St. Nicholas Vol. XIII, September, 1886, No. 11

This lively essay traces the evolution of English painting from the Tudor courts to the birth of the Royal Academy. It begins with Henry VIII’s lavish patronage, moves through the foreign‑inspired splendor of Elizabeth I and Charles I, and shows how those influences paved the way for native talent to emerge.

The narrative then turns to the groundbreaking work of William Hogarth, whose street‑level scenes captured everyday London life with unflinching honesty, and to the rise of Joshua Reynolds, whose early sketches and bold determination earned him the Academy’s first presidency. Through vivid anecdotes and keen observation, the author reveals how these artists reshaped the nation’s visual culture, laying foundations that still echo in today’s art world.