The Sun.
London, England, 1859-03-05 00:00:00

THE NATIONAL GALLERY.

Lord LYNDHURST, whohad given notice of his inten-
tention to call the attention of the house to the Royal Aca-
demy, to the proposal to remove the establishment from the
National Gallery to a new situation, and the conditions of
such removal, rose and said—My lords, shortly after the
meeting of Parliament, in answer to a question put to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer in the other Hoiise of Parlia-
ment, the right hon. gentleman stated, according to report,
that there was an intention of removing the Royal Aca-
demy from their present residence in Trafalgar-square to a
new site, upon certain terms which were not distinctly
stated. My lords, I consider that much misapprehension
has existed respecting the tenure under which the Royal
Academy hold their apartments at present in the National
Gallery. Much apprehension appears to me also to exist
as to the character, the duties, and the means of perform-
ing the duties of the Royal Academy, and much misrepre-
sentation has taken place in consequence of such misappre-
hensions. I am, therefore, desirous to have 1111 opportunity
of entering into an explanation upon this point, because I
think it will be satisfactory to your lordships, and will re-
dound to the credit of the society to which I have referred.
I hope, my lords, I shall not be charged with going out of
my province in entering upon this subject. My justification,
or rather my excuse may be, or must be, that in the course
of last session I presented a petition to your lordships from
the Royal Academy, requesting your lordships to pass some
bill for the purpose of extending the law of copyright to paint-
ings and other works of fine art. In consequence of this I
have received repeated communications from members of the
Royal Academy, and they recal to my recollection many cir-
cumstances of my early life when I attended the lectures of
Sir Joshua Reynolds, of Mr. Barry, ,and other professors
when I was very much associated and very conversant with
the proceedings of the Royal Academy, and when I was in-
timately acquainted with many of the members of the society.
There is one circumstance, and a remarkable circumstance,
that distinguishes the Royal Academy in this country
from all the other academies that exist on the continent of
Europe. There is not a single academy for the purpose
of promoting the fine arts upon the continent of Europe that
is not supported entirely by the State;' whereas the Royal
Academy here has almost from its first institution been self-
supporting. It has been of no charge whatever to the
State, and in this respect resembles many other of our in-
stitutions, which would in foreign countries look for aid to
the Government, but which in this country are supported
by the energy, vigour, and enterprise of individuals. This
is a peculiar characteristic of our free state, and it does, I
think, great honour to its independence and spirit. Some
persons have said that the Royal Academy is to be consi-
dered as a society of private gentlemen united for the pur-
pose of promoting the fine arts, while others have said that
it is to be viewed as an incorporation. It is a singular cir-
cumstance that at the institution of the Royal Academy
there was an Incorporated Society of British Artists then in
existence, consisting of a numerous body of professional
gentlemen. In consequence, however, of a dispute among
that body and the disorders consequent upon it, some of the
leading members applied by memorial to George 111. for
the purpose of establishing an academy under his patronage.
After some' censiderarion, the King assented to their re-
quest, and established the Royal Academy, exclusively
under his protection and support. A code of laws was pre-
pared under the immediate superintendence of the King,
and he himself devoted a considerable portion of time to
their consideration. Many alterations were proposed, but
at last the code was complete. and it was then handed over
under the sign•naanual to the Royal Academy ; so that the
Royal Academy exists, not as a private assemblage of in-
dividuals, but as an establishment under Royal authority,
and under the sign manual. As for these laws I may de-
scribe them in a few words. The society consists of 40 Aca•
demicians and 20 associates, and it is provided that when
there is a vacancy it shall be supplied by election, that elec-
tion to be conducted by the Royal Academicians. But no
person is allowed to hold the office of Royal Academician
except with the assent of the Crown, and before ho is
placed in that situation he must have a diploma
from the Crown, pointing out his rank and position in the
society. Part of' the system is the establishment of a very
extensive and gratuitous school for the instruction of stu-
dents in the fine arts. Certain professors are appointed,
four or five in number, and also certain officers who are
necessary for carrying on the establishment. I remember
hearing many years ago---nearly 70 years ago—that the
whole system and code of laws were referred to and con-
sidered by Lord Camden. I find that at this time Lord
Camden was the possessor of the great seal, and we know,
according to the practice of those days, that the Lord Chan-
cellor was in daily private commumeation with the Crown.
It is therefore almost impossible that a scheme of this kind
should be established, and this system of laws could not in-
deed well bo constituted without the King taking the ad-
vice of the Lord Chancellor. I own, my lords, that the
various documents under the sign manual are not counter-
signed by any of the officers of the Crown, and there might
be some doubt raised whether this Academy was patronised
and under the support of the Crown in its private or its
public character. My lords, I do not think it very material
to enter into these nice distinctions. What I am stating
relates to the franie, the constitution, and the 'circumstances
under which the endowment Was placed. Now, my lords, a
word or two in respect to its local position. The Royal Aca •
demy was founded in 1768. Three years afterwards, in
1771, it was transferred from its original place of residence
in Pall-mall to the old palace of Somerset-house by the au-
thority of the Crown. It remained at the old palace of
Somerset-house until the new building was erected. That
building, or series of buildings, was erected under the autho-
rity of an act of Parliament. That act of Parliament pointed
out the particular offices ,which were to be accommodated in
this building; I think they were to be ten in number; and
it provided that on the site of the old palace such other
buildings and offices should be erected as his Majesty should
think proper to direct. It was under this reserved clause
that his Majesty directed that that part of the building
which fronts the Strand should bo erected, for the
accommodation of the Royal Academy, the Royal Society,
and the Society of Antiquaries. The keys of that part of
the building intended to be occupied by the Royal Academy
were directed by his Majesty to be handed over to Sir
Joshua Reynolds, who was then the president. It is clear
that at that period the apartments which were assigned to
the Royal Academy were held as part of the old palace of
the Scivereign and at the will and pleasure of the Sovereign.
They continued in the occupation of those apartments un-
disturbed for a period of nearly 60 years. At the expiration
of that time it was found convenient to transfer the Royal
Academy from the position they then occupied, in order
that other offices should be established on that position ; but
on that occasion a special agreement was entered into be-
tween the Crown and Parliament, in which the Royal Aca-
demy joined. By virtue of that agreement, and with the
consent of the Crown, the Royal Academy was transferred
to the National Gallery in Trafalgar-square. It was stipu-
lated at the time as part of the arrangement that they
should hold those premises precisely on the same tenure and
with the same rights and privileges as thpy formerly held
the premises in Somerset-house. His Majesty consented to
this arrangement, Sir Martin Archer Shea being at that
time Presient of the Academy. Thus the matter stands as
to the right of the Royal Academy to the apartments they
now occupy. They do not hold them of the nation, but of
the Crown, and at the pleasure of the Crown. I pass over
that part of the subject. I have stated that the society is
self-supporting ; that the source from which they have de-
rived their income is the annual exhibition. The profits of
that exhibition have advanced by degrees to their present
amount. Tho average for the last 10 years has reached the
sum of £7,000 a year. From the very first they have con-
ducted themselves in the management of that fund with
great discretion. They have set apart a sum for accumulation
with a view to the perpetuity of that establishment. I know
some persons suppose that the members of the Royal
Academy may apply this fund as they think proper. Some
think they have distributed a portion of it among them-
selves,. Nothing can be more unfounded. They have no
power whatever over the fund. They cannot dispose of any
part of it without the consent of the Crown. Upon one or
two occasions they advanced large sums towards the relief
of the country. In 1798 they voted X5OO for that purpose in
aid of the Government. They voted afterwards a similar
sum; but the Crown refused its consent, and the money
was not advanced. For what purpose is the fund then to be
applied? There are certain officers appointed with the view
to the schools and the instruction of the students ; among
others, a professor of sculpture, a professor of architecture,
and a professor of anatomy—all branches of art necessary
for an artist. These and certain other officers receive sti-
pends on a very moderate scale for the discharge of the
duties devolving upon them. But the great object of the
institution has reference to the schools. The schools are on
a most liberal establishment. Any of her Majesty's sub-
jects have a right to be gratuitously instructed there. No-
thing more is requisite for that purpose than the production
of a certificate of good moral character and a qualification
in drawing. With those qualifications they are admitted to
the schools and are instructed gratuitously during as long
a period as they think proper to remain. Many hundreds of
students have been instructed in the schools connected with
the society. At this very moment the number of students is
something like 400. Your lordships may ask what has been
the result of this instruction. The answer is most satis-
, factory. During the last 50 years by far the larger pro-
portion of eminent artists in this country were taught in
those schools. 'Two-thirds of the present Royal Academi-
cians had their education in those schools. I have a list
in my pocket of the names of those to whom I have re-
-1
ferred, but I could not trouble your lordships to read them
all, and to read a few would be invidious ; but I will re-
peat in distinct and precise terms that the most eminent
men that have figured in the arts in this country have
been educated in those schools. Two-thirds of the present
Royal Academicians were so trained and so educated.
There is another circumstance worthy of mention. Not
long ago it will be recollected that premiums were offered