Artwork
May Queen Festival (or The Flower-Feast of Whitesuntide, or Pentecost)
May Queen Festival (or The Flower-Feast of Whitesuntide, or Pentecost) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Richard Brakenburgh. It dates from 1700 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest.
About this work
Overview
Around 1700, Dutch painter Richard Brakenburgh produced an oil on canvas titled *May Queen Festival*—also known as *The Flower-Feast of Whitesuntide* or *Pentecost*. The work belongs to the genre‑painting tradition of the Dutch Golden Age and is now part of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.
Subject & Meaning
The composition shows a festive outdoor gathering in 17th‑century dress, centered on a woman crowned with flowers who represents the May Queen. A small putto and a dog accompany the crowd, emphasizing the celebratory atmosphere of a spring ritual.
Technique & Style
Brakenburgh employs the light, decorative palette typical of Rococo‑influenced genre scenes, using delicate color contrasts to model figures and create depth. The arrangement of figures across the foreground and background guides the eye through the bustling tableau.
History & Provenance
After its creation in Haarlem, the painting entered various private collections before being acquired by the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s Dutch Golden Age holdings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Richard Brakenburgh or Brakenburg (22 May 1650, in Haarlem – 28 December 1702, in Haarlem), was a Dutch Golden Age painter.
