● On view now — 216B French and German
Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland · verified August 2026
FROM THE CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART’S CATALOG
A category of painting invented in France in the early 1700s is the fête galante (gallant party), with subject matter that hovers between fantasy and reality. The figures in theatrical costume derive from Italian street performers seen in Paris, while the playful outdoor garden party connects to leisure activities enjoyed by certain Parisian elites. The arts of conversation, music, and painting—all highly valued by French aristocracy—intersect in this work.
Be the first to share your thoughts.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Jean-Baptiste Pater (French, 1695–1736) — Dancers in a Pavil
François Boucher — Shepherd's Idyll
Nicolas Lancret — La Camargo Dancing
Carle (Charles André) Vanloo — Halt of the Hunt
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Pater — Concert Champêtre
Jean Baptiste François Pater — Fête galante in a Landscape
Claude Lorrain (French, 1604–1682) — Rest on the Flight into
François Boucher — Lovers in a Park
Jacob de Wit (Dutch, 1695–1754) — Jupiter (in the guise of D
Jean Honoré Fragonard — A Game of Hot Cockles
Jacob de Wit — Jupiter, Disguised as Diana, Seducing the Nym
Pierre Antoine Baudouin — La Nuit (Night)
