ticketsMember | Make a donation
English

Mezzetin

ca. 1718–20
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 629
Mezzetin, a stock comic character of the Italian commedia dell’arte, became an established archetype on the Paris stage, but was an innovative subject for painting in Watteau’s lifetime. Here Mezzetin inhabits the overgrown gardens beloved by Watteau. His costume typically included a striped jacket and knee breeches, a floppy hat, a ruff, and a short cape; his personality was by turns interfering, devious, and lovelorn, as indicated by the distant female statue who turns her back to him. Watteau’s delicate touch, especially evident in the figure’s hands and clothing, is exceptionally well preserved in this painting.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mezzetin
  • Artist: Antoine Watteau (French, Valenciennes 1684–1721 Nogent-sur-Marne)
  • Date: ca. 1718–20
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 21 3/4 x 17 in. (55.2 x 43.2 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Munsey Fund, 1934
  • Object Number: 34.138
  • Curatorial Department: European Paintings

Audio

Cover Image for 5183. Mezzetin

5183. Mezzetin

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Guitar, Matteo Sellas German, active Italy, Spruce, bone, parchment, snakewood, ivory, Italian
Guitar
Matteo Sellas
ca. 1630–50
The Lute Player, Jane Freilicher American, Oil on canvas
The Lute Player
Jane Freilicher
1993
Head of a Man, Antoine Watteau French, Red and black chalk
Head of a Man
Antoine Watteau
ca. 1718
L'Oeuvre D'Antoine Watteau Pientre du Roy en son Academie Roïale de Peinture et Sculpture Gravé d'après ses Tableaux & Desseins originaux...par les Soins de M. de Jullienne, Volume I, Antoine Watteau French, Engraving
L'Oeuvre D'Antoine Watteau Pientre du Roy en son Academie Roïale de Peinture et Sculpture Gravé d'après ses Tableaux & Desseins originaux...par les Soins de M. de Jullienne, Volume I
Antoine Watteau
Nicolas Henry Tardieu
ca. 1740
Standing Man Leaning on a Parapet; Seated Woman, Leaning on a Pedestal; Woman Walking; Man Walking, Seen in Profile
Antoine Watteau
Simon Thomassin the younger
1709–10

Related Content

Perspectives

Articles, audio, and video from The Met's online magazine.

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Showing 4 of 27

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.