Seven Conversations in the History of Art: Reynolds's Advice to Painters on Laying a Foundation in Art: Reynolds's Advice to Painters on Laying a Foundation in Art

Author: Reynolds
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-03-01
Features: All art only truly possesses its rightful value when it successfully satisfies the emotional and intellectual aspects of our nature. Reynolds strictly adhered to classical norms, pursuing grandeur, solemnity, gravity, and formalist expressions. "The Discourses" are both the theoretical foundation of Reynolds and a classic of the British Academy, and even its biases and errors cannot dim its brilliance. "The Discourses" serve as the theoretical foundation of Reynolds and a classic of the British Academy, embodying the rational thought of anti-Romanticism. His "Discourses" contain many principles of contemporary art criticism. He believed that the purpose of art is to enhance morality, and therefore, great artists must continuously pursue solemn and sublime themes while avoiding base and inappropriate content. Reynolds made significant contributions to the British Academy theory throughout his life and played a certain role in the development of British painting. However, his theories had biases and errors, which led some artists of his time and later to resist his views.