This oil painting, known as 'Village Dance' or 'Lowland Wedding', is attributed to Dutch painter Emanuel De Witte (1617-92). Burlesque in style, it shows music and dancing at a celebration, probably a wedding, in a rural community in Scotland.
The painting contains motifs common to this genre of paintings - including dancing, an elevated musician and scenes of debauchery.
This type of painting was part of a European fashion for illustrating and sometimes parodying rural life. It gives a rare glimpse of those who served, and were dependent on, the nobility and landowners in 17th-century Scotland.
To search on related items, click any underlined text below.