Artwork

The Feast in the House of Simon

The Feast in the House of Simon, by Pierre-Hubert Subleyras, ink, 1738
The Feast in the House of Simon, by Pierre-Hubert Subleyras, ink, 1738

The Feast in the House of Simon is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pierre-Hubert Subleyras. It dates from 1738 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Pierre‑Hubert Subleyras produced an etching titled *The Feast in the House of Simon* in 1738. Executed on laid paper, the print captures a bustling banquet scene within an opulent interior, populated by numerous figures engaged in eating, conversing, and gesturing amid a sense of disorder.

Subject & Meaning

The composition portrays a crowded banquet set in a spacious hall lined with tall columns and elaborate decoration. Participants occupy a long table and the surrounding floor, some seated, others standing or reclining, suggesting a moment of communal revelry that borders on chaos, emphasizing the vitality of social interaction.

Technique & Style

Subleyras employed the etching process, incising fine, sharp lines into a metal plate before transferring the image onto laid paper. The crisp linear work creates depth through overlapping figures and architectural elements, while the flowing, period costumes lend a historical atmosphere to the scene.

History & Provenance

Created in the mid‑18th century, the print reflects Subleyras’s engagement with narrative subjects common to the Rococo period. While specific ownership records are limited, the work survives in several museum collections, attesting to its continued relevance as an example of French printmaking of the era.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.