<P> After history painting came , in order of decreasing worth : portraits , scenes of everyday life ( called scènes de genre , or `` genre painting '' , and also petit genre to contrast it with the grande genre ) , landscapes , animal painting , and finally still lifes . In his formulation , such paintings were inferior because they were merely reportorial pictures without moral force or artistic imagination . Genre paintings -- neither ideal in style , nor elevated in subject -- were admired for their skill , ingenuity , and even humour , but never confused with high art . </P>
<P> After history painting came , in order of decreasing worth : portraits , scenes of everyday life ( called scènes de genre , or `` genre painting '' , and also petit genre to contrast it with the grande genre ) , landscapes , animal painting , and finally still lifes . In his formulation , such paintings were inferior because they were merely reportorial pictures without moral force or artistic imagination . Genre paintings -- neither ideal in style , nor elevated in subject -- were admired for their skill , ingenuity , and even humour , but never confused with high art . </P>
the lowest type of painting according to the hierarchy of genres is
the lowest type of painting according to the hierarchy of genres is
still lifes
still lifes