Marten van CLEVE (1524-1581)

The peasant wedding dance Panel transposed on canvas. 77 x 97 cm (Ancient restorations). This painting is inspired by a creation by Pieter Brueghel the Father, kept at the Detroit Institute of Arts, dated 1566. This very popular subject was taken up by Marten van Cleve who, however, brought the bride's table and the green canopy decorated with a hanging wreath from the background into the background. The couples in the foreground and the thatched barn are in the same place in both works. Van Cleve's composition is known by four versions (Klaus Ertz and Christa Nitze-Ertz, Marten van Cleve, Luca Verlag, 2014, pp. 205-206, no. 166 to 169). The bride, crowned with flowers and dressed in dark as was customary, is busy with her parents counting the pot of silver coins donated by the guests. The predominantly dark green vegetal background is enhanced by the bright, often red, colours of the guests' clothing. They dance to the sound of two bagpipers, others drink or chat, testifying to the vitality and joie de vivre so well expressed in Flemish painting. A certificate from Dr. Klaus Ertz dated 4 July 2020 will be presented to the purchaser.