A French rococo artist whose charming and graceful paintings show his interest in theater and ballet, Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) is probably best known for his fêtes galantes. These romantic and idealized scenes depict elaborately costumed ladies and gentlemen at play in fanciful outdoor settings. In this volume, numerous large-sized illustrations showcase the artist's oeuvre; authoritative texts illustrate the decisive stages in the artist's life and in the development of his work, explaining their significance in the context of his time and for the following generations of artists.