The Village Fair

Joseph Parry 1744 - 1826

Summary

Rural scene depicting a village fair. There is a tall Gothic memorial in the centre of the village square around which crowds of people stand watching the entertainment. There are musicians on the far left and actors perform to the left of the memorial. Dense trees and houses surround the scene, and in the far distance there is a church spire.

Display Label

The Village Fair 1819 Joseph Parry 1756-1826 Oil on panel The scene is noisy as well as crowded, with the various travelling shows competing for the crowd’s attention. Players and a fire-eater to the left vie with the touring ‘Grand exhibition’ in the centre and the itinerant musicians towards the front. A donkey race through the middle and a rearing horse to the right add a degree of physical danger. The scene is set in a market place, around a gothic cross. No-one has yet identified the location, and it is likely to be a composite, made to look familiar but non-specific. Purchased 1927.10