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Ball at the Hotel de Ville, Paris

Eugene Lami

1850

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

French Romanticism Early 19th Century Interior

Dominant colour

Ball at the Hotel de Ville, Paris is a 1850 watercolor by Eugene Lami, a French Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Eugene Lami
When & what style?: 1850 · French Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a grand room with a wide staircase and a crowd of people in fancy clothes. The walls are decorated with arches, columns, and small statues. Some folks are dancing, others are talking or sitting, and a few musicians play instruments at the bottom. The colors are soft—lots of pale blues, creams, and reds—and the light makes everything look warm and lively. Notice how the artist used light to show depth, especially on the faces and stairs. The shadows and highlights make the scene feel real and three-dimensional. Check out chiaroscuro to see how light and dark create drama in art.