Joshua Reynolds
/ˌdʒɒʃuə ˈrenldz/
/ˌdʒɑːʃuə ˈrenldz/
- (1723-92) an English painter. He was the most successful artist of his time, and painted pictures of many important people, including his friend Samuel Johnson. He was the first President of the Royal Academy (1768) and used his lectures, called the Discourses on Art (1769-91), to express his views on the importance of the 'grand manner' in art and the high status of the artist. He was made a knight in 1769.