Members of the Maynard Family in the Park at Waltons
c. 1755-1762 National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
About this artwork
This conversation piece features members of the Maynard family posed in their estate park at Waltons, showcasing the characteristic style of English 18th-century portraiture. Devis was renowned for his small-scale portraits that integrated family members into idealized landscape settings.
Did you know?
Arthur Devis was one of the most prolific practitioners of the 'conversation piece,' a uniquely British genre of portraiture that depicted groups of people in relaxed, informal settings. These paintings were status symbols for the rising gentry, who sought to display their wealth and refined domestic lives on their own land. Despite the seemingly casual pose of the lady with the lute, such portraits were highly staged, reflecting the aspirational values of the Georgian era.
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Members of the Maynard Family in the Park at Waltons
Arthur Devis, c. 1755-1762
