This representation of a daily event in the life of King Carlos III (1716-1788) shows the Monarch eating at court. While the subject of the painting would seem to make it a pictorial document, the setting is actually invented, although it looks somewhat like a fantasy of a room in Madrid's Royal Palace.

The chosen moment, which runs the risk of being uninteresting, was one of the King's daily rituals, and attending these dinners was a privilege available to very few.

With the sumptuous decoration of the walls, Paret manages to create a very monumental setting that contrasts with the figures of the personages, who are small and elongated. Behind the table, the king barely stands out.

The vibrant colors and glassy highlight make this artist the finest representative of late Spanish Baroque painting, which is very close to the French Rococo.

This work was acquired in June of 1933 with funds from the legacy of the Count of Cartagena.