Philippe Mercier, 1689 or 1691–1760, Franco-German, active in Britain (from 1716)
Title:
The Sense of Taste
Date:
1744 to 1747
Materials & Techniques:
Oil on canvas
Dimensions:
52 x 60 1/2 inches (132.1 x 153.7 cm)
Credit Line:
Yale Center for British Art, Paul Mellon Collection
Copyright Status:
Public Domain
Accession Number:
B1974.3.18
Gallery Label:
As in The Sense of Touch, this scene involves two pairs of lovers sitting in an open loggia, attended by a black page. The couple on the right are the merrier of the two, firmly in charge of the wine bottles, and filling glasses. The couple on the left appear more restrained, though the young lady's glass is being filled noisily. A third couple has vanished-there are six ices, and a discarded napkin at the head of the table. A silver dish of peaches and figs temptingly occupies the foreground. Gallery label for installation of YCBA collection, 2005