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Lot Essay
Rowlandson was clearly engaged by rural life. He was a frequent visitor to his friend Matthew Mitchell's home in Cornwall and made sketching tours around England and to Wales. However, the present vivacious watercolour is directly inspired by Rubens' monumental painting, The village fête, or The village wedding (Louvre, Paris). Painted in 1635-8, when the artist was at the height of his powers, it entered the collection of Louis XIV in 1685 and subsequently proved influential on the later generation of French artists including Watteau. Rowlandson was influenced both by Rubens' work directly, as well as by the French school of painting.
The various dancing figures and embracing couples that curve around Rowlandson's watercolour are taken directly from the painting, although in reverse and the musicians raised above the crowd is similar. It is possible that Rowlandson would have seen the painting during one of his visits to Paris, however, the fact that the composition and figures are in reverse, indicate that it is more likely that Rowlandson would have known the subject from an engraving.
The various dancing figures and embracing couples that curve around Rowlandson's watercolour are taken directly from the painting, although in reverse and the musicians raised above the crowd is similar. It is possible that Rowlandson would have seen the painting during one of his visits to Paris, however, the fact that the composition and figures are in reverse, indicate that it is more likely that Rowlandson would have known the subject from an engraving.