Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1973.1.36
Gallery Label:
Marcellus Laroon the Younger was the son of a Dutch painter of the same name who moved to England from The Hague. Born in London, the younger Laroon lived a long and colorful life as an actor, musician, singer, soldier, and all-around bon vivant. But, he did not begin to focus on art in earnest until his retirement from the army in 1732. Financially independent, he could paint for pleasure and not to make a living. His works, such as this comic genre painting, reveal his Dutch artistic heritage as well as his interest in contemporary French art, particularly that of Jean-Antoine Watteau.\n\n Gallery label for installation of ycba collection, 2016