Mimicking as humans, a group of monkeys listen to one of them reading from a newspaper, whilst a young one is scratching the earth with a stick. The singerie genre appeared in Flanders in the 17th century. In this kind of painting, the monkeys are humanised to reveal the mediocrity of humanity and the futility of man's actions. Here we can therefore interpret this work as a cynical view of the aristocracy and the clergy, as one of the monkeys is dressed as a priest.
- TitleAn assemblage of monkeys, in a park, dressed as humans
- Object numberB.M.801
- Collection
- Creator
- Production placeFrance
- Production period18th century
- School/styleFrench
- Object name
- Material
- Technique
- Dimensions
- Length: 31.4 cm
- Width: 39.3 cm
- Length: With Frame 45 cm
- Width: With Frame 53 cm
- Depth: With Frame 4 cm