George IV acquired seven genre scenes by this bawdy Dutch artist. Steen, who owned an inn, often included himself in his paintings – here he flourishes three pipes while cheering in the centre background. The scene shows the climax of Twelfth Night festivities where the elected ‘king of misrule’ drinks a toast, flanked by a ‘fool’ on his right and ‘gluttony’ on his left.

Purchased by George IV, 1814