Antique Oil on Canvas Painting, Interior of an Inn With Dancing Peasants, 18th C

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After the original 17th-century by the famed Flemish painter, David Teniers II (usually referred to as “David Teniers the Younger”, … Read more After the original 17th-century by the famed Flemish painter, David Teniers II (usually referred to as “David Teniers the Younger”, as his father David Teniers the Elder was also an accomplished painter), this fabulous painting depicts a vibrant scene, both in color and theme. Our version, which was painted in the 1700s, is by an unknown, but very talented artist. The painting is surrounded by a giltwood frame with two layers of beading.

Both Teniers were known for developing the “peasant genre” or “tavern scene”, where members of the working class were shown actively celebrating life. The earthy tones of the interior of the inn (brown and beige) are offset by citizens in brightly colored attire consisting of green, red, black, and gray. The scene is divided into two rooms, with seven patrons (mostly men) gathered around a barrel table in front of a very large fireplace. Two of the men are playing cards and there are two tankards visible. The calmness of this group is a drastic difference from the 11 people gathered in the foreground. A man in blue stands on top of a wine barrel table, with a fiddle tucked to his side. The remaining revelers are engaged in various states of merriment, including a man and woman dancing beside a Brittany spaniel wagging its tail. If you look closely, you will even notice a man and a woman peering through a door in the wall, high above the fiddler. Various items of antiquity, including low wooden chairs, makeshift stools, and copper vessels on a wall shelf are scattered about; their spartan qualities enhance the working-class vibe of the painting, whereas a tavern frequented by members of the upper class would most likely have elaborate settings.

During the 18th century, French art collectors, especially in Paris, coveted all works by Teniers. The idealized scenes of feasts, merry making, and taverns were influential to French artists, and many copies and paintings in this style were created. Paintings by Teniers and his followers depicted a lighter outlook on life during a time that was dominated by heavy scientific and philosophical movements. See less