The primary Discourse is structured across the theme of diligence. Reynolds opens with phrases of reward to the reigning monarch and illustrates the necessity of the British Empire to have, “an decoration appropriate to its greatness”, that’s to say, an Academy of Art. With the customary platitudes fulfilled, Reynolds strikes on to outline his notion of the Academies function, specifically to, “furnish in a position men to direct the coed”, and to be, “a repository for the good examples of the Art.” These statements exemplify Reynolds conception of the first operate of the Academy, its means and its ends. Lamenting the loss to Britain of potential artists of noteworthy expertise, Reynolds causes that it was due, partly, to the dearth of an Academy and the works of Art which such an Academy can be the repository for. He elaborates with a gorgeous soliloquise inserting the emphasis for creative instruction totally on the tangible examples of nice Art rather than tutorial course. Reynolds provides;
“What number of men of nice pure skills have been misplaced to this nation for need of those benefits! They by no means had a chance of seeing these masterly efforts of genius, which without delay kindle the entire soul. Raffaelle, it’s true had not the benefit of finding out in an Academy; however all Rome and the works of Michael Angelo particularly had been to him an Academy. On the sight of the Capella Sistina, he instantly from a dry, Gothic, and even insipid method,..assumed that grand model of portray, which improves partial illustration by normal and invariable ideas of nature.”