Joshua Reynolds: The Creation of CelebrityHarry N. Abrams, 2005 M06 14 - 295 pages Joshua Reynolds: The Creation of Celebrity examines the artist in the social, political and cultural context of a century that cultivated a very modern notion of fame. This new approach to Reynolds (1723-92) considers his life and career in terms of a conscious quest for celebrity. Reynolds surrounded himself with the most famous men and women of his time: the rich, the powerful, the beautiful and the notorious. His portraits served to create, reinforce and advertise not only his subject's reputation but his own. It is, therefore, no surprise that Reynolds made no fewer than twenty-seven self-portraits in which he purposefully perpetuated his well-crafted public image as an artist, an academic and a knight. Joshua Reynolds: The Creation of Celebrity features many of Reynolds's most famous and beautiful portraits. Individual sections consider the friendships Reynolds cultivated with the famous and infamous figures of his time: politicians; courtesans; literary figures; war heroes; and aristocrats. These flamboyant and influential subjects helped to promote and sustain Reynolds's distinguished career and, ultimately, to secure his enduring popularity with audiences today. |
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aristocratic Augustus Keppel Bampfylde beauty Boswell bought British Museum Burney catalogue celebrity Chaloner Smith 1883 Charles Charles James Fox Christie's Club commissioned contemporary courtesan culture depicted descent display dress Duchess Duchess of Devonshire Duke Earl Edmond Malone Edmund Burke Elizabeth Engraved fame Fanny Burney figure full-length portrait Garrick George Giuseppe Granby Graves and Cronin Hamilton Henry Thrale Henry Thrale's Horace Walpole House James John Kitty Fisher Lady later Leslie and Taylor Literature Graves Literature MP London Lord Malone Marchi Marquess of Granby Mezzotint military National Gallery National Portrait Gallery Northcote 1818 notably Oil on canvas Omai painter Penny picture portraiture Postle Prince of Wales Private Collection Provenance MP published Reynolds exhibited Reynolds painted Reynolds's friend Reynolds's portrait Royal Academy S.W. Reynolds Samuel Johnson self-portrait Shawe-Taylor Sir Joshua Reynolds sister Society of Artists sold statue Streatham Park Streatham Worthies studio Tate Thrale Waterhouse 1941 Whig