Discourses - Penguin Classics Author:Sir Joshua Reynolds Composed as lectures to the students at the Royal Academy, Sir Joshua Reynold's "Discourses" both summarised the art theory of the previous 300 years and pointed towards attitudes which were to become prevalent in the 19th century. Reynolds' general theme is the education of the artist: the purpose of art, the nature of the creative process, and... more » the artist's relation to tradition.« less