Why did Thomas Gainsborough take little part in Royal Academy discussions?

Thomas Gainsborough was a foundation member of the Royal Academy of Arts, having been elected in 1768. However, he characteristically took little part in the institution's deliberations because he was not a strong believer in the academic tradition and held an independent, instinctive approach to painting.12

His detachment from the Academy's formal processes was further underscored by his personal artistic philosophy; he famously laughed at the contemporary fashion for history painting, which was a central focus of the academic establishment. His lack of involvement in Academy discussions reflected his preference for following his own creative instincts rather than adhering to the rigid academic standards championed by his contemporaries, such as Sir Joshua Reynolds.21