This painting was executed in the sec.half of 18th century by one of followers of famous French genre painter of rococo time Nicolas Lancret (1690- Paris-1743), who became a brilliant depicter of light comedy which reflected the tastes and manners of French society under the regent Orleans.His first master was Pierre d´Ulin, but his acquaintance with and admiration for Watteau induced him to leave d´Ulin for Gillot, whose pupil Watteau had been. Two pictures painted by Lancret and exhibited on the Place Dauphine . had a great success, which laid the foundation of his fortune, and, it is said, estranged Watteau, who had been complimented as their author.Lancret´s work cannot now, however, be taken for that of Watteau, for both in drawing and in painting his touch, although intelligent, is dry, hard and wanting in that quality which distinguished his great model; these characteristics are due possibly in part to the fact that he had been for some time in training under an engraver.The number of his paintings (of which over eighty have been engraved) is immense; he executed a few portraits and attempted historical composition, but his favorite subjects were balls, fairs, village weddings, etc. In 1719 he was received as Academician, and became councillor in 1735; in 1741 he married a grandchild of Borsault, author of Aesop at Court.

Literature: "Malerwerke des 19. Jahrhunderts" by Fr.v.Boetticher,p.1060, Nr.3 (with title in German: "Die drei Könige"); Lexicon by Thieme/Becker; Siegfried Tann, Bernd Wiedmann (Herausgeber): Der Genremaler Reinhard Sebastian Zimmermann. 1815-1893. exhibiton cataloque, Gessler, Friedrichshafen 1986

Inscription: unsigned , on the backside-old labels with inscriptions about painter and title of painting.

Technique: oil on wood panel. Original gold-plated frame of 18th century.

Measurements: unframed 8 1/4" x 10 1/2" (21 x 26,5 cm), framed 10 1/2" x 12 1/2 " (26,5 x 32 cm)

Condition: very good.