ACADEMY

(ROYAL) OF ARTS (London). When George III. came to the throne of Great Britain in 1760 he commenced to encourage the cultivation of the arts. Attempts had previously been made by the prin. artists to form a permanent A. for the cultivation of ainting, sculpture, and architecture, ut they had failed. In 1760, however— with the a istance of ‘The Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, in Great Britain,’ which was established in 1754—the artists opened the first public exhibition which attracted public attention. Its first quarters were in Somerset House, but when old Somerset House was purchased by the nation a part of the new building was given to the society. in 1836 it was remov ed to Trafalgar Square, and it was afterwards removed to Burlington House, Piccadilly, its present quarters. It consists of forty academicians, painters, sculptors, and architects; thirty a ociates; and several honorary members.