Laurence Sterne
Joshua Reynolds·1760
Historical Context
Reynolds's portrait of Laurence Sterne from 1760, in the National Portrait Gallery, depicts the author of Tristram Shandy at the height of his literary fame. Sterne's innovative, digressive novel had taken London by storm, and Reynolds captures the wit and irreverence that characterized both the author and his work. The portrait's informal, almost quizzical expression conveys the distinctive personality of one of the eighteenth century's most original literary minds.
Technical Analysis
Reynolds renders Sterne with unusual informality, the slightly raised eyebrow and the quizzical half-smile suggesting the author's famous wit. The warm palette and the relatively simple composition focus attention on the expressive face, creating one of Reynolds's most psychologically engaging portraits.
Look Closer
- ◆Notice the raised eyebrow and quizzical half-smile — Reynolds captures the wit that made Sterne's novels famous in a single expression
- ◆Look at how the informality of the pose signals that this is a portrait of a friend and intellectual peer, not merely a commission
- ◆Observe the relatively simple composition — Reynolds keeps everything focused on Sterne's extraordinary, mobile face
- ◆Find the warm, concentrated lighting on the face that makes the expression absolutely legible
- ◆Notice how this portrait differs from Reynolds's aristocratic commissions — there is less grandeur and more personal directness
See It In Person
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