This period was one of dramatic change. Of the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, the plague, fire, the Glorious Revolution, and the creation of the United Kingdom in 1707. Curator Tim Batchelor
This earlier period of British art is really dominated by portraiture, but during the Restoration period we have the introduction of new genres.
Genres such as landscape painting arrive in Britain through the activities of incoming artists from the Netherlands and Low Countries. Other genres such as still life are also produced, as well as decorative interior painting and the introduction of the conversation piece.
The period also includes the first female professional painter, Mary Beale.