The Artist Magazine

A modern take on the conversation piece

When referring casually to a conversation piece you may think of an object or piece of work that sparks discussion or encourages debate, however within the art world this term has another specific meaning. A conversation piece in art describes an informal group portrait that became a popular subject for artists during the latter part of the 18th century in England. It was a genre of painting in which artists rejected the more formal, ceremonial portraits of the court painters and similarly idealised, classical ‘grand manner’ styles, in favour of something more relaxed and natural. Often intimate in scale, these works depicted families or groups of friends engaged in everyday activities, such as playing games and musical instruments or having a tea party, either in a domestic setting or garden. Unlike traditional portraiture of the time,

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