Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts, Great Britain's principal art organization, located in London, established for the purpose of improving and encouraging painting, sculpture, and architecture in Great Britain. It was founded in 1768 by George III in response to a memorial presented by 22 artists, among them the British architect Sir William Chambers and the American painter Benjamin West. Sir Joshua Reynolds was its first president. Among others who have been president were West and the British painters Sir Thomas Lawrence and Sir John Everett Millais. The number of Royal Academicians is usually 80. The first permanent rooms of the Royal Academy were in the royal palace, Old Somerset House, in 1771. The society moved into New Somerset House in 1780 and then to the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, in 1837. In 1869 the society moved to its current location in Burlington House, Piccadilly.

About 1,200 works of art are brought together at the annual Summer Exhibition, at which members may exhibit six works and non-members may exhibit three. Loan exhibitions are mounted by the academy every year, and other exhibitions also take place under its patronage. The permanent collection of the academy contains many valuable works of art, including the Taddei Tondo by Michelangelo, as well as the diploma works of nearly all the Royal Academicians. The art schools of the academy are open to postgraduate students. The academy, which is under the direct patronage of the British monarch, is self-supporting, receiving the bulk of its funds from loan exhibitions. The academy also administers a number of major trust funds that provide for several travelling scholarships and various medals and prizes.

Reviewed by: Royal Academy of Arts