Black Servant Preparing a Buffet

France, circa 1770-1780
oil on canvas, sculpted and gilt oak frame
This deliberately white-dominated oil sketch shows a servant preparing a buffet.
By an unknown artist, it is typical of the genre scenes highly prized by collectors in the late 18^th century.
It also shows the use of certain dishes, notably the large bowl in the foreground. Filled with crushed ice, it was used to cool the beverages in the two crystal carafes with vermeil stoppers.

inv. 17335