Francis HaymanStorbritannien, 1818–1897Country Dances Round a Maypole
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Hvor er »Country Dances Round a Maypole« i dag? Victoria and Albert Museum, British Galleries, Room 52, The George Levy Gallery, London. Ja, udstillet nu. Kontrolleret 25. september 2026.
London, Storbritannien
SalBritish Galleries, Room 52, The George Levy Gallery
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Om maleriet
Object Type
This painting was one of 50 supper box pictures at Spring Gardens, Vauxhall. They each formed the back of one `arbour' or supper box, an ornate wooden shelter formed of two side walls and a roof, framing picturesque views through the Gardens, where guests could take supper. At a certain moment in the evening's entertainment, the paintings were `let fall' to enclose the diners at the back. The front was left permanently open for the fashionable occupants to view and be viewed.
Subjects Depicted
Læs videre
One of the May Day customs that Francis Hayman illustrated was dancing round the May Pole. This custom still persists, although the days when it was a welcome sight on most village greens have long gone. The Puritans perceived it as an immoral activity and literally tried to cut down May Poles in many places. Nowadays May Pole dancing is regarded as a harmless activity for children, in the same tradition as Morris dancing. The painting's theme of pleasure was in keeping with the spirit of carnival at Spring Gardens in Vauxhall. Here, however, it is depicted with an emphasis on refinement rather than bawdiness.
People
Francis Hayman began as a scene painter, then turned to portraiture. His first major decorative commission consisted of these large paintings at Spring Gardens, Vauxhall. The commission came from Hayman's patron, the entrepreneur Jonathan Tyers (died 1767), who held the lease on Spring Gardens and was responsible for opening them to the public in 1732.
Victoria and Albert Museum
Oplysninger
- Inventarnummer
- P.70-1986
I kataloget
Kilder
- Victoria and Albert Museum
- Billede: Victoria and Albert Museum — © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
