HISTORY

In what ways did Reynolds views on the 'Grand Style' determine the development of British art in the18th century?

In what ways did Reynolds views on the 'Grand Style' determine the development of British art in the18th century?

Introduction

The time of 18th century is considered as the period of English painting that lasted for hundred years. The beginning of British art started by William Hogarth with the art of painting and printing that marked a tremendous success and voice of the time. In the year 1786, the Royal Academy of Arts was established in London and Sir Joshua Reynolds was elected as the first president. He was a spokesperson who highly influenced teachers, writers, painters and scholars of the school which upgraded the English art. A visit to Italy in the mid of 1700 had a great impact on the artistic work of Reynolds in the leadership of Rubens. With the support and help of Rubens and artistic work, Reynolds established the English portrait in the name of Grand Style (Leslie and Taylor, 1865, pp. 150-165). In his formal portraits, he focused on ancient legends to make it more attractive and creative.

Grand style is an artistic style that is connected with 17th and 18th century European art and primarily categorized by the ideal demonstration and images of human body as noble and heroic figure in the style of classical and Renaissance artistic representation (Alexander, 1973, pp. 138). Sir Joshua Reynolds was one of the most famous and influential character of 18th century British art, emphasized on portraits and promotion of Grand Style in art and painting which is based on the idealization of imperfect.

Discussion

Reynolds was an English painter and the most famous portrait painter of his era and one of the highlights of English painting. He was born in Plympton, Devonshire, in 1723. He began studying the art of portraiture in London in 1740 with the well-known portrait painter Thomas Hudson, and in 1749 made a trip through the Mediterranean with Commodore Augustus Keppel. After three years traveling in Italy he returned to London and set up a workshop in which he exposed a series of portraits of important people he had made during his travels and brought him instant fame (Wendrof, 2009, pp. 12-20). He decided that his talent was not related to the style of history painting, which at that time was considered the noblest genre in painting, and was determined to raise the rank of the portrait, and equip portrait of social recognition. Reynolds believed that all the art come from the perfection of ideal beauty that can be found in individual character and nature.

Ideal perfection and beauty can be imagined on earth not in heavens. Observation is the key source of styling the beauty which is common in nature's creatures and art is the skill that is based on selecting, digesting and styling individual's observation.

A creative artist must be able to notice and observe the uniqueness, perfection, and go beyond local ...