An oil on panel painting attributed to Dutch artist, Bartholomeus Moleanaer (1612-1650) depicting a peasant wedding scene in a barn interior. A bagpipe player stands on a wooden stool while peasant men and women dance all around. others are sitting and eating, one man lifts his glass up in a toast. The bride sits at the center of a table on the left side of the painting with a crown on her head in front of a hanging tapestry. Bartholomeus Molenaer is the younger brother of Jan Miense Molenaer, who is also famous for his peasant interior and tavern scenes. While Bartholomeus may have learned this style from his older brother, Jan Miense, both styles are derived from those of Adraien van Ostade and David Teniers the Younger, who have made these type of scenes enormously popular in the 17th Century Netherlands.

This painting was purchased by a family from the US vacationing in Belgium in the 1920’s, and was sold as by David Teniers the Younger. The painting has been examined through photos by Ellis Dullaart with the RKD (Dutch Institute for Art History) and on the basis of these photos, she has attributed the work to Bartholomeus Molenaer. The painting is comprised of three horizontal joined panels that at some point had been glued back together. The bottom section was recently professionally re-attached and the entire painting cleaned and re-varnished by Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration in Chicago. The painting has been transformed from a dingy brownish-yellow to bright and vibrant colors. The frame has also had some minor repairs. The painting measures 23 5/8” x 33 7/16”. Overall with the frame measures 30 5/8” x 40 1/2” x 3” and is ready to hang.

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