Who painted The Feast in the House of Simon?

The Feast in the House of Simon was painted by Pierre-Hubert Subleyras in 1738.

Where can I see The Feast in the House of Simon?

The Feast in the House of Simon is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is The Feast in the House of Simon?

The Feast in the House of Simon is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

The Feast in the House of Simon

Pierre-Hubert Subleyras , 1738

The Feast in the House of Simon is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pierre-Hubert Subleyras. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

Inscription: Inscribed:by later hand, lower verso in graphite: 1er etat d'eau forte pure, avant la lettre, et avant les travaux : sure la tête et la bras de l'homme a genoux a [not deciphered]... de S Simon, sur la tête du jeune homme qui est derriere, da celui qui est au midrin(?) des quatres derrieres et [not deciphered] / (epreuve non decrite, de la plus grande rarité et peut etre unique); by later hand, lower right verso in graphite: 12 / 101046

About this work

Overview

Pierre‑Hubert Subleyras produced an etching titled The Feast in the House of Simon in 1738. Executed on laid paper, the print captures a bustling banquet scene within an opulent interior, populated by numerous figures engaged in eating, conversing, and gesturing amid a sense of disorder.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a crowded banquet set in a spacious hall lined with tall columns and elaborate decoration. Participants occupy a long table and the surrounding floor, some seated, others standing or reclining, suggesting a moment of communal revelry that borders on chaos, emphasizing the vitality of social interaction.

Technique & Style

Subleyras employed the etching process, incising fine, sharp lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. The crisp linear work creates depth through overlapping figures and architectural elements, while the flowing, period costumes lend a historical atmosphere to the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the print reflects Subleyras’s engagement with narrative subjects common to the Rococo period. While specific ownership records are limited, the work survives in several museum collections, attesting to its continued relevance as an example of French printmaking of the era.