Born in Paris in 1690, Nicolas Lancret received his early artistic training under Pierre Dulin and later studied with Claude Gillot. It was during his time with Gillot that he encountered Antoine Watteau, whose influence significantly shaped his stylistic development and subject matter.

Lancret specialized in the fete galante genre, creating works that featured elegant figures in pastoral settings, often reflecting the refined tastes of the French aristocracy. His compositions are characterized by a delicate use of light and a focus on the theatricality of social interactions, establishing him as a key figure in the Rococo movement.

His work remains recognized for its historical documentation of the fashions and social customs of the French Regency. His paintings are held in major museum collections worldwide, serving as primary visual references for the cultural aesthetic of the period.