The other academies of Europe which have •been established for the advancement of the fine arts and the promotion of public taste, are supported entirely at the expense of their respective governments as national objects, and are usually under the control of some person of distinction. Such is the Royal Academy of Paris, founded just a century before. The Royal Academy of London is essentially different from these, inasmuch as it originated in the private munificence of the reigning king, and, since the first years of its existence, has been entirely maintained by the proceeds of the annual exhibition.
The king's adoption of the artists was immediately followed by the most liberal and effective support. He caused apartments for the schools to be fitted up in his own palace of Somerset House, supplied the Society with rooms in Pall Mall for their exhibitions, and for several years made up every deficiency in their expenditure from his privy purse; at the same time he allowed them to reserve 100/. a-year to form a fund for necessitous inembers or their widows, and twice that sum to administer occasional relief to artists in distress, whether they were members of the Society or not, When 01(1 Somerset House was purchased by the nation as a site for a number of public offices, the king took care to reserve a portion of the new building for the Academy. In 1766 the plans of a new site were submitted to the approval of the president and council, and the apartments devoted to this purpose were fitted up with a degree of magnificence worthy of. a royal palace, the talents of many of the principal members having been employed in their decoration. In July, 1780, the preparations beiiig completed, the Royal Academy obtained possession of their new residence, by an order from the Treasury to the surveyor-general of the works, and their first exhibition in Somerset House took place in the following year. This friendly superintendence of its affairs and anxious desire to promote the welfare and utility of the Society con tinued till the unfortunate illness of the king; and a like patronage has been vouchsafed by his successors.
In 1834, a proposal having been made by Lord Grey and the existing ministry to transfer the establishment from Somerset House to Trafalgar Square, where an edifice was proposed to be raised which would be also large enough for a national gallery of paintings, the sanction of the king( William was obtained, and the fleeces:try arrange ments were made with the president and council of the Academy. The
apartments, which comprise the whole of the east wing of the National Gallery, were put into their possession in 1836 ; and they are still occupied by the Academy, though formal notice has been more than once given by the govenunent of their intention to resume possession of them, in order to appropriate them to the use of the National Gallery.
The Royal Academy consists of forty academicians, painters, sculptors, and architects. There is a second order of members, styled associates, twenty in number, from whom alone the vacancies that occur among the academicians are supplied. The body of academicians elect, but the approbation and signature of IIer Majesty are necessary to make this election valid.
There are also six associate engravers, who are classed—two as "academician engravers," two as " associath engravers of the new dam," and two as "associate engravers." Associates are elected by the body of academicians, from a list of exhibitors who declare themselves candidates for this honour.
There are a treasurer, a librarian, a keeper, and a secretary. A bye law of the Academy requires that they shall be academicians. These offices are filled by Her Majesty's nomination.
There are four professors, academicians, elected by the general assembly, and approved by the queen, who read lectures on painting, sculpture, architecture, and perspective.
There is also a professor of anatomy, elected by the academicians, with the approbation of Her Majesty.
There are three schools : a school for study from casts from cele brated works of antiquity ; a school for study from living models ; and a painting school. The first is under the care and direction of the keeper; and the other two are under the care of visitors, annually appointed.
The council consists of nine members, including the president, and has the management of all the concerns of the Society. All bye-laws of the Academy must originate in the council, and have the appro bation of the general assembly, and the sanction of Her Majesty's signature to give them effect. The president, council, and visitors are annually elected, and confirmed by Her Majesty's signature.