Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792) was a British painter who became the dominant figure in eighteenth-century British art and the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts. Born in Plympton, Devon, he studied under the portrait painter Thomas Hudson in London, and a transformative visit to Italy (1749–52) — where he studied the Old Masters, particularly the Venetian colorists and Michelangelo — shaped his artistic ambitions and theoretical convictions.

Reynolds established himself as London's most fashionable and intellectually ambitious portrait painter, developing his theory of the "Grand Style," which sought to elevate portraiture by incorporating references to classical sculpture, Renaissance art, and mythological or allegorical themes. His portraits of aristocrats, politicians, actors, writers, and intellectuals — including Samuel Johnson, Laurence Sterne, and the actress Sarah Siddons — combine penetrating characterization with compositional grandeur.

As the founding president of the Royal Academy in 1768, Reynolds delivered his celebrated "Discourses on Art" — fifteen lectures delivered over two decades that articulated a comprehensive theory of art education and practice based on the study of the Old Masters, the hierarchy of genres, and the pursuit of ideal beauty. These Discourses became the most influential theoretical text in British art history.

Reynolds's influence on British culture extended beyond painting. He was the central figure in London's literary and intellectual circles, a founding member of Samuel Johnson's Literary Club, and a friend of David Garrick, Oliver Goldsmith, and Edmund Burke. His paintings are held by the National Gallery and the Tate in London, the Wallace Collection, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the Frick Collection.