The Dance

Image credit: The National Gallery, London

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This type of painting, known as a fête galante, was developed by Watteau and usually shows figures wearing ball dress or masquerade costume dancing and enjoying themselves in an idyllic country setting. Pater was taught by Watteau and painted large numbers of these sorts of scenes inspired by his work, which found ready buyers in Paris.

Here 28 figures are in parkland making music, dancing and courting. The lady and gentleman dancing in the centre are watched by the crowd, who are mainly arranged in couples. A violinist, oboist and hurdy-gurdy player make music while children play with a puppy, and a black page boy sees to the wine cooler. A number of the figures in this painting resemble those in paintings by or prints after Watteau. The picture is likely to have been painted early in Pater’s career, in the early 1720s.

The National Gallery, London

London

Title

The Dance

Date

18th century

Medium

Oil on canvas

Measurements

H 74.9 x W 114.9 cm

Accession number

NG4079

Acquisition method

Bequeathed by Edith Cragg as part of the John Webb Bequest, 1924

Work type

Painting

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The National Gallery, London

Trafalgar Square, London, Greater London WC2N 5DN England

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