Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers

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Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers

Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1769-1770

Oil-on-canvas

238.7 × 184.2 cm

Tate

Colonel Acland and Lord Sydney: The Archers is a 1769-1770 Oil on canvas painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds.^[1][2] The artwork depicts the two aristocrats Colonel John Dyke Acland (seen on the right; lived from 1746 to 1778) and Dudley Alexander Sydney Cosby (1732-1774; diplomat).

Reynolds began the work in 1769, and completed it by the next year. It is significant to note that, it was in 1769 that Reynold became the 1st president of the new Royal Academy.^[1]

In September 2005, the Tate Gallery purchased the painting for over £2.5 million (UK), equivalent to $4.4 million (US).^[3]

Contents 1 Analysis 2 Notes 3 Citations 4 References

[edit] Analysis

The work portrays the two men holding each a bow, while the shotgun was the more popular choice of weapon at the time.^[a] These two bow-wielding men can be seen in the clearing of a forest. They are both garbed in archer clothing; their hunted prey lies close to their feet. Their facial expressions, coupled with Cosby's eagerness and poise, suggest that they are both preparing to loose an arrow at an approaching animal. Distantly in the background, a river, a clump of trees, and a meadow can be seen. Further back, at the skyline mountain peaks can be seen below thick grey clouds.

The portrait can be considered to be of a similar design to some of his other works; it shares the same textural schemes and design with several other works by Reynold. Additionally, this work, along with, again, many of his other paintings, alludes to the classical era. This is apparent in this portrait in both the clothing the two aristocrats wear, and their choice of weapon; a bow and arrows at a time where the shotgun had generally superseded the bow as a ranged weapon. ^[1]

[edit] Notes

[edit] Citations

[edit] References