A Russian Fête Champêtre
by LE PRINCE, Jean-Baptiste, Pen and black ink and grey wash, over traces of black chalk, on paper, oval, 380 x 335 mm
In the eighteenth century, a fête champêtre was often a very elegant form of entertainment involving on occasions whole orchestras hidden in trees, with guests sometimes in fancy dress. Le Prince’s work displays this theme in a completely Russian context: the variety of Russian folk costume and the depiction of a domra (a Russian string instrument) add exoticism to the scene.