BIRTH OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14940, 13 March 1912, Page 10

BIRTH OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY.

1768 a memorial was addressed to King j George HI. with the twofold object of establishing a school of design and an annual exhibition. lb was signed by most of the principal artists of tho day, but owing to, the previous dissensions of rival factions Joshua Reynolds held aloof, until oho night, after two hours' persuasion, ho was induced to order his coach and drive to tho placo where the thirty memorialists were assembled. "Immediately on his entering the room they with on© voice hailed him as president. He was much affected by the compliment, and returned them his thanks for the high mark of their approbation, but declined tho honour until such time as he had consulted with his friends J)t. Johnson and •' Mr. Edmund Burke." It was a full fortnight before he gave his . consent, and became the first president of the Royal Academy. The rules declared that the academy should consist of 40 members only, who should bo called academicians; all teaching was to bo gratuitous the funds arising from the annual exhibitions wore to bo "expended in salaries, a pension fund, and the giving of premiums. < Very considerable sums were realised in this way —as much as £5000 and £7000 per annum. In 1850 the academy is accused of having accumulated £140,000 in tho funds. On December 10, 1768, the king signed the instrument for founding the Royal Academy of Arts in London. "I approve ,this plan; let it be put into Execution.— George R." George TIL may with some reason be considered tho godfather of the academy ho conferred on it its title of Royal"—no idle one, for he took a deep interest in its fa-tunes* The academy received no grant from Parliament, no aid from tho public funds ; but out of his privy purse the king sup.money to meet its needs, • and ho provided apartments for it in his own palace at Somerset House. When this historic mansion was taken down and tho sito appropiated for public offices, the King stipulated that rooms should, bo constructed " ; in the now buildings for tho Royal Academy. Thus, after more than a century 'of tra- ' vail,, the Royal Academy was born and baptised; the King was its sponsor, and artists of world-wide renown its guardians and foster-nurses. Joshua Reynolds, Richard Wilson, Thomas Gainsborough, An- , gelica Kiuffman—thiso were among its i i tt origin.Tl memberß t " " •{•■-.