Joshua Reynolds (1723-1792)

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Joshua Reynolds was a great English painter. He was born in Devonshire in the south of England. His father was a school teacher. When the boy was seventeen, he was sent to London where he learned art from a portrait painter. Reynolds stayed with the painter for two years and then came back to Devonshire.

Reynolds lived in Plymouth and painted portraits. In 1744 he was back in London and went to see his old teacher. His teacher introduced him to the painters in London and advised him in his work. People liked the portraits which Reynolds painted.

But Reynolds wanted to go to Italy and study art there. He had not enough money for the journey and a captain who was the commander of the English ships in Italy offered to take him there on one of his ships.

Reynolds lived in Rome for two years. After that he spent five months in Parma, Florence and Venice. Then he visited other important cities in Italy. But suddenly the painter fell ill, and decided to go back to England. From that time on Reynolds lived in London and painted portraits. Soon he became a famous portrait painter. In 1768 Reynolds became the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. He made a whole gallery of portraits of the most famous people of his time—writers, scientists and actors. But his eyes were already not strong and it was difficult for him to work. In 1792 the great English painter died.