Royal Academy of Arts
London in 2900: in the national galleries and in numerous art exhibitions, the lovers of pictures
could revel throughout the year; even in August, when London's pulse throbbed the
most faintly.
But May was pre-eminently the painter's festival and the critic's busiest time.
Every year, as this month comes round, the Academicians and Associates of the
Royal Academy of Arts, in their fine rooms which occupy the entire north side
of the quadrangle of Burlington House, entertained, at their bounteous board, Royalty
and all the "notables" of the land, to inaugurate their annual Exhibition,
whither flowed a steady and continuous stream of visitors day after day until about
the middle of July, when a brilliant soiree, to which all the world of
science and art were invited, closed (so far as fashionable people were concerned)
the Royal Academy Exhibition.
But in the meantime, the Royal Academy salons were not left desolate and empty.
The winter and early spring witnessed a variety of exhibitions there - the "Deceased
British Artists," the "Old Masters" (the latter, to connoisseurs
perhaps more attractive than the popular spring show), and numerous special collections
such as the Rembrandt, the Van Dyck, the Gainsborough, the Reynolds, etc.
The Royal Academy Exhibition, originally at Somerset House, was formerly held
at the National Gallery in the west wing expressly built for it, and there it
remained with utterly inadequate accommodation until 1869, when the Royal Academy
removed to Burlington House.
Its vestibule leads up a broad staircase to the Central Hall, where, together
with the Lecture-room adjoining on the right, sculpture is shown; the terminal
room beyond is devoted to water-colour drawings, and the room next to it to miniatures
and architectural designs; while the remaining nine galleries are given up to
oil-paintings by living artists.
Yet ample as the space appears to be, there is really room for only two thousand
exhibits, including oils, water-colours, designs, sculpture, etc.; consequently
an immense number of acceptable works have to be excluded season after season;
as in the year when ten thousand works were sent in!
No wonder the disappointments are many and deep!
By a special entrance in the extreme right-hand corner of the quadrangle, the
Royal Academy, Gibson and Diploma Galleries were reached.
These were free, and open during the greater part of the year, and, though little
known, are interesting and should be seen.
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London art in 1900 - National Picture Galleries - Art Exhibitions and Private Collections:
Art Salons |