Artwork
Dancing Round the Maypole
Dancing Round the Maypole is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Arnold Frans Rubens. It dates from 1714 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Groups of figures, men, women, and children, hold ribbons attached to a tall, decorated pole, their circular arrangement evoking harmony and shared purpose.
The painting depicts a communal maypole dance, a springtime custom associated with fertility and seasonal renewal. Groups of figures, men, women, and children, hold ribbons attached to a tall, decorated pole, their circular arrangement evoking harmony and shared purpose. The surrounding architecture and outdoor setting suggest a village festival, reinforcing the work’s connection to communal celebration and traditional folk culture.
Within this scene, the maypole itself functions as a central symbol of life, growth, and the cyclical nature of seasons, while the dancers’ coordinated movements imply social cohesion and continuity.
Technique & Style
Dancing Round the Maypole is an oil painting executed in 1714 by Arnold Frans Rubens. The work is created on a large-scale support, measuring 245 cm in height and 320 cm in width. Stylistically, the composition depicts a festive scene featuring a maypole, dancing figures, surrounding buildings, and a tub.
As a painting classified as a single artwork from the early 18th century, it represents the artist's engagement with genre subjects of celebration and communal activity.
History & Provenance
The painting is held by the Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen, where it is recorded under the collection’s inventory system.
It has appeared in the museum’s displays and thematic presentations focused on 18th‑century Flemish genre painting, though specific exhibition records are not detailed in the cited sources.
Legacy
Dancing Round the Maypole has been recognized for its vibrant portrayal of traditional festivities, influencing interpretations of folk celebrations in European art. Its presence in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst has contributed to scholarly discussions on 18th-century genre scenes, reinforcing its reputation as a lively example of Rubens' thematic work.
Overview
Arnold Frans Rubens, a Flemish painter active in the early eighteenth century, completed Dancing Round the Maypole in 1714. Although primarily known for small‑scale landscapes and battle scenes, this work belongs to the Rococo period and portrays a festive village celebration. The canvas is part of the permanent collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Artist & collection
Artist
Arnold Frans (or Francesco) Rubens or Rubbens (1687–1719) was a Flemish Baroque painter who specialized in cabinet pictures of landscapes and battle scenes. He also painted some biblical subjects and genre scenes.
