The Buffet 1728

Jean-Baptiste-Siméon Chardin created this large painting of a buffet with oil on canvas. The dark tones and ordinary subject matter are characteristic of Chardin, but here he has chosen to depict an aristocratic feast. Painted in France in the middle of the eighteenth century, it represents the lavish tastes of the French court. The pyramid of fruit, glistening carafe, and clean, white tablecloth are symbols of wealth and luxury. Even the dog looks longingly at the buffet, perhaps acting as a metaphor for the working class. The French salons and the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture played a vital role in shaping artistic tastes during this period, with still life holding a lower status compared to historical or mythological paintings. Despite this hierarchy, Chardin achieved great success, even becoming the treasurer of the Academy. To understand art we have to appreciate the social conditions that shaped its production. Researching primary sources, such as salon catalogues, royal records, and philosophical texts, provides us with valuable insights into the institutions that shaped artistic tastes.