The scene takes place outdoors, on a terrace. A large, cheerful crowd is arranged symmetrically around a pair of dancers. They’re all richly dressed. The women wear lace and sumptuous jewellery, and the men their ceremonial costumes.
On the right, under a canopy, stand the lord and his lady, for whom this celebration is being held. It’s assumed that they are Don Juan of Austria, the illegitimate son of King Philip IV of Spain, and his wife.
In the background on the left, on a stage, a string orchestra brings the party to life. In the centre, a seated musician holds a bass viol, the ancestor of the cello, while the others play the violin.
The large open space in the centre and paving of the terrace open up a perspective onto the background, where a fountain and lush garden can be seen. This very rigorous composition is counterbalanced by the figures’ supple nature.
Janssens uses scenes of the ball as a pretext to show us his refinement and virtuosity in depicting the smallest details. His attraction to depicting the dances and entertainment of high society even earned him the nickname Janssens the "Dancer"!
Detail : The musicians in the background are not very focused. A man standing on the left tries to calm them down and conduct them with a baton.
Inv. P 186
The scene takes place outdoors, on a terrace. A large, cheerful crowd is arranged symmetrically around a pair of dancers. They’re all richly dressed. The women wear lace and sumptuous jewellery, and the men their ceremonial costumes.
On the right, under a canopy, stand the lord and his lady, for whom this celebration is being held. It’s assumed that they are Don Juan of Austria, the illegitimate son of King Philip IV of Spain, and his wife.
In the background on the left, on a stage, a string orchestra brings the party to life. In the centre, a seated musician holds a bass viol, the ancestor of the cello, while the others play the violin.
The large open space in the centre and paving of the terrace open up a perspective onto the background, where a fountain and lush garden can be seen. This very rigorous composition is counterbalanced by the figures’ supple nature.
Janssens uses scenes of the ball as a pretext to show us his refinement and virtuosity in depicting the smallest details. His attraction to depicting the dances and entertainment of high society even earned him the nickname Janssens the "Dancer"!
Detail : The musicians in the background are not very focused. A man standing on the left tries to calm them down and conduct them with a baton.
Inv. P 186
