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Charlotte Mason Picture Study Aid Antoine Watteau

Savoyard with a Marmot

1716
oil on canvas
40.5 × 32.5 cm
Hermitage, St. Petersburg
KEY TOPICS:

● Here we see the lone figure of a boy in a worn coat standing in a village square holding a
recorder (or flageolet) and a marmot (a small, furry animal normally found in higher

altitudes) on a box. Behind him can be seen trees and various buildings belonging to the
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village, including the tall spire of a church steeple. In the distance are clouds and a blue sky.

● The boy was most likely a migrant from the area of Savoy (thus the title, “Savoyard”). Many
of these extremely poor individuals would travel every winter to the larger French cities to

work in various service roles, including performing as street musicians, which is the case in

this image. The boy would’ve played his flageolet in the town square for money while the

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marmot stood on its hind legs and danced on the box.
● This would not have been a common subject during the Rococo period, however, during his

life, Watteau particularly enjoyed painting entertainers and this boy falls into the category

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as well despite his disheveled appearance.

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