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Country Dances Round a Maypole

Francis Hayman

1742

oil

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Baroque Rococo painting 18th Century Genre Scene

Dominant colour

Country Dances Round a Maypole is a 1742 oil by Francis Hayman, a Baroque work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Francis Hayman
When & what style?: 1742 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows people dancing around a maypole in a bright garden. The maypole is wrapped in flowers and ribbons. Others sit nearby eating and drinking. It was one of 50 pictures meant to decorate outdoor dining spots in the 1700s. When guests arrived, the paintings hung like backdrops. At a certain time, they’d drop down to form walls. The artist hid little details in the faces and clothes. Look close and you’ll spot the fashion of the day. Check out Hayman, Francis (RA) next.

The story of this work

Overview

Francis Hayman’s 1742 painting *Country Dances Round a Maypole* was one of fifty decorative panels installed as backdrops for supper boxes at Spring Gardens, Vauxhall, where diners viewed the scene before it was lowered to enclose them. The work depicts a May Day tradition of dancing around a maypole, presented with a focus on elegance rather than rowdiness, aligning with the refined entertainment offered at Vauxhall. Hayman, who began as a scene painter before turning to portraiture, received the commission from entrepreneur Jonathan Tyers, who opened the gardens to the public in 1732. The…

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

Francis Hayman

Francis Hayman liked to paint everyday life. He often depicted people having fun, like in "Country Dances Round a Maypole". What's interesting is that his works were sometimes used as decorations, like the supper-box…

See the richer artist page