A Luminary of the Enlightenment: The Life and Art of Sir Joshua Reynolds Sir Joshua Reynolds, born July 16, 1723, in Plympton, Devonshire, England—died February 23, 1792, London—was a pivotal figure during Britain’s burgeoning Enlightenment era. His father, Reverend Samuel Reynolds, instilled in him a profound appreciation for scholarship and intellectual pursuits, guiding young Joshua toward the path of academia before an undeniable passion for artistic expression ultimately prevailed. This inclination led to his apprenticeship with Thomas Hudson in London at seventeen, securing him invalua…