Evening star., 1937-11-18

their splendid carriages.
Sir Joshua Reynolds was not con-
cerned with the miserable wretches
afoot. He chose his subjects from
among the gentry-from inside the
carriages. 1t would be nearer the
truth to say his subjects chose him,
for he was the most sought after por-
trait painter in London. From his
first studio in ST. Martins lane, that
he outgrew, he moved to larger one,
and once again to the grand house
IN Leicester square, No. Al, his home
for the rest of his life.
He played a game with fate. In
stead Of beginning" he said, with the
saving Of money, laid it out faster
than I got it, purchasing the best
works of art that could be procured.
even borrowed money to buy pictures
by Titan, Van Dyke and Rembrandt"
With every move of his studio, his
prices scared.
Path Made Easy.
He had had no period of weary
waiting. The way had been made
easy and agreeable for the talented
son born in 1928 to the Rev. Sam
Reynolds of DevonShire. 1t is true
that the scholarly father once discov-
cred Latin exercise decorated by the
This was drawn by Joshua out of
pure idleness," but the mild reproof
is virtually all the opposition that
young Joshua met.
He was permitted, when it was dis
covered that his bent for drawing was
not pure idleness," to draw in char
coal on the WhiteWashed Railways of
their house, and was apprenticed to
the most successful portrait painter in
London, Thomas Hudson.
Young Reynolds, it turned out, knew
where TO draw the line when it came
to learning his trade Hudson could
paint faces, but was a little less pro-
flcient in bodies and draperies. Ac-
cordingly, he did the face and sent
along his pictures to be finished up
by someone else.
One Of Reynolds duties was to de-
liver the faces to the bodies and drap-
cries man. 1t was all very well in
fine weather but when his master in
sisted on sending a canvas in a driv-
ing rain, he rebelled and put an end
to the apprenticeship
At % he knew enough about bodies,
draperies and faces to strike out on
his own. The influence of his mas
ter had not done too much damage
When he returned to Devonshire, the
great had already heard of him, and
Lord Edgecombe became his generous
patron.
Reynolds discovered the wisdom of
moving in the best circles. Know
ing Lord Edgecombe led to acquain-
tance with Commodore Keppel, and
acquaintance with the Commodore
led to an invitation to cruise in south
ern waters. Commodore Keppel had
been placed in command of the Medi-
terranean Squadron to down piracy.
Reynolds came along with him, and
they visited Lisbon, CadiZ, Gibraltar
and Algiers.
In an age when travel was a lux
ury to the wealthy, the young painter
enjoyed an extensive tour in distin-
guished company. The only mishap
was In Minorca when he rode on a
horse through that pleasant island
and fell. permanently soaring his
face. Later he left the commodore
and tourneyed alone to Rome. Here
an unhappy event occurred, also. He
caught a cold that led to increasing
and eventually, complete deafness.
Adopted Italian In Grand Style.
But Rome's classic glories opened his
provincial eyes. Back in London, he
made the Italian grand style his own
and fattered his sitters by surround
ing them with pleasant allegorical al