First Art Featuring Champagne

Ever since my husband discovered that he can shuck oysters, we have been enjoying Oysters and Champagne.
Ever on my quest for the deep dive into Champagne, I came upon yet another interesting and amazing tidbit that I would like to share. In 1734, the Directeur des Bâtiments, informed Jean-Francois de Troy that King Louis XV would like him to do a painting. The result was the first painting that featured Champagne, done in 1735 and called Le Déjeunier d'Huitres or The Oyster Lunch.

If we enlarge the painting, a few details come into view: The glances of the men as it follows the flying cork (bouchon), the man holding the knife that cut the string that held the cork in place, the shape of the Champagne bottle, and the shape of the Champagne glasses.¹

In the foreground of the painting, the Champagne is being chilled in an ice filled rafraichîssoir. At each place setting is a small bowl with a cone-shaped glass slanting downward. Glasses of champagne were drunk in one gulp then turned over in a bowl to let the substantial amount of sediment drain out. The next gulp of Champagne was always served in a fresh glass.

Some things have changed since 1735: The sediment that Champagne drinkers had to dispose of in this painting became less of a problem when riddling or remuage was invented by Veuve Barbe-Nicole Cliquot in her quest to provide her Champagne with clarity in the glass.²
I hope to develop all this and more, in my deep dive into Champagne blogposts to follow.

Reference:
1. Don and Petie Kladstrup, "Champagne How the World's Most Glamorous Wine Triumphed Over War and Hard Times", HarperCollins Publishers, 2005, page 40-41.
2. Natasha Geiling, Simthsonian.com, The Widow Who Created the Champagne Industry, November 5, 2013.