This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 183?. Excerpt:... SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. The Reverend Samuel and Theophila Reynolds were the parents of the famous Joshua the Artist. He was born on the 16th of July 1723, and he was the tenth child of his mother, and there was one after him. His native place was Plympton in Devonshire, and here he was baptized; but by some mistake, they wrote his name in the register as Joseph, though he has always been called Joshua, for such were the wishes of his parents. His father, a good but idle man, allowed his son to be neglected in childhood; and Joshua gave up all his time to drawing, instead of improving himself in other things. On one of these occasions, his father wrote upon the back of his son's sketch these words, meant as a reproof, "Done by Joshua, out of pure idleness." In after years, the Artist had to study much, to make up for these hours he had wasted. Samuel Reynolds wished his son to be a physician, but circumstances so D fell out that this plan was never put into execution. The Jesuit's Perspective and Richardson's Treatise on Painting having both fallen into the hands of young Reynolds, he studied them with much attention, so that he made many drawings and portraits which were the admiration of his relations and neighbours. One of these persons named Cranch, advised his father to send the boy to study the art in London; and on the 14th of October 1741, he was placed under the care of a Mr. Hudson, an artist and a most distinguished portrait painter. Under this man, Joshua improved but slowly, that is he became only a copier of Guercino, which he executed admirably; but none of his native genius appeared, it rather seemed to be crushed from his desire of imitating correctly. After two years' stay with Mr. Hudson, that artist became jealous of him, and Reynolds in c...