Artwork
Les fêtes vénitiennes

Les fêtes vénitiennes is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Gabriel de Saint-Aubin. It dates from 1759 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in 1759 by Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin, the painting is part of the Robert Lehman collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Les fêtes vénitiennes shows a festive scene set in Venice, featuring a man and a woman in elaborate dress. The composition captures the lively atmosphere of a carnival celebration, with masks and rich fabrics suggesting the revelry associated with Venetian masquerades. The work reflects 18th‑century French interest in exotic entertainments and the symbolic use of disguise to explore social roles.
Executed in 1759 by Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin, the painting is part of the Robert Lehman collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1759, Les fêtes vénitiennes is a painting by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin measuring 20.5 cm in height and 15.1 cm in width. The work depicts male and female figures, consistent with its title referencing Venetian festivities. While the specific medium, support, and current condition are not detailed in the available records, the piece is classified formally as a painting and is held within the Robert Lehman collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
Les fêtes vénitiennes is a painting by French artist Gabriel de Saint‑Aubin, created in 1759. The work, measuring 20.5 cm by 15.1 cm, entered the collection of Robert Lehman, who later bequeathed it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is presently housed. Its provenance therefore moves from the artist’s studio to Lehman’s holdings and finally to the museum’s collection. No earlier commission or exhibition history is recorded in the available sources.
The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it entered the collection through the Robert Lehman Collection. It is inventoried as 1975.1.155.
It has been exhibited on at least one occasion at the museum, shown in 2007 as part of the display titled “The Robert Lehman Collection: European Paintings.”
Legacy
Les fêtes vénitiennes, painted by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin in 1759, is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of the Robert Lehman collection, reflecting its sustained scholarly attention. The work’s dimensions of 20.5 cm by 15.1 cm and its depiction of a man and a woman are documented in the museum’s records. Its inclusion in a major institutional collection highlights a lasting reputation that extends beyond the artist’s oeuvre, influencing subsequent studies of French genre painting.
Overview
Les fêtes vénitiennes, an oil sketch by Gabriel de Saint-Aubin from 1759, captures a bustling public gathering. This work depicts numerous figures engaged in conversation and observation within an urban setting, hinting at a festive occasion. The painting is currently held in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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