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| Artist | Attributed to school of Watteau, Jean-Antoine (French painter and draftsman, 1684-1721) |
| Previous attributions | Previously attributed to Watteau, Jean-Antoine (French painter and draftsman, 1684-1721) |
| Title | The Lovers |
| Date earliest | probably about 1712 |
| Date latest | possibly about 1780 |
| Material | oil on canvas |
| Measurements | 33.8 x 25.8 cm |
| Description | The theme of love explored in this painting was common within Watteau's work, but this painting may be attributed to a follower of Watteau, rather than to the artist himself, as the subtlety of emotion is more pronounced than in other works by Watteau. The painting's theme, decorative appearance and small size made it a popular choice for a domestic setting. |
| Subject | everyday life; figure |
| Collection | Wakefield Art Gallery |
| Current accession number | A1.113 |
| Acquisition details | Given by Miss Micklethwaite 1932. |
| Principal exhibitions | Art in the Georgian Home, The Arts Council of Great Britain, London, 1949. |
| Notes |
Between 1712 and 1717, Watteau reacquainted himself with his background in theatrical subjects, developing a genre known as fetes galantes. The Lovers belongs to this stylistic genre. These small easel paintings typically depicted elegant society enjoying conversation, music or dance in secluded park settings, distinct from seventeenth-century Dutch and Flemish paintings of merry companies in their more restrained expression of emotion. As well as borrowing from the Low Countries’ iconography, Watteau continued to be influenced by Rubens’ oil sketches, as well as the work of Anthony van Dyck, Titian and Domenico Campagnola. In particular the broken colour and fluid brushwork of Venetian painting was key for Watteau’s vibrant style. Elsewhere, Watteau’s style was keenly imitated not only by his pupil Pater, but also by Nicolas Lancret, who translated Watteau’s delicate treatment of love and life with a rather heavy hand by comparison. |
| Rights status | Wakefield Art Gallery |
| Author | Christopher Wright |
