# Joshua Reynolds

> English painter (1723–1792)

**Wikidata**: [Q194402](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q194402)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joshua_Reynolds)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/joshua-reynolds

## Summary

Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792) was an English painter and the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, founded in 1768 under King George III. He was a prolific portraitist who became the dominant figure in British portrait painting during the mid-18th century, known for elevating the status of portraiture to match the prestige of history painting. Reynolds was knighted in 1769 and elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, leaving a lasting legacy as one of Britain's most influential artists whose works helped define the visual culture of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

## Biography

- **Born**: July 16, 1723
- **Died**: February 23, 1792
- **Nationality**: British (Kingdom of Great Britain)
- **Education**: Received artistic training; elected to multiple academies including the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence
- **Known for**: Founding and serving as first president of the Royal Academy of Arts; creating hundreds of portraits that defined British portraiture; theorizing art through his "Discourses"
- **Employer(s)**: Royal Academy of Arts (founder and first president, 1768); independent portrait painter
- **Field(s)**: Portrait painting, history painting, genre art, mythological painting, self-portrait, Christian art

## Contributions

Reynolds made foundational contributions to British art through multiple avenues:

**Institutional Leadership:**
- Founded the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768, serving as its first president from 1768 until his death in 1792
- Established the annual Summer Exhibition, which continues today as the world's largest open submission art show
- Created the Academy's educational programs including drawing schools and lectures

**Major Paintings:**
- *Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons* (1773)
- *Cupid Untying the Zone of Venus* (1788)
- *Lady Caroline Howard* (1778)
- *The Age of Innocence* (1788) – one of his most famous works
- *Captain George K. H. Coussmaker* (1782)
- *Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children* (1777)
- *The Ladies Waldegrave* (1780)

**Art Collection:**
- Owned significant works including Rembrandt's *Susanna and the Elders* (1647), Nicolas Poussin's *Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun* (1658), and Claude Lorrain's *Sunrise* (1646)

**Theoretical Work:**
- Delivered the "Discourses" at the Royal Academy, which became foundational texts in art theory

**Recognition:**
- Knighted in 1769, receiving the title Knight Bachelor
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Society

## FAQs

**What was Joshua Reynolds' most significant contribution to British art?**

Reynolds' most significant contribution was founding the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768 and serving as its first president, establishing an institution that became the cornerstone of British artistic education and exhibition. He also elevated portrait painting to a status equal to history painting through his theoretical writings and practice.

**How many paintings did Joshua Reynolds create?**

Reynolds was extremely prolific, creating hundreds of portraits throughout his career. His output included formal portraits of aristocracy, politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures of the Kingdom of Great Britain.

**What artistic style was Joshua Reynolds known for?**

Reynolds was known for combining the Grand Tour influence of Renaissance and Baroque art with contemporary British portraiture. He studied Italian old masters and incorporated elements from Titian, Raphael, and Michelangelo into his portraits, creating a style that blended historical grandeur with psychological insight.

**Was Joshua Reynolds involved with any other artistic organizations?**

Beyond the Royal Academy, Reynolds was a member of the Society of Dilettanti (founded 1734), which studied ancient Greek and Roman art. He was also elected to the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence, reflecting his international recognition.

**What happened to Joshua Reynolds' art collection?**

Reynolds collected works by major European painters, including Rembrandt's *Susanna and the Elders*, Poussin's *Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun*, and Claude Lorrain's *Sunrise*. His collection demonstrated his deep engagement with the European artistic tradition.

## Why They Matter

Reynolds fundamentally shaped British art and cultural institutions in ways that continue to influence the art world today. As the founding president of the Royal Academy, he established the primary institutional framework for artistic training and exhibition in Britain, creating a system that produced generations of artists and maintained high standards for artistic practice. His advocacy for the "Grand Style" – which demanded that portrait painters study history painting, classical art, and the Italian masters – elevated the intellectual and social status of British artists.

His theoretical "Discourses" delivered at the Royal Academy became essential reading for artists, arguing that portraiture could achieve the dignity of history painting through the artist's learning and imagination. This theoretical framework influenced generations of British painters including Thomas Lawrence, who followed Reynolds as a leading portraitist.

Without Reynolds, the Royal Academy might not have been established, leaving British artists without a national institution for exhibition and education. His influence on portraiture conventions, artistic education, and the professional status of artists in the Kingdom of Great Britain was profound and lasting.

## Notable For

- First president of the Royal Academy of Arts (1768–1792)
- Founder of the annual Summer Exhibition, the world's largest open submission art show
- Knighted in 1769 by King George III
- Elected Fellow of the Royal Society
- Created over 2,000 paintings during his career
- Member of the Society of Dilettanti and Accademia delle Arti del Disegno
- His portrait *The Age of Innocence* (1788) remains one of the most recognized British paintings
- Established the "Grand Style" theory of portraiture combining classical influences with psychological depth

## Body

### Early Life and Training

Joshua Reynolds was born on July 16, 1723, in the Kingdom of Great Britain. He received formal artistic training that would foundation his later achievements. His education included study of the Italian old masters, which profoundly influenced his artistic approach and theoretical writings.

### Founding the Royal Academy

The cornerstone of Reynolds' legacy was his role in establishing the Royal Academy of Arts. Founded on January 1, 1768, by King George III, the Academy was created to rival the French Academy and promote the arts of design through education, exhibitions, and patronage. Reynolds was appointed as its inaugural president, a position he held from 1768 until his death in 1792.

The Academy was initially housed in Somerset House before moving to Burlington House in 1868. Under Reynolds' leadership, the institution established its annual Summer Exhibition, which began in 1769 and continues today as the world's largest open submission art show, attracting over 1,000 artworks annually and over one million visitors.

### Artistic Career and Output

Reynolds was one of the most prolific portrait painters in British history, creating hundreds of works that documented the aristocracy, politicians, intellectuals, and cultural figures of the Kingdom of Great Britain. His portraits combined technical skill with psychological insight, elevating portraiture beyond mere representation to achieve the dignity of history painting.

Among his most famous works are *The Age of Innocence* (1788), which remains one of the most recognized British paintings; *Lady Cockburn and Her Three Eldest Sons* (1773); *Lady Caroline Howard* (1778); *Captain George K. H. Coussmaker* (1782); *Lady Elizabeth Delmé and Her Children* (1777); and *The Ladies Waldegrave* (1780). He also painted mythological subjects such as *Cupid Untying the Zone of Venus* (1788).

### Theoretical Contributions

Reynolds delivered a series of "Discourses" at the Royal Academy that became foundational texts in art theory. These lectures argued for the "Grand Style" – the idea that portrait painters should study history painting and the Italian masters to elevate their work beyond mere likeness. He advocated that artists should combine learning, imagination, and classical influences to create works of lasting significance.

### Art Collection

Reynolds was also an important art collector, owning works by major European painters. His collection included Rembrandt's *Susanna and the Elders* (1647), Nicolas Poussin's *Blind Orion Searching for the Rising Sun* (1658), and Claude Lorrain's *Sunrise* (1646). These works reflected his deep engagement with the European artistic tradition and his belief in studying the old masters.

### Recognition and Honors

Reynolds received numerous honors reflecting his prominence in British artistic life. He was knighted in 1769 by King George III, receiving the title Knight Bachelor. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, recognizing his broader intellectual contributions beyond painting. His international recognition was further evidenced by his election to the Accademia delle Arti del Disegno in Florence.

### Professional Affiliations

Beyond the Royal Academy, Reynolds was a member of the Society of Dilettanti, founded in 1734, which studied ancient Greek and Roman art. This membership reflected his commitment to classical influences and his engagement with the broader European artistic community.

### Influence and Legacy

Reynolds' influence on British art was profound and lasting. Through the Royal Academy, he established the primary institutional framework for artistic training and exhibition in Britain. His theoretical writings shaped generations of artists, including Thomas Lawrence (1769–1830), who followed him as a leading British portraitist.

His advocacy for the "Grand Style" and his example as a learned artist helped elevate the intellectual and social status of British artists. The conventions he established for portraiture, combining technical excellence with psychological depth and classical references, remained influential throughout the 19th century.

### Final Years

Reynolds continued working as president of the Royal Academy and as a portrait painter until his death on February 23, 1792. His legacy was cemented through the institution he founded, the works he created, and the theoretical framework he developed for understanding and practicing art.

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49. [Ansichtkaart op de plaatjeswand in de kamer van Anne Frank van het schilderij A Child's Portrait in Different Views: Angel Heads door Joshua Reynolds, ca. 1900. 1944](https://hdl.handle.net/21.12139/89e03fa7-a3e4-41b0-961d-7574e3f19211)
50. Uppsala University Library