When I started my own painting gallery I was flooded with request from my relatives to get one for their houses. Like some wanted a good painting for their drawing room and some wanted a soothing one for their bed room.
Buying painting for relatives is a very specific thing as they are usually concerned about the right painting for the space with good colors that match their walls. Most of the time, the color is the only consideration.
Many of my relatives like to have some specific painting but that is another story. But while getting the painting for them I need to consider their tastes, likes and dislikes. One relative may want a painting of food and wine but the other might just hate it.
Mainly the place where the painting needs to be hanged is more important as size constraints is the most important aspect of any painting. The content of a painting also should be appropriate where the painting is to be hanged. Therefore I always visit the person before buying a painting for them as I can judge where they want to hang the painting and what would suit their lifestyle. The color can be a deciding factor on what looks good into their rooms and if the color is just right the painting can hang on the walls a long time.
If the relative is very religious minded I would like to opt one for them but it is the most difficult choice. The symbolism on religious painting may not be the right choice for them. As people see different symbolism from different perspectives and it may not be a right choice.
If that relative has already some painting into their houses getting from the same artist can be a great asset to them and they would appreciate the same as they already have one and they have hanged it in to their house for a long time.
Buying a painting of a vacation which they have recently visited can be a good choice as this would give them a chance to remember those good times for a long while. Of course having artists representation of what they saw would be a good idea.
The relative I know likes some painting from Middle Ages and I happen to see one on one of my pursuits I immediately picked it up and the relative was so happy with it and it adorns the place into his home. Most of the home owners would not want to spend money on the original piece so they would love to have a reproduction or a print of the same which will cost much less.
My old aunt is very difficult to please and it is a very difficult choice. I got the Landscape paintings in a romantic style, which adorns her study and she loves to watch the painting all the time.
My sister when she got married she made it clear that people gifting her the painting should not get her any modern art. The paintings in any home come to life if it is the right choice and it can make the owner feel so many emotions while looking at the paintings.