Cupid and Psyche after restoration

I Biography of Joshua Reynolds

First of all I want to say few words about Joshua Reynolds.Joshua Reynolds was born to the Reverend Samuel Reynolds and his wife Theophila in 1723. He was the seventh child of the eleven children born to the couple, but unfortunately five of his siblings had died in infancy. Samuel Reynolds was also a school master and his children were all educated at his school, receiving a strict, formal education. Samuel was believed to have taught his son the classics. But his father had intended for Joshua to become a doctor. Nevertheless Reynold's father had noted his son's talents and was fond of the arts as well. Aged 17 Reynolds was sent to London by his father to further his education. Before he left a neighbor suggested sent him to one of England's greatest portrait painters, Thomas Hudson. A letter was sent to Mr. Hudson requesting that the young Reynolds come under his instruction and he agreed. In fact, Hudson was in search of a new apprentice following the death of his apprentice Van Haaken. Reynolds completed his tasks with perfection and greatly impressed Hudson very much when he independently decided to do a full portrait of one of the maidservants of his house.

In 1746, Reynolds and his two younger sisters moved into a house together. It was a three-story house, and Reynolds used the third floor as his studio. He was receiving numerous commissions for portraits at this time and completed his first royal portrait. On Christmas day that year his father passed away.

On the 11 May 1749, Joshua Reynolds sailed to Italy. While there he painted the portraits of the many crew members and sailors. In 1752, after three years in Italy, Joshua Reynolds returned home.

Joshua Reynolds Middle Years

In 1753, Reynolds and other artists decided to form the Royal Academy to define new aspects in British art but not everyone was happy about this new venture.Reynolds gained much acclaim with his painting “Cupid and Psyche” and this new approach to painting well-known society figures in this manner caused a great buzz in London, making Reynolds an instant celebrity.
Reynolds started socializing in upper-class circles and became friends with the well known actor, David Garrick.
Along with his good friend Dr. Samuel Johnson, Reynolds formed the Literary Club. They gathered every Monday at a local tavern to discuss the latest advances and newest additions to the world of Arts and culture.

Through Reynolds' social contacts in this club, he was given the perfect platform to air his literary thoughts and philosophies. In 1768, Reynolds was elected president of The Academy of Royal Arts and was knighted accordingly. He was the president for 24 years and created in the academy a body of highly skilled professional artist.

Joshua Reynolds Advanced Years

In his later life Joshua Reynolds lost sight in his left eye, forcing him to retire from his artistic career. It turned out that he had a tumor above his left eye and was treated repeatedly by numerous surgeons as the inflamed growth continued to cause the artist pain.

Reynolds continued as president of the Royal Academy until the end of his life. He became depressed and did not participate as much at many of his social meetings. He died on the 23rd February 1792 at the age of 68. His autopsy showed that he had a swollen liver which was diseased as well. Reynolds' funeral was held at St. Paul's Cathedral, where his body was cremated and a statue was erected to commemorate him. He had lived to become one of the most recognized artists, academics, and literary contributors of the 18th century, not to mention the mayor of Plympton in 1773.

II Famous pictures

The Strawberry Girl
By Sir Joshua Reynolds

Sir Joshua Reynolds was perhaps the most popular portrait painter who ever lived. The world of fashion flocked in crowds to his studio.

"The Strawberry Girl" was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1773 , and was described by Reynolds himself as "one of the half-dozen original things which no man ever exceeded in his life work."

Cupid and Psyche after restoration

The story of Cupid and Psyche tells how the god Cupid is enraptured by the beautiful mortal Psyche and makes love to her in his palace at night so as to hide his true identity. The following evening Psyche secretly creeps into her lover’s bedchamber where she finds him asleep. However, Cupid is awoken by a drop of oil which spills from her lamp. Enraged he flies away and it is only after a series of arduous trials that the lovers are reunited.

Cupid and Psyche was one of three large history paintings which Reynolds exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1789. Cupid and Psyche met with great acclaim and the free and confident manner of its execution and graceful composition were much admired by contemporary reviewers.

III His style

His work is characteristic of a rare artistic variety combining the dignity and greatness of Grand Manner with feelings, fine psychological observations and artistic freedom. There are not many artists in history who were able to render such an exceptional combination of emotions and technique.

The models in these works are idealized and very often the subjects are Greek and Roman deities.

The other type of portraiture - he usually painted people he knew well in this style - is intimate, without spectacular attributes, and psychologically subtle. The portraits of children and women are lyrical and straightforward.

Back in Devon in 1746, he painted a large group portrait of the “Eliot Family” (c. 1746/47), which clearly indicates that he had studied the large-scale portrait of the “Pembroke Family” (1634–35) by the Flemish Baroque painter Sir Anthony Van Dyck, whose style of portrait painting influenced English portraiture throughout the 18th century.

IV Prices of his pictures

I found some sites with near prices. There are some of them.

The first site that I have found it’s http://www.allposters.com/-st/Joshua-Reynolds-Posters_c79033_.htm . Here I have noticed some pictures but there were only posters.

The second site was http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm. Here I saw some auction prices.