One Last Drink

LOUIS-JOSEPH WATTEAU, known as WATTEAU DE LILLE (1731-1798)
circa 1780
oil on wood
Louis-Joseph Watteau, also known as Watteau de Lille, was the nephew of the famous painter of fêtes galantes Jean-Antoine Watteau. Like his uncle he specialised in genre scenes, popular with collectors during the reign of Louis XVI.
The picture’s French title, Le coup de l’étrier, an expression in use since the 17^th century, means the glass of wine offered to the traveller before departure (étrier is French for stirrup).

inv. 32346