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This article suggests that while Reynolds's painting. The Age of Innocence, appears seemingly sentimental In subject matter, it also signifies the underpinnings of a complex and intellectually grounded visual aesthetic. In this paper, this aesthetic is described through the lens of both formalism and technique; it identifies the contributions that these aspects make towards strengthening the characterization of the artist's subject, clarifying his intended narrative, and providing an engaging, multi-dimensional experience for the viewer. In closing, the article invites thought about the linkages which exist between Reynolds's visual aesthetic and Wharton's literary approach in her novel. The Age of Innocence, and the extent to which Reynold's painterly concepts of form and technique influenced Wharton's literary equivalents in The Age of Innocence.
Sir Joshua Reynolds's painting, The Age of Innocence, is generally acknowledged for its beguiling subject matter and seemingly sentimental narrative. However, there are further aspects of the work that suggest the artist's deep engagement with a complex visual aesthetic meant to convey certain meanings to the viewer. This article will offer an overview of these qualities by entering Reynolds's painting primarily through two lenses: those of formalism and technique. However, since an artist's intended message is generally the wellspring through which formalism and technique naturally emerge and take shape, I will intermittently draw connections to the painting's narrative content as well.
When viewed formallstically, the structure of Reynolds's painting is about stability and frameworks. Although depicting the figure of a young child (thought to be the artist's great grand niece), the painting's spatial orchestration reveals characteristics often found In a traditional still life. A central vertical axis (CVA) provides the fulcrum or "spine" upon which the entire composition rests, thereby asserting a strong statement of visual balance. It is precisely upon this axis that Reynolds contains his central subject (the child) within a triangular framework, a universal visual syntax signifying stability and permanency. Reynolds further enhances this sense of stability by locating the triangle flatly upon a 1 80 degree horizontal plane. This heavily...