Conversation piece

A painting that shows a group of people, usually relations or close friends, in conversation in a relaxed home environment. In keeping with the informal atmosphere of the work, these paintings, which were especially popular in Britain in the eighteenth century, are generally fairly small. Source: Kimberley Reynolds and Richard Siddon, "Illustrated Dictionary of Art Terms"<br><br>A portrait of a group of earnest people. "Conversation galante" is the original and French form of this term, often equivalent to or a variant of the f?te galante, made popular by Watteau.Examples: Peter Angellis (English, born Flanders, 1685-1734), Conversation Piece, c. 1715-20, oil on canvas, support 93.7 x 79.7 cm, Tate Britain, London.