Lot 2349 Dα

"The Roman Carnival is not really a festival given for the people but one the people give themselves… unlike the religious festivals in Rome, the Carnival does not dazzle the eye: there are no fireworks, no illuminations, no brilliant processions. All that happens is that, at a given signal, everyone has leave to be as mad and foolish as he likes, and almost everything, except fisticuffs and stabbing, is permissible.", wrote Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832).
Depictions of this fascinating fest are amongst the most impressive and beautiful genre scenes from the XIX century. Carnival was one of the most important and beloved Roman Festivities: it lasted eight days, ending on the night of Mardi Gras, with the beginning of Lent; during this short period the austere laws concerning public order, mainly based on religious principles, could be broken: parties and entertainments, such as horse rides, disguised parties and parades, games and tournaments were organized troughout the Eternal City.
After studying art in Antwerp and Dusseldorf, the Dutch born Carel Quaedvlieg settled in Rome from 1853, where he would live and work for the rest of his life , specialising in landscapes and painting Roman genre scenes.