AllMovie

Each episode of Portrait of an Artist offers an intimate peek at the life and work of an important figure in the world of art. Not just a dry discussion of the major works, this video is an exploration of the environment that produced the artist and influenced his work. From interviews with family and friends, to short trips to the artist's favorite haunts, no stone is left unturned. In this particular episode, viewers explore the life and work of Sir Joshua Reynolds, a leading British painter and the man responsible for founding the Royal Academy in Britain. He also brought British art up to par with the rest of Europe.