Reynolds led the eighteenth-century art world as first President of the Royal Academy and Britain's leading portrait painter. In his attempt to raise the status of portraiture, he created the 'Grand Manner' which borrowed from classical antiquity and the Old Masters to fill his portraits with moral and heroic symbolism. An incredible socialite, social climber and self-promoter, Reynolds used his contacts to advance himself. Appointed President of the newly established Royal Academy in 1768, his annual lectures – or Discourses on Art – had a lasting impact on the contemporary theory of art and practice.
Reynolds painted numerous self-portraits during his long career. This early example was probably painted just before Reynolds left for his study trip to Italy; at one time vertical in format it was reduced at top and bottom during the nineteenth century.