What is a genre painting?

A genre painting depicts scenes from everyday life, such as domestic interiors, market scenes, or social gatherings. Rather than focusing on portraits or landscapes, it captures ordinary people engaged in routine activities. These artworks provide a window into the social habits, dress, and domestic arrangements of past eras. When found as a pair, they often tell a connected visual story or present contrasting daily moments.

How do I hang a pair of paintings?

A pair of companion paintings works best when hung side by side at eye level, maintaining a consistent gap between them that matches their visual weight. They require balanced lighting to ensure both canvases or watercolours receive equal attention. Keeping them away from direct sunlight protects the pigments and the underlying canvas or paper from fading. Matching frames help unify the display on the wall.

How do I identify the period?

Identifying the period involves examining the framing materials, the type of support used for the pigment, and any signature or stylistic clues. Nineteenth-century works frequently employ canvas, wood panels, or heavy gilt frames. Subject matter and clothing styles also offer clear indicators of whether a piece originates from the Victorian era or the early twentieth century. Signatures can often be traced to specific recorded artists working within those decades.