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The Dance in the Park

The Dance in the Park

Artist: Nicolas Lancret (French, 1690-1743)
Date: Probably 1730s
Dimensions:
H: 44 in. (111.7 cm); W: 57 in. (144.7 cm)
Medium: Oil on canvas
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1954.17
Label Text:In a lush park presided over by a classical sculpture of Bacchus, Roman god of wine, a group of young, well-dressed pleasure-seekers converse with and romance one another. The focal point of the painting is the couple engaging in a dance, each shown mid-step. The man, wearing a mask and a colorful costume derived from stock theater characters, twists his torso elegantly, arm stretched towards his partner. He plays the castanets in accompaniment to the hurdy-gurdy player sitting in the shadows beneath the sculpture.

The rich yellows, reds, and blues of this painting are typical of Lancret’s palette.

Not on view
In Collection(s)