The Literary Works of Sir Joshua Reynolds, First President of the Royal Academy - Softcover

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.1835 Excerpt: ... MEMOIR OF SIR JOSHUA REYNOLDS. The children of genius have been often distinguished by remarkable eccentricities of character, and some of them, indeed, have been so little qualified to live in this world, as society is constituted, that nature appears to have dropped them by mistake into a sphere that was never intended for them. At the same time, we have daily opportunities of observing that aberration of mind and constitutional or affected enthusiasm, habitual taciturnity, artfully accompanied by a well-practised air of superior sagacity, repulsive and unsocial habits, dictatorial manner, contempt of propriety, and other peculiarities equally frivolous, are often thought to be indicative of latent talent in persons of very ordinary calibre; while the quiet unassuming demeanour of many, who are really possessed of true genius, will occasionally be found to throw a veil over qualities which entitle them to the highest consideration. It may, consequently, be difficult, in seeking to form an estimate of character, where no decided proofs of undoubted ability have been given by which we might regulate our opinion, to distinguish between the genuine effusions of genius, and the singularity of manner, or extravagance of conduct and sentiment, which may chance to be peculiar to the individual of whom we wish to judge. But the works of a man of talent will speak for themselves; and in these we cannot well be deceived. It is by his works that posterity will judge him, and it is to them that he should look for his fame, and the world for a proper criterion of his abilities. Sir Joshua Reynolds had no real or affected peculiarities, which distinguished him from the plain English gentleman: he was subject to no fits of hysteric enthusiasm, asserted no undue pretensio...