Music & Theatre David Titley & Friends Present The Portrait.

A play written & directed by David Titley.

It is a mystery.

The artist never finished it.

The picture remained in his house where he could see it, until his dying day.

He painted other portraits of his friend, but this one stayed with him.

Why did Joshua Reynolds – most successful of English portraitists – want to paint his penniless friend, Samuel Johnson?

Joshua Reynolds was born in 1723, studied in Italy. At the time of the portrait he could command £20 for a one hour sitting, and saw up to five sitters in a day. Reynold’s sister Frances kept house for him for many years.

Johnson in 1756 was 46, a widower & broke, despite the recent publication of the Dictionary. He had yet to become the iconic figure of his later years.

Two women take a trip to look at the picture today. Meanwhile in 1756 Frances Reynolds is starting a busy day at her brother’s house…

Tickets £15 from the website.