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Joshua Reynolds

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Artist

The Resume

    (July 16, 1723-February 23, 1792)
    Born in Plympton, England, United Kingdom
    Portrait artist
    Founding member and first president (1768-92) of the Royal Academy of Arts

Why he might be annoying:

    His upper lip was permanently scarred after he fell off a horse in Minorca, Spain.
    His detractors called him 'Sir Sploshua' for his thick applications of paint.
    His attempt to imitate the styles of Titian and Tintoretto resulted in the fleshtones in many of his paintings fading noticeably even during his lifetime.
    His sister, who lived with him as his housekeeper, called him 'a gloomy tyrant.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He went partially deaf in his 20s.
    He retired from painting after losing the sight in his left eye (1789).
    William Makepeace Thackeray wrote, 'Of all the polite men of that age, Joshua Reynolds was the finest gentleman.'
    J.M.W. Turner so admired him that he asked to be buried next to Reynolds.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 2 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 15 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 37.50% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 36.36% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 65.22% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 21 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying