By Ralph Edwards. (Country Life, 42s.) CONSIDERING their immense popularity,
both in the eighteenth century, when conversation pictures were most in favour, and today, when they are universally sought by collectors. singularly little has been written about this vein of painting. Most people know the names of a fewpainters, like Hogarth and Zoffany, but very few know the names of the mass of practitioners, and still fewer arc familiar with the long tradition behind the eighteenth- century manifestations. Mr. Ralph Edwards's book is thus welcome, and he has a great deal that is new to tell us. He traces the vein throughout Europe, starting from Van Eyck's Arnolflni group, dealing with later works in the Flemish world, in Holland, in Italy, in France, and even saying a word or two of Holbein. The case that is made out for the early history of the style is convincing, and is well supported by a mass of well-chosen illustrations. But the story ends around 1730, with Hogarth in England and Gawen Hamilton in Scotland, just as the fashion for conversation pictures was reaching its height. It is to be hoped that this excellent little book will be followed up by another volume from the same author on 'Later Conversation Pictures.'
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