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'The Banquet', 1882
by Sir James Dromgole Linton
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One of a series of paintings telling the story of the life of a soldier about 500
year ago, painted for Charles Jacoby’s drawing room. The other paintings in
the series are: ‘The Declaration of War’, ‘The Benediction’,
‘The Surrender’, and ‘Victorious’.
This painting, ‘The Banquet’, is the finale of the series, showing the
triumphant celebration of the soldier’s success in battle. The painting shows
a sumptuous banquet taking place. There are lots of wine containers around, food
and drink are being served, but there is very lITEle evidence of food or plates
on the table, perhaps the meal is drawing to a close and desert is being served.
Although the painting is Victorian, the costumes all relate to a much earlier time.
The guests are all dressed very extravagantly, even the musicians and those serving
the food and wine are dressed in rich fabrics with velvet shoes. One of the guests
is sITEing on a special chair and is wearing a coat with huge fur trimmings, he
is clearly a very special person, either the host or the guest of honour.
The banquet is taking place in an outdoor setting, but the surroundings are richly
decorated and opulent. The floors and walls are marble, featuring many patterns,
and above the table a coat of arms and several heraldic shields are clearly visible.
On a wall a small monkey sits, watching the proceedings and perhaps waiting for
an opportunity to slip down to the table and steal a lITEle treat. Over the wall,
in the distance a temple is clearly visible.
The central figure in the painting is a dancer. She alone wears flimsy clothes,
no shoes and her feet look dirty. Her back is turned towards us; can we guess what
she is thinking and feeling without seeing her face?
The audience show a mixture of re-actions towards her, some look bored, some entranced,
and the waiter in front of the table seems to be looking at her with some concern,
is he worried for her? Maybe related to her in some way? Although this is a celebration
of a victory at war, only one person in the painting is obviously a soldier, are
there more senior soldiers in non-military dress?
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© Nottingham City Museums and Galleries. Photo © Nick Dunmur.
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