Genius and Ambition

Founded in 1768 by a group of painters, sculptors and architects, the Royal Academy of Arts was the primary art institution in the United Kingdom until the beginning of the 20th century. Created as a venue for the study and display of art, the Academy came to be the maker of reputation and renown. Over the centuries, it has also amassed an extraordinary collection of works by Royal Academicians, as well as materials relating to the RA Schools, institutional archives and artists private papers dating back to the early 1770s. This fascinating volume delves into the history of the Academy and its Collections from its foundation until the First World War, covering its complex role in the history of art and the teaching of art in Britain and abroad. In addition to in-depth explorations of the RA, its Schools and its Library, the book also assesses the importance of the Academy for Australian artists who travelled there to study and exhibit. Showcasing 130 works from the RA Collections by such stellar artists as Gainsborough, Constable, Turner, J. E. Millais, J. W. Waterhouse and John Singer Sargent, alongside masterpieces by Australian artists including George Folingsby, Arthur Streeton and Tom Roberts, this book provides a comprehensive review of those artists who, through their involvement with the Royal Academy, shaped the history of British and Australian art from 1768.