Sir Joshua Reynolds |1789-1790
It is now the Royal Collection Trust.
Sir Joshua Reynolds is a famous English painter whose work depicts Francis Roden Hastings (1754-1826), the second Earl of Moira and the first Marquess of Hastings.
The Duke of Frederick York and his brother George Prince of Wales (later George IV) were both close friends of the Marquess of Hastings (1754–1826).
According to reports at the time, Hastings commissioned the portrait for the Duke of York as a gift, and the Duke returned the favor. George IV had exchanged portraits with Hastings in friendship and acquired the painting at the Duke of York's estate auction in 1827.
Hastings became Governor of Bengal in 1813 and Governor of Malta in 1824, the pinnacle of his successful military career. He is depicted in the casual clothes of a colonel as an aide-de-camp to George III (serving from 1782 to 1793).
This is one of Reynolds's last portraits, in which the figure is present in person and takes a demeanor in front of him.
The artist recorded six painting times in his portrait model appointment book, in June and July 1789. On July 13, the day after his last painting, Reynolds recorded that his vision "began to become blurry."
However, a newspaper critic wrote on September 28 of the same year that the painting would be "done easily and safely." Reynolds' visual difficulties are not shown in this heroic image, and the posture and posture of the figures in the painting suggest his wisdom and confidence in the face of danger.
The painting was one of the most haunting achievements of Reynolds' career, who became the first director of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1768 and produced numerous portraits depicting British celebrities.
His profound intellect was evident in his Discourse on Art, which he addressed to the students of the Royal Academy of Arts between 1769 and 1790. However, Reynolds failed to please George III and Queen Charlotte, although he was appointed the king's chief painter in 1784