The History of The Royal Academy of Arts, London

ADFAS Perth presents Rosalind Whyte – Lecture: The History of the Royal Academy, London.

In 2018 The Royal Academy of Arts celebrated its 250th anniversary, so it is an opportune time to explore its history and the role it has played in the development of British art. We will look at the position of artists in London before and after the formation of the Academy in 1768 and some of the characters involved, from the first President, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and other establishment figures, to artists who have taken a more oppositional stance.

The Academy has been embroiled in intrigue and controversy and no scandal or outrage will remain unexposed as we trace the history of one of Britain’s most important cultural bodies, from inception to the present day.