Figure 1.--This is one of the most famous English portraits. It is by Joshua Reynolds, but we do not yet have details on the portrait. |
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Joshua Reynolds, the son of a clergyman, was born near Plymouth in 1723. He was sent to London to study art in 1740. He was apprenticed to Thomas Hudson but William
Hogarth and Allan Ramsay had the most influence of his style. After a period in Rome (1749-52), Reynolds returned to England where he established himself as one of country's leading portrait painters. Leading figures painted by Reynolds included Josiah Wedgwood, Warren Hastings, Sir Joseph Banks and David Garrick. When the Royal Academy was established in 1768, Reynolds was elected its first president. The following year he was knighted. One of the masters of the age with which he competed was Sir Thomas Gainsbourgh. Like Gainbourouh, he painted one of the famed colored boys--in Reynolds case the "Brown Boy". In 1784 Reynolds was appointed as painter to George III. However, 5 years later his sight began to deteriorate and he was forced to give up painting.
Joshua Reynolds, the son of a clergyman, was born near Plymouth in 1723.
Joshua was sent to London to study art in 1740. He was apprenticed to Thomas Hudson but William
Hogarth and Allan Ramsay had the most influence of his style.
After a period in Rome (1749-52), Reynolds returned to England where he established himself as one of country's leading portrait painters. Leading figures painted by Reynolds included Josiah Wedgwood, Warren Hastings, Sir Joseph Banks and David Garrick. When the Royal Academy was established in 1768, Reynolds was elected its first president. The following year he was knighted.
Reynolds was an amazingly prolific artist. One source reports at the peak of his career, he was churning out about a 100 portraits annually.
As a successful portraitist, Reynolds hired quit a number of assistants. Only by relying on assistants could he have produced the number of portraits that he did. He would have the assistants do the background and the clothing. Than he would the faces and hands himself.
One of the masters of the age with whiuch he competed was Sir Thomas Gainsbourgh. Gainsborough was a portraitist, perhaps best known for 'Blue boy'. He also painted the less well known 'Pink boy'. Like Gainbourouh, Reynolds painted one of the famed colored boys--in Reynolds case the "Brown Boy".
Reynolds was appointed as painter to George III (1784). Only 5 years later, however, his sight began to deteriorate and he was forced to give up painting. He was only about 60 years old at the time.
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