The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts was founded in the year 1805, by the voluntary association and contributions of a number of gentlemen of the city of Philadelphia. It was soon after incorporated by the legislature. The object of this institution is to improve and refine the public taste in works of art, and to culti vate and encourage our native genius, by providing elegant and improved specimens of the arts for imita tion, and schools for instruction. Its present president is George Clymer, Esq.
There is a similar institution in the city of New York.
There are also in the United States a great number of Societies instituted for the promotion of various branches of theoretical and practical knowledge, and particularly of medicine and agriculture. DuroNcEAU.
of which appeared in 1788. See the Preface to the 1st volume of the Transactions.
Thr Academy of Ancient Music was instituted at Lon don, in 1710, by several persons of distinction, and some of the most eminent performers, with the view of pro moting the study and practice of vocal and instrumental harmony. It had the advantage of a library, consisting of the most celebrated compositions, both foreign and domestic. The band of the Chapel-Royal, and the choir of St Paul's, with the boys belonging to each, contribu ted their exertions in support of this new institution. In 1731, a difference arose among the members; in conse quence of which, the support of the boys, and of several of the members, was withdrawn. From this time it be came a seminary for the instruction of youth in the prin ciples of music.
The Royal Academy of illusic was formed by the prin cipal nobility and gentry of the kingdom, for the perform ance of operas composed by Mr Handel, and conducted by him at the theatre in the Haymarket. This institu
tion attracted extraordinary attention, and continued to flourish, for a considerable time, with great reputation. The subscription amounted to 50,0001.; and the king, subscribing 10001., allowed the society to assume the ti tle of Royal Academy. It consisted of a governor, de puty-governor, and twenty directors. A contest, how ever, betwixt Handel and Senesino, in which the direc tors took the part of the latter, occasioned the dissolu tion of the academy, after it had existed for more than nine years.
The Royal Academy of Arts was establiShed at Lon don, in 1768, for the encouragement of designing, paint ing, sculpture, &c. The king is the patron ; and it is un der the direction of forty artists of the first rank in their several professions. They paint front living models of different characters. Nine are chosen out of the forty, to attend in rotation, to set the figures, to examine the performances that are produced, and to give the neces sary instructions. There are professors of painting, of architecture, of anatomy, and of perspective, who annual ly give lectures in their different departments ; besides a president, a council, and other officers. There is an annual exhibition of paintings, sculptures, and designs, at which some excellent pieces have been sometimes produced. IL is open to all who have any taste for the studies which it professes to cultivate.
On the subject of Academies, see Descamp, Sur Paine de l'etahlissement des ecolcs gratuites, Paris, 1768. Rozoi, L'Essais Philosophique sur l'etablissement des ecoles gratuiles de dessin. Ramdohr, Uber Mahlerel, and BildhauerA'uost in Rom. Leipsick. 1787 ; and Mazzu chelli's Scrittori D'hulia, passim. See also INSTITUTE, INSTITUTION, SOCIETY.