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. Those 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. In 1784 Reynolds was appointed as painter to George
III. However, five years later his sight began to deteriorate
and he was forced to give up painting. Joshua Reynolds died in 1792.
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