| Portrait of Sir William Chambers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Artist | Joshua Reynolds |
| Year | 1780 |
| Type | Oil on canvas, portrait |
| Dimensions | 129 cm× 103.2 cm(51 in× 40.6 in) |
| Location | Royal Academy, London |
Portrait of Sir William Chambers is a 1780 portrait painting by the British artist Joshua Reynolds depicting the architect William Chambers. [1] [2] Reynolds was the first president of the Royal Academy. The Royal Academy had recently moved into new headquarters at Somerset House on the Strand in London. Chambers, also a prominent member of the Academy, had designed the new building. Reynolds portrays him with a porte crayon in his hand, against the backdrop of Somerset House. [3]
It is likely the painting was produced as a pendant to hang alongside the Self-Portrait by Reynolds in the Assembly Room at Somerset House. [4] The engraver Valentine Green produced a mezzotint based on the painting, a copy of which is now in the National Portrait Gallery. [5]
