Property from a Private Collection

JUAN ANTONIO GONZALES (SPANISH 1842-1914)
Hommage to the newborn
signed and dated Juan Antonio Gonzales.1876. (lower left)
oil on canvas
130.2 x 84.8 cm (51 1/4 x 33 3/8 in)

The scene of figures in their finery lining up to compliment the new mother and admire the newborn afforded Gonzales the opportunity to poke fun at the mincing rituals and vacuous niceties of the bourgeoisie with a dry wit, and by presenting them in the silks and satins of the eighteenth century to indulge his talent for painting richly textured and finely coloured fabrics.

The entrenched social hierarchy that the painting captures reads like a book. On the left the young mother in white is congratulated by the first elegant gentleman, while on the far right at the rear if the queue is the curé in solemn robes of black; behind him two footmen prepare the table for lunch. In the centre of the group a third leading gentlemen wearing a tailcoat of gold silk looks down imperiously at the baby held by the nurse as he nochalantly flicks back his tails to reveal its deep viridian lining to the viewer; around him the ladies fuss, gossip and flirt. To underline this parade of vanities, behind the figures Gonzales hangs a huge mirror.