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Quote by Joshua Reynolds

“It is impossible that anything will be well understood or well done that is taken into a reluctant understanding, and executed with a servile hand.”

Quote by Joshua Reynolds

Book:The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Containing His Discourses, Idlers, A Journey to Flanders and Holland, and His Commentary on Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting; to which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Edward Malone

Work

The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Containing His Discourses, Idlers, A Journey to Flanders and Holland, and His Commentary on Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting; to which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Edward Malone

The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds is a comprehensive compilation of the writings of the renowned British artist and critic. It encompasses his discourses on art, personal essays, travel narratives from his journeys to Flanders and Holland, and his in-depth analysis of Du Fresnoy's influential work on art. The volume also features an introductory biography of Reynolds by Edward Malone, providing insight into the life and literary contributions of the artist. more

Author

Joshua Reynolds

Joshua Reynolds was an influential English painter, recognized for his portraits and landscapes. Born on July 16, 1723, and passing away on February 23, 1792, Reynolds played a significant role in the development of the English portrait school and is often considered the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. more

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“Raphael and Titian seem to have looked at Nature for different purposes; they both had the power of extending their view to the whole; but one looked only for the general effect as produced by form, the other as produced by colour.”

Different Whole Seems Form Purpose Views Effects Masters Colour Extending Raphael

Book:The literary works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Source: The literary works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

“It is to Titian we must turn our eyes to find excellence with regard to color, and light and shade, in the highest degree. He was both the first and the greatest master of this art. By a few strokes he knew how to mark the general image and character of whatever object he attempted.”

Firsts Art Character Light Eye Turns Objects Color Masters Degrees Highest Mark Regard Excellence Shade Strokes

Book:Discourses on Painting and the Fine Arts, Delivered at the Royal Academy

Source: Discourses on Painting and the Fine Arts, Delivered at the Royal Academy

“It is vain for painters... to endeavour to invent without materials on which the mind may work.”

Mind May Materials Painter Vain Endeavour

Book:The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Source: The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

“There can be no doubt but that he who has the most materials has the greatest means of invention.”

Mean Doubt Materials Invention No Doubt

Book:The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Source: The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

“Let me recommend to you not to have too great dependence on your practice or memory, however strong those impressions may have been which are there deposited. They are forever wearing out, and will be at least obliterated, unless they are continually refreshed and repaired.”

May Has Beens Strong Memories Practice Forever Let Me Impression Dependence

Author:Joshua Reynolds

“A passion for his art, and an eager desire to excel, will more than supply an artist with the place of method.”

Art Desire Artist Passion Method Methodology

Author:Joshua Reynolds

“The art of seeing nature, or, in other words, the art of using models, is in reality the great object, the point to which all our studies are directed.”

Art Reality Study Seeing Objects Models

Book:The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Containing His Discourses, Idlers, A Journey to Flanders and Holland, and His Commentary on Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting; to which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Edward Malone

Source: The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Containing His Discourses, Idlers, A Journey to Flanders and Holland, and His Commentary on Du Fresnoy's Art of Painting; to which is Prefixed an Account of the Life and Writings of the Author by Edward Malone

“Martial music has sudden and strongly marked transitions from one note to another which that style of music requires; while in that which is intended to move the softer passions, the notes imperceptibly melt into one another.”

Moving Passion Style Notes Transition

Book:The discourses of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Illustr. by explanatory notes & plates by John Burnet

Source: The discourses of Sir Joshua Reynolds: Illustr. by explanatory notes & plates by John Burnet

“I have heard painters acknowledge, though in that acknowledgment no degradation of themselves was intended, that they could do better without nature than with her; or as they express themselves, 'that it only put them out.”

Heard Painter Acknowledge Degradation Acknowledgment

Book:Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses

Source: Sir Joshua Reynolds's Discourses

“A painter must not only be of necessity an imitator of the works of nature... but he must be as necessarily an imitator of the works of other painters. This appears more humiliating, but is equally true; and no man can be an artist, whatever he may suppose, upon any other terms.”

Men May Artist Term Painter Humiliating Imitator

Book:The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Source: The Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds