Who painted Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782?

Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782 was painted by Jean-Michel the Younger Moreau in 1782.

Where can I see Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782?

Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782 is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782?

Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782 is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782

Jean-Michel the Younger Moreau , 1782

Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782 is a print by the Romanticist artist Jean-Michel the Younger Moreau. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The painting is called Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782.
It was created in 1782, a time of significant cultural and social change. The fact that it depicts an interior scene suggests that the artist was interested in everyday life.
You can learn more about this type of art at the museum where it's held, The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Overview

Jean‑Michel Moreau le Jeune’s print titled *Royal Feast at the Hôtel de Ville, January 21, 1782* records a formal banquet held in Paris’s city hall. Executed in the year it depicts, the work is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection and offers a detailed view of a state ceremony on the eve of the French Revolution.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures the interior of the Hôtel de Ville during a royal banquet, showing dignitaries, elaborate table settings, and decorative architecture. By focusing on a public celebration, the print reflects the ceremonial role of the monarchy in civic life and the display of power through sumptuous hospitality.

Technique & Style

Moreau employed the fine line work and shading characteristic of late‑18th‑century French engraving. The composition balances precise architectural perspective with lively figures, allowing viewers to discern both the grandeur of the setting and the individual gestures of participants.

History & Provenance

Created in 1782, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the 20th century, though the exact path of ownership prior to that remains undocumented. Its presence in an American museum underscores the transatlantic interest in pre‑revolutionary French visual culture.

Context

The banquet took place during a period of mounting social tension in France, when royal ceremonies were both expressions of authority and focal points for public scrutiny. The Hôtel de Ville, as the municipal seat, served as a venue where royal and civic identities intersected.

Legacy

As a visual record of a specific historic event, the print provides scholars with insight into the material culture of late‑Ancien Régime celebrations, informing studies of architecture, fashion, and courtly protocol on the cusp of revolutionary change.