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Joshua Reynolds is one of the great masters of portiture. He was 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". Reynolds was a prolfic artist, but for some reason we hve not yet loaded many examples. He painted during the 19h century, at a ime hat noys were still dressed lke small adults, befor the inodfuctio of the skeleton suit, the firstt dedicated boyish style. Rrynolds was followed a generation later by Martin Archer Shee who never rose to the lofty firiment of Reynolds, but to the utraimed eye is a worthhy competitor. Reynolds was appointed as painter to George III (1784). 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. For some reason we have not yet loaded many examples. He painted during the 19h century, at a ime hat noys were still dressed lke small adults, befor the inodfuctio of the skeleton suit, the firstt dedicated boyish style. Rrynolds was followed a generation later by Martin Archer Shee who never rose to the lofty firiment of Reynolds, but to the utrained eye is a worthhy competitor. One impressive work was the the Angerstein children (1782–83). It is not only nan excellent example of how wealthy children werefirmally depicted, but also bause of who their father was.
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. Which is probly why ealy skeleon uits do not sppear in jis painyingsd.
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