Artwork
A Fancy-Dress Ball
A Fancy-Dress Ball is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Benoît Le Coffre. It dates from 1708 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1708, *A Fancy‑Dress Ball* is an oil painting by Benoît Le Coffre, a Danish artist of French heritage who served as court painter to King Frederick IV from 1700 until his death in 1722. The work records an indoor soirée, populated by elegantly attired figures, and exemplifies the early emergence of the lighter Rococo aesthetic in Denmark.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas captures a bustling ballroom where men and women mingle in elaborate costumes, tall hats and flowing gowns. The composition places the most active participants in the foreground, while a dimly lit rear area hints at additional guests, suggesting the social stratification and convivial atmosphere of aristocratic entertainment in early‑18th‑century Copenhagen.
Technique & Style
Le Coffre employs chiaroscuro to model the figures, juxtaposing a warm, rearward glow against the surrounding darkness. This contrast heightens the sense of depth and draws attention to the richly textured fabrics. The palette of deep, muted tones reinforces the painting’s nocturnal setting, while the fluid brushwork anticipates the decorative sensibilities of the Rococo movement.
History & Provenance
Commissioned for the royal court, the painting remained in the Danish royal collection throughout the 18th century. After Le Coffre’s death in 1722, the work passed through successive royal inventories before entering the holdings of the national museum in the early 20th century, where it continues to be displayed as a representative example of Denmark’s early Rococo period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Benoît Le Coffre (1671 – 1722) was a Danish painter of French descent. He became King Frederick IV's Court Painter in 1700 and is considered the earliest representative of light Rococo painting in Denmark.
