Portrait of John Mudge
An influential English painter and the leading portraitist of the 18th century. A founding member and the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, Reynolds helped elevate portrait painting to the level of high art in Britain. He was known for his "Grand Style," which emphasized idealized beauty, classical poses, and rich color harmonies. Reynolds painted many prominent figures of his era, including aristocrats, intellectuals, and royalty, and his writings on art profoundly shaped British artistic theory and practice for generations.