Watteau, François Louis Joseph (dit Watteau de Lille) (1758 - 1823)

This gathering, like an instantaneous sketch, gives a glimpse into the leisure activities of Parisian society, with its relaxed atmosphere, games, the elegance of "fashionable" outfits and the setting of a pleasure garden adorned with ponds and antique sculptures… The family setting also evokes the rural and educational reveries in the writings of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), in particular the first books of L'Émile, which defend the role of experience in children’s education, particularly through games. The abundant details and the suave, supple touch give this painting an anecdotal character. Watteau de Lille is seen as a charming chronicler of his time, showing us the deeds of a bourgeois society hungry for entertainment.

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