Reynolds Commodore Keppel

Copyright:
Joshua Reynolds and Augustus Keppel were lifelong friends from 1749, when Keppel took the young artist to the Mediterranean in his ship the Centurion. This enabled Reynolds to visit Italy and to see the classical and renaissance art which were to influence his painting. On his return to England Reynolds painted this grand full – length portrait of his friend, one of the most important portraits of the early part of his career, and one which established his reputation. Keppel ‘s pose is based on that of a piece of sculpture well known in England at the time. There are four portraits of Keppel by Reynolds in the Museum ‘s collection.