The Permanent Collection at Royal Academy of Arts on artrepublic.com
Exhibition running from Apr 01 2008
The Royal Academy has the distinction of being the oldest fine art institution in Britain. Founded in 1768, it regularly attracts over a million visitors each year and is entirely self-funding. The Academy's permanent collection covers British art from the 18th century to the present day. Located in Burlington House, Piccadilly since 1868, after extensive modification to accommodate the Academy, the space consists of the original house containing the Royal Academy Fine Arts library (of which Joan Miro is an honorary RA) on the first floor and three diploma galleries for loan exhibitions in the attic. Twelve larger exhibition galleries, a lecture room and school studio built by Sydney Smirke are in the gardens and more recently, the elegant minimalist Jill and Arthur M. Sackler galleries, designed by Sir Norman Foster opened in 1991. To the west of the house, still standing, is the Burlington Arcade, a covered parade of shops designed in 1815 by Samuel Ware. The Royal Academy is famous for its Summer Exhibition, the largest open contemporary art exhibition in the world, drawing together a wide range of new work by both established and unknown living artists. It has been held every year since the Royal Academy’s foundation in 1769, and is a unique showcase for art of all styles and media, encompassing paintings, sculpture, prints and architectural models. Image Credits: Image with introduction: Facade of 6 Burlington Gardens. (c) Richard Davies. Image 1: The facade of Burlington House.  |
