Grand manner

An aesthetic style of idealism, it was especially prevalent in Britain in the 18th century and described painting that used visual metaphors to suggest noble qualities. Sir Joshua Reynolds give prominence to the term by using it in lectures to promote the style at the Royal Academy. He asserted that painters should alude to themes through idealism rather than doing exact or realist copies of nature. It was first applied to history ainting and then to portraiture. In addition to Reynolds, Peter Paul Rubens, Thomas Gainsborough and Anthony Van Dyck exemplified the Grand Manner. In 19th century portraiture, desire of the sitters for embellished characteristics led to these works being called 'swagger portraits'. Source Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_manner