalry: Competed with François Boucher, another prominent Rococo artist.

    Modern French School: His "simplicity of style and correctness of design" significantly influenced the modern French school of painting.

    Critical Fortune: While his critical standing fluctuated over time, his skill and the breadth of his work command respect.

    Museum Collections & Further Exploration

    Museum Presence: Works are featured in prominent museums including the Louvre (The Marriage of the Virgin), Kunsthalle Bremen, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

    Further Resources:

    AllPaintingsStore's Charles-André van Loo page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/artists/charles-andre-van-loo/

    AllPaintingsStore's Greatest Artists of All Time page: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/greatest-artists

    AllPaintingsStore Virtual Museum: https://www.AllPaintingsStore.com/

    Wikipedia Article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles-Andr%C3%A9_van_Loo

    Charles-André van Loo study guide: keep exploring

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Juno

    originaluniqueart.com/en/art/download/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/

    Citing this artwork: Juno

    MLA
    Loo, Charles-André van. Juno. 1736, https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/
    APA
    Loo, Charles-André van (1736). Juno [Painting]. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/
    Chicago
    Charles-André van Loo. Juno. 1736. https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/
    Harvard
    Loo, Charles-André van (1736) Juno. Available at: https://originaluniqueart.com/en/art/charles-andre-van-loo-juno-AQTB2X-en/

    Art quiz

    Juno — Charles-André van Loo

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. Who is the artist of the painting Juno?

      • A Jean-Baptiste van Loo
      • B Charles-André van Loo
      • C Louis-Abraham van Loo
    2. 2. In what year was the painting Juno created?

      • A 1736
      • B 1751
      • C 1762
    3. 3. What physical feature is depicted on the woman in the painting?

      • A A crown
      • B Wings on her shoulders
      • C A veil
    4. 4. What is the size of the artwork?

      • A 87.6 x 84.5 cm
      • B 132 x 141 cm
      • C 170 x 180 cm
    5. 5. According to the description, what is located at the lower part of the image?

      • A A bird
      • B A bowl
      • C A child's toy

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2A · 3B · 4B · 5B

    Check any answer against the catalogue record for this painting

    For art students and researchers

    Juno — Charles-André van Loo

    Close-looking art worksheet on Juno, for students and researchers

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: woman, child, baby. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at Spanish Concert (Spanish Сonversation) (1754), earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Rococo: Light, playful, pastel-coloured pictures of leisure, made for private rooms rather than public halls. Where can you see that in this work?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Questions & Answers

    What are the date and style of "Juno" by Charles-André van Loo?

    "Juno" was made in 1736, within the Rococo movement.

    What are the medium and date of "Juno" by Charles-André van Loo?

    "Juno" was made in 1736, in oil.

    Can I examine "Juno" in more detail?

    The X-Ray view of "Juno" by Charles-André van Loo is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.

    How is "Juno" recommended to be printed - what size, what orientation?

    A print of "Juno" by Charles-André van Loo is recommended at a large size in square orientation.

    What is the format of "Juno"?

    The format of "Juno" is square. This is useful when planning where a reproduction will be placed.

    All the questions and answers about Juno