Interactions between people form some of the most interesting paintings and drawings in the collection. Bustling streets, rural idylls and intimate interiors all offer stories to explore and insights into different societies over the centuries.

We have many examples of ‘genre’ paintings, or scenes of everyday life. Genre painting mainly developed in Holland in the 17th century. The most typical subjects were scenes of peasant life or drinking in taverns, and tended to be small in scale. Simpler genre painting emerged in the later 18th century and became hugely popular in the Victorian age.

Similar is the conversation piece, an informal group portrait popular in the 18th century. These show groups of people in domestic interiors or gardens. People are often shown interacting with each other or with pets, taking tea or playing games.

Explore the highlights below which includes romantic encounters, political stand-offs and a good bit of gossip!

‘The Meeting’, mid – late 19th century

Marcelin Delachaux (1838-1902)

Oil on canvas

This painting by Delachaux is a copy of an original by Pierre Charles Comte, which is in the Château de Blois in France. In December 1588 the French King Henry III had the Duc de Guise assassinated. Guise was a powerful rival of the King and the King’s mother, Catherine de’ Medici. This scene shows the moment earlier in the day when the two men met and the high tension is evident.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of a street scene with a large number of mostly male figures in sixteenth century dress.

‘The Meeting’, mid – late 19th century, Marcelin Delachaux (1838-1902)

‘Sancho Panza Recounting his Adventures’, 1860-1885

Henri Charles Antoine Baron (1816-1885)

Oil on panel

Sancho Panza was fictional squire to Don Quixote in the book written by the Spanish author Cervantes in 1605. More of a realist than his master, Sancho nevertheless served him loyally and provides a witty commentary on their adventures. Baron was well known for painting fanciful scenes inspired by myths and literature. Here, Sancho is entertaining ladies with his tales, in a romanticised woodland setting.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of a group of three figures in a rural setting. There is a male figure to the right and the figures to the centre and left are female. They are all dressed in a romanticised version of seventeenth century dress.

‘Sancho Panza Recounting his Adventures’, 1860-1885, Henri Charles Antoine Baron (1816-1885)

‘Café de Galata, Constantinople’, 1865-1882

Charles Théodore Frère (1814-1888)

Oil on canvas

Frère was a French artist who travelled in the Middle East and North Africa in the mid 19th century. His paintings were part of the art movement known as ‘Orientalism’. This was art which emphasised the exotic and romantic aspects of life in Asia and Africa. Galata is an ancient district in modern Istanbul. This kind of café would have been a popular place to meet, eat, drink, smoke, and have your hair cut!

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of an interior scene, the architecture is Middle Eastern or North African in style. There are numerous people (mostly men) enjoying their leisure time including having refreshments, playing instruments and playing games

‘Café de Galata, Constantinople’, 1865-1882, Charles Théodore Frère (1814-1888)

‘Shopping’, mid 19th century

John Leech (1817-1864)

Pencil on tissue paper

Leech worked as an illustrator and caricaturist, contributing work to magazines such as Punch. His work gently poked fun at Victorian society. This lovely sketch shows two Victorian ladies out shopping, considering a length of fabric they are being shown. To their left a young boy waits patiently to assist them with carrying their parcels.

Sadler Gift

Pencil drawing on brown fine tissue-like wove paper of two Victorian ladies out shopping. To their left a young boy waits patiently to assist them with carrying their parcels.

‘Shopping’, mid 19th century, John Leech (1817-1864)

‘Dancing Children (after Giacomo Mantegazza)’, 1890-1920

Madeline Moore, née De Mirimonde, (1869-c.1917)

Oil on panel

Madeline Moore was a Barnsley based artist who attended the Art School in the town and was a family friend of the Coopers. She had an amazing talent for copying Old Master paintings. Giacomo Mantegazza (1853-1920) was an Italian artist who created detailed, animated and colourful works. Moore has chosen to copy a lively scene of children dancing and playing music in the street, hoping for payment from the guests in the hotel window.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of a street scene outside a building named as the 'Hotel de Naples'. A group of figures are leaning out of the window to watch a group of children dancing and playing instruments.

‘Dancing Children (after Giacomo Mantegazza)’, 1890-1920 - Madeline Moore, née De Mirimonde, (1869-c.1917)

‘Village Gossips’, 1860

Samuel Baldwin (1818-1891)

Oil on canvas

Little is known about the artist Samuel Baldwin but he was based in the Halifax area of Yorkshire and painted works which combined landscape and figures. This countryside scene is an excellent example. It looks as though the seated lady has paused her clothes mending to talk with her companion. A cottage in the background and the child playing with a toy indicate the one lady is visiting the other for a chat.

Fox Gift

Oil painting of three figures in a rural setting with a brick cottage in the background. One female figure is standing holding a basket in her right hand, another female figure is sitting and seems to be mending. A small child is playing with a toy cart

‘Village Gossips’, 1860 - Samuel Baldwin (1818-1891)

‘Tavern Scene’, mid – late 18th century

Jan Josef Horemans II (1714-after 1790)

Oil on canvas

This jolly view outside a tavern is by the Flemish artist Horemans, named after his father who was a prolific painter of genre scenes. He earned the nickname ‘Le Clair’ as his palette was lighter than his father’s. Horemans the Younger was a master of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp. The sharpness of the figures in their clothing and expression is very typical of his work, although he usually painted interior scenes.

Cooper Bequest

The majority of the figures are male and have tankards and pipes. There is one female seated at the table and another seen from the rear serving drinks. The figures are largely engaged in conversation. There is a seated dog under the table.

‘Tavern Scene’, mid – late 18th century - Jan Josef Horemans II (1714-after 1790)

‘Interior with Figures’, mid – late 19th century

Gustave David (1824-1891)

Watercolour on paper

This romantic scene shows a lady about to be escorted outside by the gentleman to take a walk with the dog. The figures are wearing 18th century style dress. David specialised in portraits and historical genre scenes, mostly in watercolour. Scenes of courtship, in both high and low society, were a popular theme, giving lots of opportunity for expression and storytelling.

Cooper Bequest

a male and female figure both dressed in 18th century clothes. The lady is wearing a cream dress with blue ribbons.The gentleman is wearing a blue frock coat with black breeches and a gold waistcoat. A small spaniel dog is running towards an open door.

‘Interior with Figures’, mid – late 19th century - Gustave David (1824-1891)

‘In the Guard Room’, mid – late 19th century

Francisco Aznar y Garcia (active 1834-1911)

Oil on canvas

Born in Zaragoza, Garcia was influenced by the Dutch genre painters of the 17th century as evidenced by this painting. The figures are in period style costume against the kind of dark interior typical of Dutch genre scenes. The figures appear to be guards passing the time or taking a break, playing cards and smoking. Garcia was also a history painter, illustrator and printmaker.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of an interior scene with three male figures in seventeenth style costume. Two of the figures are seated and playing cards, the third is standing and smoking a clay pipe

‘In the Guard Room’, mid – late 19th century - Francisco Aznar y Garcia (active 1834-1911)

‘The Oyster Seller in Town’, late 18th – early 19th century

Jacob van Strij (1756-1815) and Johannes Schoenmakers (1755-1842)

Oil on panel

Van Strij was a Dutch painter and printmaker who specialised in genre scenes. These were very popular with middle-class patrons in 18th century Holland. It was not unusual for artists to collaborate on paintings as some would specialise in figures whilst others favoured architecture. In this rather romanticised scene the oyster seller pushes his barrow along the street, pausing to talk to the women selling vegetables.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of a street scene framed by a building with an arch way. Seated to the right are two ladies selling vegetables, the oyster seller has his wares in his barrow.

‘The Oyster Seller in Town’, late 18th – early 19th century - Jacob van Strij (1756-1815) and Johannes Schoenmakers (1755-1842)

‘Gallants Outside a House’, late 19th century

Charles Henri Pille (1844-1897)

Ink on paper

This drawing shows a small crowd outside an ornate building. In the middle is a procession of wealthy people led by a very rotund gentleman and an elaborately dressed lady. Pille was a French painter and illustrator best known for his historical and genre scenes, often edged with humour. He was President of the Society of Illustrators, a very successful artist, and counted Vincent Van Gogh amongst his fans.

Cooper Bequest

Ink drawing of a street scene with numerous figures in eighteenth century costume processing from a Baroque style building

‘Gallants Outside a House’, late 19th century - Charles Henri Pille (1844-1897)

‘Chapel in a Monastery’, early – mid 19th century

Francois-Marius Granet (1775-1849)

Oil on panel

Granet was born in Aix-en-Provence but spent a large part of his artistic life in Italy in a community of French artists. He was famous for his paintings of church and convent interiors. Here he has chosen to show a monk kneeling to pray in front of an altar showing a figure of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child. Grant returned to France in 1824 to become a curator at the Louvre.

Cooper Bequest

Oil painting of an internal architectural view inside a monastery. A monk kneels to pray in front of an altar showing a figure of the Virgin Mary holding the Christ child

‘Chapel in a Monastery’, early – mid 19th century - Francois-Marius Granet (1775-1849)