The conversation piece
Kate Retford
Reading Time
at 250 WPM7h 5m
The average reader, reading at a speed of 250 WPM, would take 7h 5m to read The conversation piece.
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15
days at 30 min/day
425
total minutes
The conversation piece
by Kate Retford
Published
2017
Pages
425
ISBN-13
9780300194807
ISBN-10
0300194803
Description
Pioneered by William Hogarth (1697-1764) and his peers in the early 18th century, and then revitalized by Johan Zoffany (1733-1810), the conversation piece was an innovative mode of portraiture, depicting groups posed in landscape or domestic settings. These artists grappled with creating complex multi-figured compositions and intricate narratives, filling their paintings with representations of socially, nationally, and temporally precise customs. Paying particular attention to the vibrant (and at times fabricated) interior and exterior settings in these works, Kate Retford discusses the various ways that the conversation piece engaged with the rich material culture of Georgian Britain. The book also explores how these portraits served a wide array of interests and concerns among familial networks and larger social groups. From codifying performances of politeness to engaging in cross-cultural exchanges, the conversation piece was a complex and nuanced expression of a multifaceted society.
Conversation pieces
The British portrait, 1660-1960
English 18th century conversations and small portraits
Conversation pieces
The painter depicted
The painter depicted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many pages are in The conversation piece?
This edition of The conversation piece has approximately 425 pages. Please note, this is an estimate and the exact page count can vary between hardcover, paperback, and e-book versions.
How long does it take to read The conversation piece?
For most readers, The conversation piece typically takes between 8h 51m and 5h 54m to complete. This is based on the book's length of approximately 106,250 words and common reading speeds.
Here's a detailed breakdown: • Continuous reading at 250 WPM: approximately 7h 5m of focused reading • Casual reading (30 minutes/day): you could finish in roughly 15 days • Estimated word count: 106,250 words
Your individual reading time will vary based on your personal reading pace, the amount of daily reading time, and your familiarity with the subject matter.
What is the word count of The conversation piece?
The estimated word count for The conversation piece is approximately 106,250 words. This figure is calculated using industry-standard methods that consider genre-specific word density patterns, typical formatting and layout characteristics, and standard words-per-page ratios for published books.
This is an approximation — actual word count may vary based on font size, formatting, edition, and the presence of illustrations or charts.
Who is the author of The conversation piece?
The conversation piece was written by Kate Retford.
When was The conversation piece published?
The publication date for this specific edition is 2017. The original work may have been published on a different date.