The artwork titled “The Feast. The Banquet of Nebuchadnezzar” is an oil on canvas history painting by Paul Cézanne, created circa 1870. Measuring 130 x 81 cm, it belongs to the Impressionism movement and is held in a private collection. This genre of artwork is known for capturing historical, biblical, and mythological narratives.
In describing the artwork, we see a lavish and dynamic scene that portrays a sense of movement and drama. The use of color is rich and bold, with Cezanne employing a palette that enlivens the scene with vibrant blues, reds, and earthy tones, which is characteristic of the Impressionist technique of capturing light and ambience. Compositionally, the artwork is dense with figures that recline or sit around a banquet table laden with an assortment of dishes, which is typical of history painting during that era, intending to convey a narrative from the past. The brushwork appears loose and energetic, contributing to a sense of immediacy and liveliness in the scene. As the painting focuses on a moment of indulgence and opulence, viewers are invited to contemplate the historical and possibly moral dimensions of the story of Nebuchadnezzar.
