Sir Joshua Reynolds
(1723-1792), Painter and first President of the Royal AcademySitter associated with 39 portraits
Artist associated with 1424 portraits
Reynolds was the first President of the Royal Academy and Britain's leading portrait painter. In his attempt to raise the status of portraiture, he created the 'Grand Manner' which borrowed from classical antiquity and the Old Masters to fill his portraits with moral and heroic symbolism. An incredible socialite, social climber and self-promoter, Reynolds used his contacts to advance himself. Appointed President of the newly established Royal Academy in 1768, his annual lectures - or Discourses on Art - had a lasting impact on the contemporary theory of art and practice.
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1752
NPG 4810
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1755-1810, based on a work of 1755
NPG 518
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, possibly 19th century, based on a work of 1755-1757
NPG 35
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1755
On display at Hatchlands Park, Guildford
NPG 44
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1755
NPG 5302
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1756-1760
NPG 3123
George Bridges Rodney, 1st Baron Rodney
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, possibly 18th century, based on a work of 1756-1759
NPG 1398
William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
studio of Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1758-1760
NPG 625
William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1760-1761, based on a work of circa 1758-1760
NPG 229
John Manners, Marquess of Granby
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
chalk, before 1766, based on a work of circa 1760s
NPG 1186
William Pulteney, 1st Earl of Bath
by Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, 1761
NPG 337
Georgiana Cavendish (née Spencer), Duchess of Devonshire
attributed to Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, feigned oval, circa 1761
NPG 1041
Augustus John Hervey, 3rd Earl of Bristol
by William Silas Spanton, after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, circa 1900, based on a work of 1762-1763
NPG 1835
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1762
NPG 2075
after Sir Joshua Reynolds
oil on canvas, based on a work of circa 1764-1765
NPG 850
Related People
- Elizabeth Deane (née Johnson) (niece)
- Theophila Gwatkin (née Palmer) (niece)
- John Reynolds (uncle)
- Samuel Reynolds (father)
Comments back to top
We are currently unable to accept new comments, but any past comments are available to read below.
If you need information from us, please use our Archive enquiry service . Please note that we cannot provide valuations. You can buy a print or greeting card of most illustrated portraits. Select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Buy a Print button. Prices start at around £6 for unframed prints, £16 for framed prints. If you wish to license an image, select the portrait of interest to you, then look out for a Use this image button, or contact our Rights and Images service. We digitise over 8,000 portraits a year and we cannot guarantee being able to digitise images that are not already scheduled.
Related pages
- Self-Portrait: Renaissance to Contemporary
- Brilliant Women
- Late Eighteenth Century Prints and Drawings
- 2018 Anniversaries
- COMING HOME: Samuel Johnson
- Dr Samuel Johnson
- 2020 Anniversaries
- Adopt-a-Portrait
- Love Stories
- Icons and Identities: Shakespeare to Winehouse
- Love stories: art, passion and tragedy
- Escape to Eden
- Samuel Johnson portrait restoration
- Daily highlights tours
- LGBTQ+ History Month highlights tour
- LGBTQ+ highlights tour
- Trailblazers Black history tour
- Self-portraits