Artwork
Masquerade Ball at the Ritz Hotel, Paris
Masquerade Ball at the Ritz Hotel, Paris is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta. It dates from 1909 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work presents a masquerade ball taking place in the Ritz Hotel, Paris, and depicts a woman and a man in elaborate costume alongside a central fountain, ornate interior details, and figures engaged in dance. These elements convey the opulent social rituals of the Belle Époque capital and suggest the performative nature of high‑society gatherings where identity is masked and roles are fluid. The painting thus functions as a visual record of early‑twentieth‑century Parisian leisure culture, emphasizing both the splendor of the setting and the fleeting, staged interactions among its participants.
Technique & Style
The artist, Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, utilized the oil medium to render a masquerade ball setting within the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
Executed in 1909, this work is an oil painting on canvas measuring 88.9 by 119.4 centimeters. The composition depicts an interior scene featuring figures engaged in a dance, alongside architectural elements such as a fountain. The artist, Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, utilized the oil medium to render a masquerade ball setting within the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
The piece is classified as a painting and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The visual narrative focuses on the interaction between male and female attendees within this luxurious indoor environment.
History & Provenance
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta created the oil-on-canvas painting titled Masquerade Ball at the Ritz Hotel, Paris in 1909. The work measures 88.9 cm in height and 119.4 cm in width. It depicts an interior scene featuring men, women, a fountain, and dancing figures.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art currently holds the painting in its collection. While the specific commission details and the immediate chain of ownership prior to the museum are not detailed in the available records, the work is firmly dated to the year 1909. The piece is classified as a painting executed in oil paint on a canvas support.
Its current location is confirmed as the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains part of the public holdings.
Overview
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta, a Spanish painter, completed Masquerade Ball at the Ritz Hotel, Paris in 1909. This oil painting captures a vibrant social event within a luxurious Parisian setting. The artwork is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, showcasing Madrazo's skill in depicting detailed genre scenes.
Context
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta belonged to a prominent Spanish artistic lineage, the Madrazo family. He established a reputation primarily through his genre paintings and portraits, which often captured the social life and figures of his era. This painting exemplifies his ability to portray complex social gatherings with precision and a keen eye for human interaction.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta (24 July 1841 – 15 September 1920) was a Spanish painter from the Madrazo family of artists who worked in the Realistic style, although his later work shows signs of Rococo and Japanese influence.
