Artwork
Masqueraders
Masqueraders is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta. It dates from 1875 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a woman and a man, with the man wearing a mask, suggesting figures in costume engaged in the playful concealment characteristic of such events.
The painting’s title, Masqueraders, identifies its scene as a masquerade gathering. The work depicts a woman and a man, with the man wearing a mask, suggesting figures in costume engaged in the playful concealment characteristic of such events. The mask functions as an iconographic element of disguise, alluding to themes of hidden identity, social role‑play, and the festive ambiguity of the masquerade tradition.
History & Provenance
Masqueraders is an oil-on-canvas work by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta dated 1875. The painting entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the ownership of Robert Lehman, as recorded in its institutional holdings. No further details regarding an original commission, prior owners, intermediate sales, or earlier exhibition history prior to the Lehman provenance are documented in the available sources.
The work's documented creation date of 1875 and its subsequent association with the Robert Lehman collection and the Metropolitan Museum of Art constitute the entirety of its verifiable provenance chain.
The painting Masqueraders, created by Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta in 1875, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work was formerly owned by Robert Lehman before entering the museum's holdings. While specific inventory or accession numbers are not detailed in the available records, the piece is cataloged within the institution's location.
The provided sources confirm the artwork's current residence and previous ownership but do not list specific past exhibitions or loan history.
Overview
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta completed Masqueraders in 1875, an oil painting that captures a private moment between two masked figures. This work, characteristic of the Impressionist movement, features a man and a woman engaged in quiet conversation at a small table. The Spanish artist, from the notable Madrazo family, created this piece, which is now part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Technique & Style
Raimundo de Madrazo y Garreta rendered Masqueraders using oil paint, aligning the work with the Impressionist movement of its time. While the artist was generally recognized for his Realistic approach in genre paintings and portraits, his later career also saw him incorporate stylistic elements from Rococo and Japanese art. This particular painting demonstrates a focus on capturing a fleeting moment and an intimate mood, characteristic of the Impressionist sensibility.
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.
