Joshua Reynolds’ Influence on Culture and Society Essay

Introduction

Joshua Reynolds is one of the most famous artists of the 18th century. Reynolds was born in July 1723 in Plimpton St Maurice at Devon. He is widely known as one of the most influential painters of the 18th century. He has influenced a large number of people. He was among the top English painters of the century. His works specialized mainly on portraits and the promotion of Grand style that depended on idealizing the imperfect¹. He is also widely known as one of the founders of the President of the Royal Academy.

Joshua Reynolds’ career in art began in 1940 when he started his career as a portrait painter beginner or trainee. He was trained by Thomas Hudson until 1743. From 1748, Joshua Reynolds travelled to Rome where he took Old Masters. It was while he was studying at Rome that he developed a passion for Grand Style.

However, his work was slightly affected when a severe cold hampered his hearing ability. Joshua Reynolds also worked in London from 1753. He is widely known for his contribution to the development of the Royal Society of Arts.

One of his major rivals was Thomas Gainsborough who was also a famous artist of the time. However, Joshua Reynolds managed to outperform all his rivals in the century due to his distinguishable work. His lectures are still useful to date and are widely used in art. He was known as one of the most determined individuals of his time.

Discussion

Through his reputation and great work in art, Joshua Reynolds had a significant social and cultural impact. His work significantly influenced other people, especially while interacting with others. He was engaged in various social activities, either as a lecturer, client or employee among others. His work during the 18th century can be attributed to his excellence in the work of arts.

Due to his fame as a portrait painter, Joshua Reynolds attracted much interests. He constantly enjoyed communication with many wealth people, both men and women. He was able to gain charisma that made him more influential. He was mainly involved with the middle class.

As a lecturer, Joshua Reynolds was very popular among his students. He used his lectures to provide artistic education among his student. He had a chance to communicate his ideologies among the young scholars. This implies that Joshua Reynolds may have had a massive impact on culture and other social aspects.

As one of the most dominant individuals in the development of the Royal Academy and as one of the main pillars of the academy, Joshua Reynolds played a significant role in determining what was to be taught to the students. Therefore, he has a significant influence on the graduates who studied at Royal Academy.

Due to his popularity, Joshua Reynolds played a pivotal role in bringing together the famous figures of ‘The’ Club. The Club was a famous dining place in London that was formed by Joshua Reynolds and his friend Johnson. Through this club, Joshua Reynolds managed to change the people’s ways of life.

The members were usually meeting once per week at seven p.m. However, the frequency of meeting was changed from weekly to fortnightly. Meanwhile, the parliament was in session. This club was composed of people of higher social ranks like merchants, barristers, writers, artists among others. One was required to meet certain conditions to be recruited to the club.

During his time, the Battle of Ushant with the French took place. This was back in 1977. During this period, Keppel ordered the Channel Fleet². However, no one could have been classified as a clear winner in the battle. Unconvinced, Keppel ordered another attack. Unfortunately to him, French escaped the bombardment. Later, Palliser and Keppel went at loggerheads which forced Palliser to bring charges against Keppel.

In connection to this, Keppel was accused of overlooking his duties and also of several transgressions³. However, Keppel finally emerged as a winner when he was found innocent, and all the charges against him were nullified. This made him a national hero. After this trial, Joshua Reynolds made a portrait that was meant to demonstrate the trial.

He demonstrated this by painting Keppel holdings a sword which symbolized the process of getting back his authority. Through such portraits, Joshua Reynolds portrayed to the eye of the public political views. Such a portrait can be very influential in affecting people’s views about certain leaders in the society. For instance, this particular portrait illustrates Keppel’s innocence.

During his time, Joshua Reynolds conducted successful work when the English Rococo was in height⁴. This style borrowed particular aspects from furniture style and architecture⁵. The style was very common among the bourgeois, who were also referred to as the owners of the means of production.

It was also very common among the rising wealthy class in the society. In order to reinforce their wealth, this class used the work by Joshua Reynolds to boost their achievements. They also required the work of art to reinforce their beauty and magnificence. Therefore, Joshua Reynolds’s work was essential to the society. It was used by various groups to meet their goals effectively and efficiently, especially those which required influence.

Through the Rococo style, Joshua Reynolds built a good relationship with the rich merchants. Meanwhile, there was a tremendous rise in the middle class and the wealthy businessmen in England. Consequently, the demand for Joshua Reynolds’s work rose significantly⁶.

This is because the rising middle class highly demanded for his work. Joshua Reynolds managed to fulfill all their needs by providing quality portraiture style. In the Rococo era, people were free to pursue their goals in an effort to maximize their pleasure⁷. Therefore, this style became very common as the middle class grew bigger and bigger.

Joshua Reynolds was very important in British paintings and other parts of Western countries. Joshua Reynolds played a pivotal role in defining various aspects in these parts⁸.

He interacted and socialized with the elite class in London. The main bond between their relationships was facilitated by the demand and supply of influential Joshua Reynolds’s portraits. He had the ability to raise figureheads to a mythological level, the fact which pleased the subject significantly⁹.

In the eighteenth century, the work of art was very significant in realizing gratification in man. This was more so due to the rise of bourgeois during the century. This was one of the factors that led to a high demand for Joshua Reynolds’s portraits. They were a source of gratification for beauty, and also as a means to gain certain favor¹⁰. Tt helped people during this time to meet their needs.

Joshua Reynolds’s art directed and reflected his ideas about the society. For instance, he was convinced that position of the poor was divinely ordained and not to be disturbed¹¹.

He further argued that it was only the higher social ranks that had the ability and the freedom to use the work of art as a way of promoting their transition from the life of brute sensuality to one of civilized reason¹². In other words, Reynolds was mainly influential to the higher social ranks. This is the reason why the demand for his portraits increased with a rise of the middle class.

One of the major public figures who benefited from Joshua Reynolds’s paintings was Lord Heathfield¹³. Heathfield once became a hero for defending Gibraltar during its great siege. To illustrate this, Joshua depicted Heathfield in front of dark clouds holding key in the right hand. The figure was to maintain his social superiority or his contribution for defending Gibraltar.

The painting was very significant as it presented the history of defense of Gibraltar. Consequently, it contributed to spreading the fame of the leaders. For instance, Heathfield’s portrait illustration suggests that he went against many challenges in his attempt to defend Gibraltar. This is depicted by the dark clouds. However, he managed to win as the key tied in his right hand illustrates.

Joshua Reynolds portraits were also believed to have religious meaning. For instance, Heathfield is depicted holding a key which is an analogy of the key St Peter who possessed the keys to Heaven. In this case, Heathfield is presented as an important person in the society whose efforts defended Gibraltar.

Joshua Reynolds supported Burke’s views on the French revolution. He was therefore convinced that the French Revolution would be disastrous. This is because it did not consider the complexity of human nature. He believed that the human nature was not compatible with the human behavior.

Through writing in early 1790s, Joshua Reynolds argued that France was falling because of spending too much time tending¹⁴ (Bennett 1998). He further argued that lack of emphasis on the manufacturing and trade was the main cause of the problem.

In conclusion, this discussion has clearly revealed that Joshua Reynolds was one of the most influential artists of the 18th century. He had a significant social and cultural impact on the society. His portraits were highly demanded by the wealthy merchants, businessmen, and people from other high social ranks to meet their needs. His work was also used by the leaders to create good image in the eyes of the public¹⁵.

His work also played a significant role in civilizing the society. Joshua Reynolds’ works also changed major social issues. For instance, he was strongly opposed towards the French Revolution. He argued that it would lead to losses rather than gains. Therefore, he urged people to refrain from engaging in the revolution through his work. He also influenced people through his lectures. He used his paintings to drive his ideas to the society. His lectures were known to be extremely sensitive and perceptive.

Bibliography

Anonymous. “Joshua Reynolds.” Artble, 2011. Web.

Bennett, Tony. Culture: A Reformer’s Science. New York: SAGE, 1998.

Bennet, Tony. Culture. Australia: SAGE Publications, 1992.

Brennan, Teresa. Vision in context: historical and contemporary perspectives on sight. New York: Routledge, 1996.

Ferguson. Art. New York: Ferguson, 2008.

Huntington Art Gallery. “Out of the Shadows: Joshua Reynolds’ Celebrity Portraiture and the Market for Mezzotints in 18th-Century Britain.” Huntington, 2011. Web.

Hurl, Estelle. Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Collection of Fifteen Pictures and a Portrait of the Painter with Introduction and Interpretation. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2004.

Malone, Edmond. The Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds. To Which Is Prefixed An Account Of The Life And Writings Of The Author. U.S.A: Oxford University, 1801.

Northcote, James. Memoirs Of Sir Joshua Reynolds: To Which Are Added, Varieties On Art. New York: M. Carey & Son, 1817.

Northcote, James. The Life Of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Comprising Original Anecdotes Of Many Distinguished Persons, His Contemporaries; And A Brief Analysis Of His Discourses. New York: Henry Colburn, 1819.

Reynolds, Joshua. Joshua Reynolds Seven Discourses Delivered In The Royal Academy. U.S.A: T. Ladell, 1778.

Reynolds, Joshua., Malone, Edmond and Gray, Thomas. The Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Knight ; Late President Of The Royal Academy: Containing His Discourses ; Idlers ; A Journey To Flanders And Holland, And His Commentary On Du Fresnoy’s Art Of Painting. U.S.A: T. Cadell. 1801.

Reynolds, Joshua. The Complete Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: First President Of The Royal Academy: With An Original Memoir, And Anecdotes Of The Author, Volume 1. New York: T. M’Lean, 1824.

Reynolds, Joshua. The Literary Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, First President Of The Royal Academy By Joshua Reynolds. London: Cadell, 1830.

Wendorf, Richard. Sir Joshua Reynolds: The Painter in Society. U.S.A: Harvard University Press, 1998.

Footnotes

¹ Joshua Reynolds. The Literary Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, First President Of The Royal Academy By Joshua Reynolds. London: Cadell, 1830.

² Edmond, Malone. The Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds. To Which Is Prefixed An Account Of The Life And Writings Of The Author. U.S.A: Oxford University, 1801.

³ Joshua, Reynolds. The Complete Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: First President Of The Royal Academy: With An Original Memoir, And Anecdotes Of The Author, Volume 1. New York: T. M’Lean, 1824.

⁴ Joshua, Reynolds., Edmond, Malone and Thomas, Gray. The Works Of Sir Joshua Reynolds, Knight ; Late President Of The Royal Academy: Containing His Discourses ; Idlers ; A Journey To Flanders And Holland, And His Commentary On Du Fresnoy’s Art Of Painting. U.S.A: T. Cadell. 1801.

⁵ James, Northcote. The Life Of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Comprising Original Anecdotes Of Many Distinguished Persons, His Contemporaries; And A Brief Analysis Of His Discourses. New York: Henry Colburn, 1819.

⁶ James, Northcote. Memoirs Of Sir Joshua Reynolds: To Which Are Added, Varieties On Art. New York: M. Carey & Son, 1817.

⁷ Teresa, Brennan. Vision in context: historical and contemporary perspectives on sight. New York: Routledge, 1996.

⁸ Joshua, Reynolds. Joshua Reynolds Seven Discourses Delivered In The Royal Academy. U.S.A: T. Ladell, 1778.

⁹ Richard, Wendorf. Sir Joshua Reynolds: The Painter in Society. U.S.A: Harvard University Press, 1998.

¹⁰ Huntington Art Gallery. “Out of the Shadows: Joshua Reynolds’ Celebrity Portraiture and the Market for Mezzotints in 18th-Century Britain.” Huntington, 2011.

¹¹ Ferguson. Art. New York: Ferguson, 2008.

¹² Hurl, Estelle. Sir Joshua Reynolds: A Collection of Fifteen Pictures and a Portrait of the Painter with Introduction and Interpretation. New York: Kessinger Publishing, 2004.

¹³ Anonymous. “Joshua Reynolds.” Artble, 2011.

¹⁴ Bennett, Tony. Culture: A Reformer’s Science. New York: SAGE, 1998.

¹⁵ Bennet, Tony. Culture. Australia: SAGE Publications, 1992.