John Coleman discusses Joshua Reynolds’ mastery of the aspirational social portrait as seen in this selection of celebrated beauties from the 18th century.
Among the most magnificent portraits painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–92) are those of leading aristocratic Irish women. Displayed at fashionable Royal Academy Exhibitions in London and published as engravings, they promoted artist and sitters – the ‘celebrities’ of the age.
Reynolds was the most successful portrait painter in Britain in the later half of the 18th century. Favoured by the aristocracy, gentry and literary and theatrical circles, he developed a grand style of portraiture designed to raise the status of the genre to that of history painting. Crucially, he could capture a likeness while flattering the sitter.
