Genre Pictures

The French word genre signifies "kind," and is therefore employed to designate a special kind or variety of pictures. Genre painting occupies an intermediate position between the historical picture and the landscape.

In the historical picture, either the character or the situation must be real. In genre painting, both character and situation may be invented, but must have historical significance. It originated in the Netherlands. Joachim Patenier (1490-1550) was the first to work out the background on which the Holy Family was painted into an elaborate landscape. The novelty found so much favor, that, in the next generation, Henri de Bles could place an unbiblical event in the landscape with the Holy Family, and yet sell the picture. But with Jacopo da Ponte (1510-1592), a disciple of Titian, genre painting was born with all its principal characteristics; viz., figures and landscape combined. It is the prevailing style of the French school of the present day; and its influence has been felt in this country, where, since the middle of the century, American painters have, for the most part, devoted their attention to landscape and genre. Inman was the first to attempt it with success.

The chief productions of Hogarth, a famous English painter; of Wilkie, a famous Scotch painter; of Mulready, a famous Irish painter,--are genre pictures.

"The Village Politicians," "Chelsea Pensioners," "Reading News of the Battle of Waterloo," are among Wilkie's most celebrated genre paintings. He was appointed painter to the king in 1836, and was afterwards knighted.

In genre painting, the picturesque is as important an element as is the historical significance.

Historical and genre paintings, therefore, stand in the same relation to each other as tragedy does to comedy.