Which Rococo painter was appointed First Painter to King Louis XV in 1765?

François Boucher was appointed First Painter to King Louis XV in 1765.

Boucher was one of the leading French Rococo artists, celebrated for luminous colour, fluid brushwork, pastoral scenes, mythological subjects, and sensuous decorative compositions. His style matched the intimate luxury and theatrical refinement favored at the court of Louis XV.

His career advanced through the Royal Academy, royal commissions, tapestry design, theatre work, and his position as an inspector at the Gobelins manufactory. He was also closely associated with Madame de Pompadour, whose patronage helped strengthen his standing and public visibility.

The appointment came after the death of Carle van Loo, Boucher’s predecessor as First Painter to the King. In the same year, Boucher also became director of the Royal Academy, reaching the highest levels of France’s official art establishment. Hyacinthe Rigaud belonged chiefly to the earlier reign of Louis XIV, while Fragonard and Watteau held different positions and were not the answer to this specific 1765 appointment.