Artwork
A Masked Ball in Bohemia
A Masked Ball in Bohemia is an oil painting. It dates from 1748 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The painting portrays a masked ball on a balcony, featuring a woman and a man dancing while wearing masks; this composition illustrates a festive gathering.
The painting portrays a masked ball on a balcony, featuring a woman and a man dancing while wearing masks; this composition illustrates a festive gathering. Executed in oil on canvas in 1748 and attributed to Andreas Altomonte, the work measures 48.3 × 96.5 cm and is classified as a painting in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. Its depiction of dance, masks, and a balcony reflects the social atmosphere of an 18th-century Bohemian masquerade.
Technique & Style
A Masked Ball in Bohemia is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard support for mid-eighteenth-century European easel painting. The work is relatively modest in scale, measuring 48.3 cm in height by 96.5 cm in width, giving it a pronounced horizontal format suited to its multi-figure, processional subject matter. The composition depicts a crowded gathering of masked women and men, a dance, and a balcony, suggesting a layered handling of figures and architectural space typical of festive genre scenes. Attributed to Andreas Altomonte, the painting is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
History & Provenance
The painting titled A Masked Ball in Bohemia is dated to 1748 and is executed in oil on canvas. The work is currently housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and its creation is attributed to the artist Andreas Altomonte. The physical dimensions measure 48.3 centimeters in height and 96.5 centimeters in width.
No specific details regarding the original commission or the complete chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
Overview
This oil painting, titled A Masked Ball in Bohemia, captures a vibrant social event unfolding within a grand theater. The composition is densely populated with numerous figures, many of whom are dressed in elaborate costumes and masks. Attendees are distributed across the main floor and the surrounding balconies, creating a dynamic and immersive scene of festivity and interaction.
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