イングランド南西部デヴォン州のプリンプトンで、学校の先生の家に生まれました。17歳でロンドンの肖像画家ハドソンに弟子入りし、のちにローマで2年ほど昔の巨匠の名画を学びます。帰国後は肖像画家として大成功し、1768年にできたロイヤル・アカデミーの初代会長になって、翌年ナイトの位をさずかりました。学生への講義『美術講話』でも知られます。
Reynolds was born in Plympton, Devon, in southwest England, where his father ran the local school. At 17 he became a pupil of the London portrait painter Thomas Hudson. Later he spent about two years in Rome studying the great old masters. Back in London he became a hugely successful portrait painter. In 1768 he became the first president of the new Royal Academy, and he was knighted the next year. He is also remembered for his lectures to students, the Discourses.
