Valere Alphonse Morland (1844-1916) “ball In Venice”

This scene painted by V. Morland in 1906 depicts a festive and elegant atmosphere in a city inspired by Venice or from a period reminiscent of the 18th century. In the foreground, a woman wearing a yellow dress and a fur-trimmed coat seems to be in deep discussion or reacting with surprise to something. Her expression and gesture indicate a moment of animated conversation. Behind her, a couple occupies the center of the composition: a man in a red frock coat and a woman in a white dress advance gracefully, seeming to share a moment of complicity. The woman is holding a bouquet of flowers and seems to be smiling. To the right, a table filled with masked guests evokes a masked ball or a carnival celebration. They are dressed in rich costumes and seem to be toasting and chatting happily. To the left, a child in costume plays the drum. In the background, a city with colorful and lively facades is outlined, with visible sails of boats, suggesting a harbor setting on this city: Venice. The work depicts a high-society scene, perhaps inspired by the Venice Carnival or an aristocratic party in a European port city. The pictorial style, with vibrant colors and an impressionistic touch in the treatment of details, conveys a sense of dynamism and gaiety. The festive atmosphere, period costumes, and lively expressions of the characters demonstrate a taste for visual storytelling and the picturesque. This painting exudes a joyful, elegant, and theatrical atmosphere, typical of genre scenes immortalizing the high society life of the past.