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Dance before a Fountain
Oil on canvas, 97.8 × 130.8 cm, by Nicolas Lancret, by 1724
J.P. Getty Museum
 

In a lush park with a grand fountain, two couples dance to the music of a rustic bagpipe, while others engage in romantic interactions. The fête galante, a style that emerged in the early 1700s, depicted scenes of playful courtship in idyllic settings, often highlighting the lighter, more carefree side of romance, away from societal rules. Lancret’s attention to detail and use of vivid colours suggest that this painting was likely commissioned by a prominent patron, possibly from the aristocracy or royal circles.