The Gathering at the Concert c. 18th century

Curator: François Nicolas Barthélemy Dequevauviller created this print, "The Gathering at the Concert," which resides here at Harvard Art Museums. What's your initial reaction? Editor: It feels staged, almost theatrical. Like a tableau vivant meant to depict cultivated leisure and the social currency of music within a certain elite circle. Curator: Considering Dequevauviller’s focus, I wonder about the labor involved in orchestrating such events. The construction of the musical instruments, the production of clothes, and the building of that impressive room. Editor: Absolutely! The composition directs our attention not only to the performers but also to the audience, highlighting the performative aspects of 18th-century aristocratic life and the patronage system. Curator: Seeing this makes you think about what it took to make this image and bring the music to life. Editor: I agree. This print serves as a document of a very specific moment in cultural history.