Joshua Reynolds sittings

[Joan Breckwoldt]

I was studying a book called 'European Masterpieces' and came across a full length portrait by Joshua Reynolds (English, 1723-1792) called 'Miss Susanna Gale'. What struck me most about the page of discussion about this portrait was a paragraph about Mr. Reynolds sittings, written by Mr. Reynolds to a potential sitter in 1777:

"It required in general three sittings, about an hour and a half each time but if the sitter chooses it the face could be begun and finished in one day. It is divided into separate times for the convenience of the person who sits. When the face is finished the rest is done without troubling the sitter."

The "rest" would be painted by using servants or pupils to model for him.

What amazes me here is HOW could a face be painted in one sitting, and a sitting that only lasts an hour and a half. I am embarrased to say how many hours I have spent on the face I am (still) working on. Perhaps the face was 'finished' but more layers were added later.

Does anyone have any insight on this or was Mr. Reynolds just an exceptionally speedy painter? Or perhaps I'm exceptionally slow.

Joan

[Claudemir Bonfim]

Well, I don

[Carl Toboika]

Joan,
I remember reading somewhere about 6 months ago or so that Reynolds was extremely prolific and painted in a certain manner that allowed very quick execution (I also believe his work was sometimes thought to be painted to thinly). The downside being some clients rejected a painting from time to time on the grounds of inadequate likeness.

Now this is just a very dim memory on my part, so don't take it as gospel.

[Joan Breckwoldt]

Thank you Claudemir and Carl,

Hmm, even if he didn't get a good likeness, I think some people must just paint very fast. I'm not worried about painting fast, first I must learn how to paint well, but it just really struck me that someone could paint a face to such a finished level in one short sitting.

Even if his paintings were rejected sometimes, I think so many of them are beautiful today, and at this point the likeness doesn't even matter since it's some 200 plus years later. So, even for a figurative painter he was fast. I guess it takes a lot of practice.

Joan