The Bal des Ardents
Georges Rochegrosse · Public Domain Mark 1.0 / domaine public
This painting by Georges Rochegrosse, titled “The Bal des Ardents,” depicts the terrible accident that occurred at the court of Charles VI in January 1393. During a masked entertainment, the king and several nobles appeared disguised as wild men, wearing costumes covered with tow and pitch. A torch brought too close set the costumes on fire, causing panic in the hall. The image shows burning bodies, a terrified crowd, and the court plunged into horror. This episode reinforced the image of a reign weakened by the king’s madness and the political crises of the kingdom.