On-line gallery
- Reference number
- P01404
- Author
- Brueghel “the Elder”, Jan (Flemish)
- Title
- Taste, Hearing and Touch
- Chronology
- Ca. 1620
- Technique
- Support
- Measures
- 176 cm x 264 cm
- School
- Theme
- Shown
- No
- Entrance
- COLECCION REAL
- Procedence
- Royal Collection
The dinner guests occupying the
center of the composition symbolize
the senses. Music and the singing
children are hearing, and the young
woman petting a mink is touch. The
young woman preparing to eat some
oysters symbolizes taste, while the
monkey pulling on a cupid's hair
also symbolizes touch.
Of equal significance are the
animals and paintings in the room.
The Annunciation on the top of the
clavichord and Minerva's Visit to
Parnassus allude to hearing; The
Dentist refers to touch, and The
Punishment of Rich Epulon and The
Wedding at Canna allude to the
sense of taste.
Gerard Seghers and Frans Francken,
“the younger,” were the artists
collaborating with Brueghel “de
Velours” on this work.
