2-979-025 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

"A Fete Champetre" painted by Watteau, 1857. Engraving of a painting. 'In the foreground a gentleman is entreating a lady to take up the tambourine and accompany him in a duet. On the left is a calm and placid pair of lovers, too tranquil to be demonstrative, but the lady giving an indolent instinctive imitation of the game at which her friend and the masqued cavalier have been playing. The latter is endeavouring to exact a forfeiture, which the young lady is in too high spirits to yield to her unknown persecutor. The central figure, that of the Pierrot, who stands in an easy attitude, and is rallying the calm couple upon their love-birdishness is wanted where it is, or one would wonder why he does not let the lovers alone, and come round and talk to the handsome girl on the grass to the left. They are all happy - exuberantly, mildly, or sentimentally happy'. From "Illustrated London News", 1857.