A MUSEUM will launch its latest exhibition programme with works by one of the most acclaimed French landscape artists.

The Bowes Museum, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, will start next year with Boucher: The Art of Landscapes, an exhibition of work by 18th Century artist Francois Boucher (1707-1770).

Boucher was court painter to the French King Louis XV and a favourite painter of his mistress, Madame de Pompadour.

The museum owns a large landscape by Boucher, which is one of only four landscapes by him in public collections in the British Isles.

The example in the Bowes museum is the largest and most spectacular, and depicts an imaginary scene with women washing clothes by a watermill.

The exhibition also contains drawings by artists such as Watteau, Fragonard, Natoire and Robert.

Museum curator Howard Coutts said: "We are thrilled to have this important exhibition of French landscape painters at the Bowes Museum.

"It illustrates their debt to Dutch and Italian sources and is a rare chance to see works by these major French 18th Century painters together."

The exhibition, from January 22 to March 27, has been curated by Jo Hedley, of the Wallace Collection, London, which has the largest collection of Boucher's work in the world.

Museum admission is £6 for adults, £5 for concessions and free for under-16s.

The museum can be contacted on (01833) 690606 or at www.bowesmuseum.org.uk

Published: 25/11/2004