Twelfth Night

Twelfth Night celebrations unfold in this 1654 painting from the Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz collection. The Feast of the Epiphany—celebrated on January 6th with the crowning of a bean king—was one of the Dutch Republic"s most festive occasions. Jan Steen made the subject famous, but Metsu"s version offers his own interpretation of the raucous celebration, combining genre observation with the festive license that Twelfth Night permitted. Metsu was among the most gifted painters of the Dutch Golden Age's second generation, combining Rembrandt's tonal depth with Vermeer's luminosity in genre scenes of exceptional refinement.

The crowded festive scene fills the canvas with revelers, creating a more animated, populous composition than Metsu"s typical intimate interiors. The celebration"s food, drink, and merry-making provide opportunities for varied genre observation. The palette is warm and golden, with the festive atmosphere conveyed through bright lighting and the vivid colors of the participants" holiday attire.