Admiral Lord Hood
Sir Joshua Reynolds 1723 - 1792
Summary
A portrait of a naval officer, dressed in a blue jacket with white lapels and gold braid, white trousers and waistcoat, and a high white cravat – the uniform of a Rear-Admiral of the Blue. He is a mature gentleman with white hair curled over his ears, and a pink face. He stands with one arm resting on a tall rock to the right, a letter held in his right hand, looking over his shoulder to the left. In the background, to the left, a sea battle is taking place, with ships firing at each other, beneath a dark sky.
Display Label
Grand Tour and Grand Style The Influence of Travel Improvements in European travel during the 1700s had a wide-ranging impact on British culture. A particularly significant influence was the Grand Tour, which became almost obligatory for young gentlemen. Grand Tourists were led across Europe by tutors to study art, history and politics for two or three years. The Grand Tour focused on Italy, particularly Rome, and often incorporated new archaeological sites such as those at Herculaneum and Pompei, near Naples. Ancient antiquities were heavily trafficked across Europe and continental works of art flooded into Britain. A period of especially active collecting took place between the end of the Seven Years War in 1763 and the rise of Napoleon in the 1790s. As more artists and designers also visited the continent their work became increasingly informed by travel. The serious themes of classical antiquity and European art led to a new departure in painting called the Grand Style. This championed classical, historical or literary subjects, and inspired radical changes in portraiture and landscape. Widespread interest in Greek and Roman remains also fostered fresh interpretations of ancient designs by pioneers of decorative art such as Josiah Wedgwood.
Object Name
Admiral Lord Hood
Creators Name
Date Created
1783 (circa)
Dimensions
Canvas: 127.2cm x 100.9cm
Frame: 153cm x 133cm
accession number
1898.3
Place of creation
England
Support
canvas
Medium
oil paint
Legal
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