A Village Kermis with a Wedding Feast thumbnail 1
A Village Kermis with a Wedding Feast thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case DG, Shelf 41

A Village Kermis with a Wedding Feast

Drawing
mid 16th century (made), 17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The event takes place in a village square, surrounded by buildings, and a church in the left middle ground. The bridal party, seated around a table, can be seen in an open-sided tent on the right. The space is filled with figures engaged in dancing, carousing, lovemaking and other activities. In the centre foreground, a stationary cart, around which are a pig with piglet and ducks.


Object details

Category
Object type
TitleA Village Kermis with a Wedding Feast (published title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and brown ink with pink, yellow and grey washes, over black chalk on paper
Brief description
Drawing, 'A Village Kermis with a Wedding Feast', by a follower of Pieter Bruegel the elder, pen and brown ink with pink, yellow and grey washes, over black chalk on paper, mid 16th century or 17th century, Flemish School
Physical description
The event takes place in a village square, surrounded by buildings, and a church in the left middle ground. The bridal party, seated around a table, can be seen in an open-sided tent on the right. The space is filled with figures engaged in dancing, carousing, lovemaking and other activities. In the centre foreground, a stationary cart, around which are a pig with piglet and ducks.
Dimensions
  • Height: 400 mm
  • Width: 540 mm
Style
Production typeArtist's proof
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed on verso: in brush and brown ink, 7 Dhr Bruegel in Fr. Gol; and in black chalk, 100.
Gallery label
The village fair or ‘Kermis’ first became a popular subject in the 16th century. Presented as moralizing examples against drunkenness and vulgarity, they allowed for comic depictions of boisterous peasant life. Pieter Bruegel the Elder was one of the greatest Renaissance artists. His drawing style influenced many leading landscape and genre artist of the following centuries.
Object history
Rev. Alexander Dyce (1798–1869), London, by whom bequeathed to the museum (L. Suppl. 153b), 1869.
Production
The rubbing of chalk on the verso suggests that the design might have been intended for an engraving.
Bibliographic references
  • Jane Shoaf Turner and Christopher White, Catalogue of Dutch and Flemish Drawings in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, 2014), vol. II, cat.457, pp.377-78
  • DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum, 1874.
  • A.E. Popham, 'Pieter van der Borcht the Elder (1548-1608)', Old Master Drawings, Vol. III (1928), pp.30-1, pl.28
Collection
Accession number
DYCE.497

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Record createdJune 8, 2009
Record URL
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