The son of a headmaster, Reynolds was born in Plympton in Devon. In 1740 he was apprenticed to Thomas Hudson in London. He visited Italy between 1749-1752 and on his return to London he became a leading portrait painter.
Reynolds believed that history painting was the noblest art form, but his popularity as a portrait painter left him with little opportunity to follow this path. He became the first President of the Royal Academy, and his lectures between 1769-1789 were published as 'Discourses on Art'. In these he set out the ideals of Academic Art in England.
Many of Reynolds' paintings are in a poor state of conservation. This is because of his experimental painting technique. The carmine reds he used have faded, as a result the flesh tones have lightened. The bitumen he used in his blacks have caused surface cracking in many paintings.
