Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration

Sir Joshua Reynolds, Self-Portrait, 1746, The Box, Plymouth.

Joshua Reynolds (1723-1794) was known for capturing his clients’ personalities, being one of the founding members and first president of the prestigious Royal Academy in London, as well as one of the most influential painters of the 1700s. Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration will explore the career of this famous 18th century portrait artist within a global context, highlighting themes such as image, identity, his studio practice, his early career in Plymouth Dock (now Devonport) and his use of pigment, colour and light.

Important works from The Box's permanent collection will be shown alongside loans from national and private collections including Tate, The Woburn Abbey Collection, National Trust, National Maritime Museum and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.

Reynolds’ enduring legacy and his ongoing relevance for artists today will be highlighted through an exciting collaboration with Royal Academician Rana Begum, who has created new works inspired by three of his portraits. Begum's internationally touring Dappled Light exhibition will also be on display at The Box this summer.