Joshua Reynolds · 1723–1792
Joshua Reynolds
Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792) was an 18th-century British painter and the first president of the Royal Academy. He is known for establishing the tradition of portraiture in the Grand Manner.
Reynolds (1723-1792) is regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of British painting. His significance lies in establishing the tradition of portraiture in the Grand Manner and raising the standing of British artists to something new and dignified. The Grand Manner is a style that gives portraits the dignity suited to history painting.
He was one of the founders of the Royal Academy and became its first president in 1768. He was an intellectual eclectic who put what he learned from the Venetian school, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, and others to use in forming his own style. An eclectic is one who draws on what he has learned from several schools or painters to build a style of his own.
He was also a figure who actively discussed the aesthetic outlook of 18th-century Britain. One of his works is Girl with a Dog.
