Reynolds was born in Plympton St Maurice, just outside Plymouth, on 16 July 1723, and went on to become one of the most influential painters of the 1700s.
‘Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration’ will explore his career within a global context, highlighting themes such as image, identity, his studio practice, his early career in Plymouth Dock (now Devonport) and his use of pigment, colour and light.
Important works from The Box's permanent collection will be shown alongside loans from national and private collections including Tate, The Woburn Abbey Collection, National Trust, National Maritime Museum and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. The loans are supported by the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund. Created by the Garfield Weston Foundation and Art Fund, the programme is the first ever UK-wide funding scheme to enable smaller and local authority museums to borrow works of art and artefacts from national collections.
Reynolds’ enduring legacy and his ongoing relevance for artists today will be highlighted through an exciting collaboration with Royal Academician Rana Begum, who has created new works inspired by three of his portraits. Begum's internationally touring 'Dappled Light' exhibition will also be on display at The Box this summer.
An events programme featuring talks, special events and family activities inspired by the exhibition will be on offer too.