\paperw19995 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 The crowded scene represents the feast of the Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, just as it is still celebrated in some countries o
f Western Europe today. During the banquet, whoever finds the slice of cake that has a bean baked into it is crowned king of the festival. He is then entitled to choose a queen from among the other guests, and to appoint all the members of his court.
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In the painting, the king, a portly and ruddy figure, is raising an elaborate glass goblet to toast his florid but rather dowdy queen, who holds a mischevious little imp on her lap.\par
Behind her, a man is playing the bagpipes. On the left-hand side
of the picture, an old man wearing a jesterÆs cap is casually slipping his hand down a womanÆs dress.\par
The scene is completed by other figures clutching gleaming pewter jugs and a number of children with animated rosy faces.\par
A parrot in a cage a
nd a dog, with its ears pricked up at all the hubbub, watch the goings-on in silent astonishment.\par
The artist uses this subject û which was derived from CaravaggioÆs genre scenesû to depict Flemish burghers dining and, above all, their unruly and exu
