#ArtWords: 🏛️ #Classicism is generally associated with harmony and restraint, and obedience to recognised standards of form and craftsmanship. From the Renaissance on, classicism dominated Western art, with classical mythology – consisting of the various myths and legends of the ancient Greek and Roman gods and heroes – becoming a major source of subject matter for history painting. The terms classic or classical came into use in the 17th century to describe the arts and culture of the ancient civilisations of Greece and Rome. The following of the principles of these ancient civilisations in art, architecture and literature is referred to as classicism. This work by Joshua Reynolds shows the head of five-year-old Lady Frances Gordon from five different angles. Painted in 1786-7, Reynolds was inspired by Italian painting from the previous century, seeking to elevate the genre of portraiture by borrowing styles from the most admired art of the past.