Portrait of Lord Robert Spencer 

Joshua Reynolds painted this portrait of Lord Robert Spencer, likely in England, sometime in the late 18th century. Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy, and his portraits were status symbols for Britain's elite. Here, the trappings of wealth are everywhere. The landscape setting evokes the landed gentry, while Lord Robert's clothing is rich with ornamentation, lace, and even what appears to be a small sword. This portrait tells us a great deal about the hierarchies of 18th-century Britain. Note the casual pose, as if to say, "I am so confident in my power, I need not stand to attention." To further understand paintings such as this, one might consult sources that analyze British social structures, class relations, and of course, the history of the Royal Academy itself. It is in these contexts that the image comes to life.