Mrs. Musters as 'Hebe' 1785

Mrs. Musters as 'Hebe' was painted by Joshua Reynolds, likely in the 1780s, using oils on canvas. Here, we see Reynolds dipping into the visual language of classical mythology so popular in England at this time, but to what end? In the painting, Mrs. Musters is presented as Hebe, the Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera. Reynolds positions her in the clouds, offering ambrosia to Zeus's eagle, a classical symbol of power. Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy, and this painting reflects the institution's academic ideals. We might ask what the social function of this work was. Was it merely to reflect the sitter's beauty and status? Or was it also meant to elevate and ennoble her through association with classical ideals? The tools of social history can help us to understand this painting as an engagement with a cultural project, revealing how the artistic conventions of the time helped to construct and reinforce the social hierarchies of 18th-century England.