Deriving from the secular compositions of Dutch art, the conversation piece – typically an informal scene of a family in conversation or a group engaged in an activity – became highly fashionable in 18th-century England. Published to accompany an exhibition at the Queen’s Gallery, this volume traces the development of the genre and discusses examples from the Royal Collection, including works by Stubbs, Gainsborough, Hogarth and the master of the genre, Jan Zoffany.