About the work …
In "Discourse VII," in his Seven Discourses on Art, [1] Joshua Reynolds sets out some of the principles of artistic education and æsthetic criticism. For Reynolds, beauty is an intellectual quality and is obtained in art as a kind of rational reconstruction of nature, whereby the general forms of objects are become represented. Although Reynolds assumes that general rules or principles account for artistic excellence, artistic genius applies these precepts in an original manner.
What does Reynolds mean by the assertion that the foundations of art are established in science?
What is it that Reynolds believes the beginning artist can particularly learn, not from reading, but from "learned and ingenious" persons?
With what kinds of philosophy does Reynolds believe that the young artist should be conversant?
How does Reynolds define artistic taste? How is taste related to genius? Why does Reynold believe artistic genius is not intuitive?
Describe Reynold's characterization of the two levels of principles or truth to which art should conform. What is Reynolds' first presiding principle of art?
According to Reynolds, how does one form a true idea of the imagination? How is agreement and uniformity of opinion (i.e. of standards of taste) in the arts obtained?
What does Reynolds say is the main purpose of art?
According to Reynolds, why should the artist study philosophy?
[1] | Joshua Reynolds. "Discourse VII: Delivered to the Students of the Royal Academy on the Distribution of the Prizes, December 10th, 1776, by the President." Seven Discourses on Art. London: Cassel. 1901. |