REYNOLDS, JOSHUA. A sammelband of six discourses delivered by Joshua Reynolds to the Royal Academy, in the years 1769-1791, including four presentation copies. The group comprises: A Discourse Delivered at the Opening of the Royal Academy, January 2, 1769, by the President. London: [no publisher], 1769. Inscribed "from the author" on the title page; together with: A Discourse delivered... December 14, 1770... London: Thomas Davies, 1771; and A Discourse... Dec. 10th, 1774. London: Thomas Davies, 1775; and A Discourse... December 10, 1776... London: Thomas Davies, 1777. Inscribed on the half title; and A Discourse... December 10, 1782... London: Thomas Cadell, 1783. Inscribed "from the Author" on title page. Inscribed to "Mr. Trouquin [?] from the author" on the half title; and A Discourse... Dec. 10, 1790. London: Thomas Cadell, 1791. Inscribed to the Bishop of Salisbury on the half title. Bound in brown morocco by Zaehnsdorf in 1922. 9 3/4 x 7 1/4 inches (24.75 x 18.5 cm); [4], 15 pp.; [4], 20 pp., half title; [2], 36 pp.; [4], 44 pp., half title; 28 pp., half title; [4], 31 pp., half title. minimal wear, front joint starting and hinge cracked, intermittent light spotting and toning.

A collection of six out of the fifteen discourses delivered by the first president of the Royal Academy, Sir Joshua Reynolds, at the ceremony of the distribution of the prizes at year's end. This volume contains Reynolds' first, third, fifth, seventh, eleventh, and fifteenth discourses, four of which are inscribed by the author. In his speeches, Reynolds espouses a neo-classical ideology of art, putting himself and the Royal Society in opposition to the still nascent romantic movement.