Eighteenth-Century British Art

Eighteenth-century British art reflects an era of cultural refinement, exploration, and societal change. Artists like William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds focused on portraiture, capturing the personalities and status of their subjects, while landscape and genre paintings depicted everyday life and natural scenery. The period saw the rise of elegant Rococo influences and the beginnings of neoclassicism, emphasizing simplicity and clarity inspired by classical antiquity. Art was often used to communicate morals, social values, and national identity, marking a transition from Baroque grandeur to more restrained, refined styles that shaped modern British art traditions.