Joshua Reynolds, a contemporary of Gainsborough, was the dominant English portraitist of the “Age of Johnson,” and painted up to 3,000 portraits, including those of many of the most wealthy and famous figures of his day.  A painter of great energy, he was said to have worked constantly, never losing his abilities, albeit having lost some of his hearing and the sight in one of his eyes during his long career.  The subject of this painting, Henry Howard, was a British politician who served as Secretary of State for the Northern Department during the American Revolution. He secured the use of Hessian and Hanoverian mercenaries in the failed effort to suppress the rebellious colonies. Howard achieved the positions of Privy Counselor and Knight of the Garter, but died young.

At the outset of his career, Bidauld studied and painted throughout France and Italy, gaining a reputation as a “history painter.” Returning to Paris in 1790, he entered the Salon, in which he participated regularly. In 1792 he began receiving official commissions and, after 30 years of commissions and hard work, became the first landscape painter elected to the Academie des Beaux-Arts.  In 1825 he was awarded the Legion d’honneur.   Later in life, Bidauld was savaged by the press and, as a result, lost the ability to sell his work, ultimately dying a poor man. The artist and his paintings are seeing a deserved revival.

Etching, drypoint, and engraving.  Rembrandt is considered to have been one of the finest painters and printmakers in European art history.

Though his ability as an artist was recognized at an early age, Gilbert was forced to work as an artisan due to financial circumstances.  He eventually gained some formal art training in
Paris. His work is characterized by everyday scenes in Paris, such as this troupe of young boys playing music while marching through a park.