Artwork
The Honorable Henry Fane (1739–1802) with Inigo Jones and Charles Blair
The Honorable Henry Fane (1739–1802) with Inigo Jones and Charles Blair is an oil painting by the Academic Art artist Joshua Reynolds. It dates from 1761 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Joshua Reynolds's 1761 portrait of the Honorable Henry Fane, shown in 18th-century coat and waistcoat against a cloudy sky. He stands centered, face turned slightly right, one hand on his hip. Strong contrasts of light and dark light his face and sink the background, giving the figure depth.
Subject & Meaning
The inclusion of Jones, noted for his classical architecture, and Blair, a known supporter of the arts, signals Fane’s association with elite cultural circles.
The portrait shows the Honorable Henry Fane, a British gentleman of the mid‑18th century, standing with the architect Inigo Jones and the patron Charles Blair, while a small dog is positioned at his side. The inclusion of Jones, noted for his classical architecture, and Blair, a known supporter of the arts, signals Fane’s association with elite cultural circles. The dog, a common symbol of loyalty and domestic virtue in contemporary portraiture, reinforces notions of personal honor and respectable domesticity.
Executed by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1761, the work exemplifies academic portrait conventions that emphasized status, refined taste, and the sitter’s connections to influential figures in architecture and patronage.
Technique & Style
Executed in oil paint on canvas, the portrait measures 360.7 cm in height by 254.6 cm in width, an unusually large scale for a conversation piece. The work falls within the academic art tradition, consistent with Reynolds's early-career approach to formal portraiture. The composition is a group portrait, with Henry Fane depicted alongside Inigo Jones and Charles Blair, and a dog included among the depicted elements. The painting is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection.
History & Provenance
The Honorable Henry Fane (1739–1802) with Inigo Jones and Charles Blair is a portrait painted by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1761. Executed in oil on canvas, the work portrays Fane alongside a dog and reflects the academic style of the period. The painting was created as a likeness of the English gentleman and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on public view.
Its dimensions measure 360.7 × 254.6 mm, and it is catalogued under accession number 87.16. No earlier owners are documented in the available records.
The work is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded under accession number 87.16. According to the catalog entry, the oil on canvas portrait of The Honorable Henry Fane was executed in 1761 and is classified as a portrait within the academic tradition. The painting measures 360.7 cm in height and 254.6 cm in width and depicts the sitter alongside a dog.
No exhibition history is documented in the sources consulted, and the museum’s records do not reference prior display in special exhibitions.
Overview
The Honorable Henry Fane (1739–1802) with Inigo Jones and Charles Blair, an oil painting from 1761, is a portrait by Joshua Reynolds, a prominent English artist of the 18th century. This work depicts Henry Fane alongside a dog, rendered with the characteristic techniques of the era. It is currently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, representing a significant example of Reynolds's early career.
Context
Joshua Reynolds was a leading figure in 18th-century English art, instrumental in shaping the era's aesthetic direction. As the inaugural president of the Royal Academy of Arts, a position he held from its founding, he championed a particular vision for art. His advocacy for the 'Grand Style' emphasized idealized representation and historical painting over mere likeness, influencing generations of artists. Reynolds's knighthood in 1769 further solidified his esteemed position in British society.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Sir Joshua Reynolds (16 July 1723 – 23 February 1792) was an English painter who specialised in portraits.
