Conversation piece [ Art & Luxury ]
… Gawen Hamilton, and Charles Philips. Portrayal of the sitters at full length allowed amplification of the physical gestures and interactions of sociability. Their reduced scale also meant that accompanying objects and settings could be … of the spoken word in such portraits: lips are never parted. Rather, these are diagrammatic displays of the physical gestures that framed sociable exchange: hands arranged according to the edicts of the conduct books, underscoring pleasantries; directive gestures made gently and courteously to guide attention; tilted heads showing people politely paying attention to their …
Conversation | Painting | Portrait | Tea-table
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