The Wedding Dance

This panel dates from the 17th century, but its composition dates back to Pieter Bruegel the Elder who died in 1569. His name is mentioned on an etching of a similar composition by Pieter van der Heyden. The iconographic detail that interests us here from our financial point of view is thus in reality a characteristic of the 16th century. In the background, we can see the guests are invited to place their money on a pewter plate before the bride. The bride can be distinguished from the other women by her untied hair which isn't hidden under a bonnet: a bride's wedding day was the only day when an adult women was allowed to wear this type of hairstyle in public (like wearing a veil in Islam). The gift of money to the bride fits perfectly with a patriarchal society where the young girl's family had to provide a dowry for the marriage. (Joost Vander Auwera in 'Art and Finance in Europe').