Joshua Reynolds — English Artist born on July 16, 1723, died on February 23, 1792

Sir Joshua Reynolds RA FRS FRSA was an influential eighteenth-century English painter, specialising in portraits. He promoted the "Grand Style" in painting which depended on idealization of the imperfect. He was a founder and first president of the Royal Academy of Arts, and was knighted by George III in 1769... (wikipedia)

There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking.
It is but a poor eloquence which only shows that the orator can talk.
If you have great talents, industry will improve them: if you have but moderate abilities, industry will supply their deficiency.
A mere copier of nature can never produce anything great.
A room hung with pictures is a room hung with thoughts.