Born on July 16, 1723, the son of a clergyman, Joshua Reynolds came to be known for his brilliance as a painter of portraits, particularly those of women and children. As a youth he was an avid drawer and, at the age of 17, began studying under a popular portraitist, Thomas Hudson. His apprenticeship with Hudson continued for three years, and the following few years were divided between Plympton and London. Reynolds studied Italian masters in Rome for two years and while there fell ill with a cold that would lead to a complete and permanent loss of hearing. In 1752 he returned to London where he quickly forged his reputation as a portrait painter. An active member of society, in 1764 he founded the Literary Club whose members included authors Samuel Johnson and Oliver Goldsmith, statesman Edmund Burke, and actor David Garrick. Four years later he became the first president of the Royal Academy. During his tenure at the academy, Reynolds delivered his Discourses, lectures that were then and are today a widely respected body of art criticism.