Bal du moulin de la Galette (English: Dance at Le moulin de la Galette) (1876) is a painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The painting depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at Moulin de la Galette in the district of Montmartre. In the late 19th century, working class Parisians would dress up and spend time there dancing, drinking, and eating galettes into the evening. Bal du moulin de la Galette is a typical Impressionist snapshot of real life. It shows a richness of form, a fluidity of brush stroke, and a flickering light. The French painter Gustave Caillebotte owned the painting for about 20 years. When he died it became the property of the French Republic. From 1896 to 1929 the painting hung in the Musée du Luxembourg. From 1929 it hung in the Musée du Louvre. It was sent to the Musée d'Orsay in 1986. Renoir painted a smaller version of the picture with the same title. This painting is in a private collection. For many years it was owned by John Hay Whitney. On May 17, 1990, his widow sold it for US$78 million at Sotheby's in New York City. It was one of the most expensive artworks ever sold.
Bal du moulin de la Galette
Questions and Answers
Q: Who painted Bal du moulin de la Galette?
A: Bal du moulin de la Galette was painted by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.
Q: Where can Bal du moulin de la Galette be found?
A: Bal du moulin de la Galette can be found in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.
Q: What is depicted in the painting Bal du moulin de la Galette?
A: The painting Bal du moulin de la Galette depicts a typical Sunday afternoon at Moulin de la Galette in the district of Montmartre, where working class Parisians would dress up and spend time dancing, drinking, and eating galettes into the evening.
Q: What art style is represented by Bal du moulin de la Galette?
A: Bal du moulin de la Galette is a typical Impressionist snapshot of real life.
Q: Who owned Bal du moulin de la Galette before it became the property of the French Republic?
A: The French painter Gustave Caillebotte owned Bal du moulin de la Galette for about 20 years.
Q: Where did Bal du moulin de la Galette hang from 1896 to 1929?
A: Bal du moulin de la Galette hung in the Musée du Luxembourg from 1896 to 1929.
Q: Who owned the smaller version of Bal du moulin de la Galette and for how much was it sold in May 1990?
A: The smaller version of Bal du moulin de la Galette was owned by John Hay Whitney and was sold for US$78 million at Sotheby's in New York City in May 1990.