Fête Organized to Celebrate the Marriage of the Emperor Joseph II to Princess Marie-Josèphe of Bavaria 23/24 January 1765

Executed in oil on canvas, the painting employs the lightness and ornamental richness characteristic of the Rococo. Van Meytens uses a pastel palette, delicate brushwork, and intricate detailing of fabrics and architecture to create a sense of movement and festive atmosphere, while maintaining the clarity expected of court portraiture.

After its completion, the canvas entered the imperial collection and remained in Habsburg possession. It later became part of the holdings of Vienna’s Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s extensive assemblage of eighteenth‑century Austrian art.

Created during the reign of Empress Maria Theresa, the painting reflects the period’s emphasis on courtly display and diplomatic marriage alliances. Van Meytens, a favored portraitist of the imperial family, often documented such state occasions, providing visual records that reinforced the prestige of the Habsburg court.