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July 16, 2016

Sir Joshua Reynolds (Attr.) (1723-1792),

Lady Anna Maria Smythe, no date, oil, 30 1/4 x 25 1/4 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Duane Davis and C. Steven Hatch, 1972.
Sir Joshua Reynolds, English artist of the 'Grand Style,' was born on this day in 1723. Reynolds specialized in portraiture, and, in keeping with his style, idealizing imperfections so as to make all subjects flawed but still beautiful. Reynolds also became the first president of the Royal Academy of Arts in Britain in 1768.