Fête Galante Antiques

Fête Galante refers to a specific category of artwork rather than a stylistic movement. The term was invented in 1717 by the French Academy of Arts, to describe the work of the French painter Antoine Watteau’s creations. Watteau’s paintings portrayed courtly figures in elaborate masquerade or ball dress, lounging and playfully interacting with each other in external, parkland landscapes. The Fête Galante style of painting played a significant part in the development of Rococo style and design, which began the focus on more intimate pleasures and personal scenes, rather than the previous depictions of the church and royal court.