Sir Joshua Reynolds

Sketch for ‘The 4th Duke of Marlborough and his Family’

c.1777

Image released under Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND (3.0 Unported)

License this image

Not on display
Artist
Sir Joshua Reynolds 1723–1792
Medium
Oil paint on canvas
Dimensions
Support: 552 x 508 mm
frame: 761 x 719 x 85 mm
Collection
Tate
Acquisition
Bequeathed by Henry Vaughan 1900
Reference
N01840

Display caption

Reynolds rarely made preliminary sketches even for complex compositions. But the magnificent group of the family of the Duke of Marlborough, which still dominates the Red Drawing Room at Blenheim Palace, was clearly an exception. Conceived in the grandest traditions of Rubens and Van Dyck, it was to influence society portraiture into this century. This sketch shows the painter struggling with the problem of integrating the solemn splendour of the adults with a more modern, relaxed informality preferred for young children and dogs. The end result shows brilliantly the range of Reynolds's wit and originality as a portraitist.

Gallery label, September 2004

Does this text contain inaccurate information or language that you feel we should improve or change? We would like to hear from you.

Explore

You might like

Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Lord and Lady Ashburton’ 1782–7

Sir Joshua Reynolds Lord and Lady Ashburton

1782–7
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N06244
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and his Mother’ c.1768–9

Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn and his Mother

c.1768–9
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N05750
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘The Holy Family with the Infant St John’ 1788–9

Sir Joshua Reynolds The Holy Family with the Infant St John

1788–9
A00837
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Lady Talbot’ exhibited 1782

Sir Joshua Reynolds Lady Talbot

exhibited 1782
On display at Tate Britain part of Walk Through British Art N05640
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘The Hon. Miss Monckton’ 1777–8

Sir Joshua Reynolds The Hon. Miss Monckton

1777–8
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N04694
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Sir James Hodges’ 1765

Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir James Hodges

1765
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N03545
Richard Cosway, ‘Portrait of a Gentleman, his Wife and Sister, in the Character of Fortitude introducing Hope as the Companion to Distress (‘The Witts Family Group’)’ c.1775

Richard Cosway Portrait of a Gentleman, his Wife and Sister, in the Character of Fortitude introducing Hope as the Companion to Distress (‘The Witts Family Group’)

c.1775
T06969
Thomas Gainsborough, ‘The Baillie Family’ c.1784

Thomas Gainsborough The Baillie Family

c.1784
N00789
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Mr Huddesford and Mr Bampfylde’ c.1778

Sir Joshua Reynolds Mr Huddesford and Mr Bampfylde

c.1778
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N00754
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘A Nymph and Cupid: ‘The Snake in the Grass’’ exhibited 1784

Sir Joshua Reynolds A Nymph and Cupid: ‘The Snake in the Grass’

exhibited 1784
N00885
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers’ 1769

Sir Joshua Reynolds Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers

1769
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights T12033
Johan Zoffany, ‘Colonel Blair with his Family and an Indian Ayah’ 1786

Johan Zoffany Colonel Blair with his Family and an Indian Ayah

1786
T12610
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Admiral Viscount Keppel’ 1780

Sir Joshua Reynolds Admiral Viscount Keppel

1780
On display at Tate Britain part of Spotlights N00886
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘The Banished Lord’ engraved 1777

Sir Joshua Reynolds The Banished Lord

engraved 1777
N00107
Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Miss Crewe’ c.1775

Sir Joshua Reynolds Miss Crewe

c.1775
L02926