“The Countess’s Morning Levee” is an oil-on-canvas painting created by William Hogarth between approximately 1743 and 1745. This Rococo artwork measures 68.5 by 89 centimeters and is classified both as a genre painting and symbolic painting. It belongs to the “Mariage à la Mode” series and is currently housed in the National Gallery in London, UK.
The artwork depicts an extravagant scene of a morning levee attended by various characters, including the countess herself. The room is adorned with elaborate furnishings and paintings, exuding opulence and sophistication. The countess, elegantly dressed, is seated in the center, engaged in conversation while surrounded by a group of men, some of whom appear to be flatterers and admirers. A black servant offers a drink from a tray while other members of the scene, including a musician and various finely dressed attendees, contribute to the air of decadence and societal interaction. The composition is highly detailed, emphasizing both the splendor and the underlying critique of the aristocratic lifestyle depicted in the painting.
