Title: Dance before

Artist: Nicolas Lancret

Dance before a Fountain By 1724 Nicolas Lancret French, 1690–1743 Oil on canvas Known as a fête galante, or courtly festivity, this type of painting was invented by Lancret’s friend and artistic mentor, Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684–1721). Typically, it features lavishly dressed aristocratic figures in imaginary outdoor settings engaging in refined leisure activities—here, dancing and flirtation. Lancret arranged his figures in a sophisticated human garland through pose, gaze, and gesture. The artist set the group in undulating motion, echoing the cadence of music, and in harmony with the landscape and architectural background.