CO.14

Portrait of Frances Reynolds (1729-1807)

Joshua Reynolds, Sir, PRA (Artist)

General Description: This is one of a series of family portraits by Reynolds painted by him when he was staying at Plympton around 1746. Frances, or 'Fanny' was the youngest of Joshua Reynolds's three sisters. An able painter and writer, she exhibited paintings at the Royal Academy. In 1781 she privately printed an 'Essay on Taste' for which she was praised by Dr Johnson, the writer and critic. He was amongst her closest friends and admirers. Fanny moved to London in 1753, after Reynolds returned from Italy, and acted as her brother's housekeeper at his various houses until the 1770s. (, )

, 1746 c

18th century

oil, support: canvas

Named Collection: Cottonian Collection