By 1840, art had stagnated in England.

This 'Frivolous Art' was Genre Painting and by the 19th century, a debased form of History Painting. 

History Painting

History painting was perfected in the Renaissance by Raphael and his contemporaries and considered the noblest form of art. Subjects were drawn from Classical History, Mythology or the Scriptures. In the 18th century, modern history and other subjects from literature and poetry were added (such as Dante, Shakespeare, Milton). By the 19th century, students were taught merely to imitate the art of the past, producing work without any real of meaning or vitality.

Genre Painting

Pictures of everyday life and surroundings. This was very popular in the latter half of the 19th century, but the subject matter was sometimes trivial and often sentimental. Dull and dark colours were used to excess.