Johannes Lingelbach

Landscape with peasants dancing the Tarantella

For almost 100 years Landscape with peasants dancing the Tarantella was part of the famous Northbrook collection in the UK. Although considered an ‘Italianate’ painting with its southern landscape bathed in sunlight, this work was executed in Amsterdam around 1660-1662. The dancing couple are dancing the tarantella, a popular, traditional Italian dance that apparently originates from Taranto in southern Italy. The dance involves rapid turns: the dancers move in a circle, with frequent changes of direction.