Royal Academy
The Royal Academy is an art institution based in London, England.
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2 Membership 3 Summer Exhibition 4 Location 5 Academicians ("RAs") by year of election 6 External links |
History
It was formed to rival the Society of Artists after an unseemly leadership dispute between two leading architects, Sir William Chambers and James Paine). Paine won, but Chambers vowed revenge and used his strong connections with the King to create a new artistic body, the Royal Academy, in 1768, formally launched the following year. Sir Joshua Reynolds was its first president, and Benjamin West its second.
Membership
Full membership of the academy is limited to 80 Academicians or "RAs", who must be professional painters, printmakers, sculptors or architects. Within the total, there must always be at least 14 sculptors, 12 architects and eight printmakers; the balance is made up of painters. New Academicians are elected by the existing RAs.
Summer Exhibition
The Royal Academy hosts a summer exhibition every year, which is an opportunity for unknown artists to have their work viewed by the public at this prestigious venue. It also runs a postgraduate art school and a research library.Location
Until 1771, the Academy was based in Pall Mall. It then moved to Somerset House but when these premises were taken over by the government, the Academy moved first, in 1837, to the National Gallery in Trafalgar Square and then, in 1868, to its permanent home at Burlington House, designed by Charles Barry (junior), architect son of Sir Charles Barry.Academicians ("RAs") by year of election
(This list is not complete - please update as necessary)
External links