Mauritshuis acquires rare painting

Merry Company on a Terrace from c.1616-1617 is a key work in the development of early Dutch genre painting. The Mauritshuis already had landscapes, still lifes, history paintings and portraits from the early seventeenth century in its collection, but until now there had not been a representative genre piece (a painting that depicts a scene from everyday life). Buytewech portrayed the subject of young people eating, drinking and enjoying themselves with great virtuosity and humour. Several couples are shown gathered around a richly-laid table on an elegant terrace in a palatial setting. The only thing that is not entirely clear is who is with whom and who is flirting with whom? All the figures are dressed in the latest fashions – the women with low-cut necklines and the men in colourful outfits with tall hats. The small monkey on the left plays a key role: he is trying to lift one of the women’s skirts, but the man who might be her partner is thwarting the effort by playing footsie with her.