This video was created for LaunchPad, a program of digital interpretive materials that supplement the viewing of works of art on display in the Art Institute of Chicago's galleries.

We don't usually think of monkeys and candlelight in the same sentence—but in this video we see how the two come together quite beautifully. A monkey orchestra "performs" amidst the soft glow of candlelight as they might have during a dessert course in the 18th century. The mirrored surface the musicians stand upon captures the flickering light, further enhancing the charm of their performance.

In the Renaissance, lavish banquet tables were decorated with elaborate but ephemeral sculptures made of sugar paste. In the 18th century, porcelain centerpieces, like this one, replaced those earlier confections; although costly, they were at least reusable. The only thing missing are the dinner guests dressed in their best silks!