The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-16 00:00:00

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II

LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1866.

We are at length in a fair way of having the two
great artistic problems of the day satisfactorily
solved. The National. Gallery and the Royal Aca-
demy have both been for some time in the undigni-
fied position of poor puss in the children's game.
" Corners" enough have been forthcoming, but
there has always been some objection or other, and
certainly the change is not one to be made every
year. Both the National Gallery and the
Academy ought to fix their new habitations
with a view to permanent settlement. The
House of Commons is willing by a liberal vote
to construct a building really worthy of a
national object, but it is with the intention of
settling the question for many generations. In the
same way the Academy, rich enough for all ordinary
purposes, cannot afford the expensive amusement
of building very often, so that the movement is a
final one. The manner in which it has been finally
arranged will, we think, give general satisfaction.
The House, after prolonged opposition on the part
of some obstinate adherents of the Kensington
scheme, has determined that Trafalgar-square, in
every way the most suitable locality, shall remain
the site of the National Gallery ; and as this reso-
lution displaced the Royal Academy, it was indis-
pensable that the Academicians should fix upon
some other local habitation. Two sites were offered
them, the one at Kensington, the other at Burling-
ton House. Kensington, however fashionable or
delightful as a place of residence, is altogether un-
suited for the site of a public exhibition to which
persons are expected to come not only from all parts
of London proper, but from all the suburbs, east,
north, and south. The Royal Academy Exhibition
in Trafalgar-square can always boast of crowded
rooms from sunrise to sunset; but it is very much
to be questioned whether such would be the case
were the scene to be changed to the extreme west
from the central position now occupied. Burlington
House has no such objection. The situation is ex-
cellent, and easy of access from all parts, and the
ground being public property there are no trouble-
some occupants to be got rid of.
The Academy were not offered the whole of the
site, which of course would be superfluous. They
were to have one of the frontages, and they chose
the southern one, but the conditions which the late
Government thought it necessary to attach to the
gift interfered so much with their requirements that
the site was abandoned, and it remained a matter of
great perplexity whether they should betake them-
selves, when the recent vote of Parliament finally
settled the position of the National Gallery.
Fortunately some one has suggested a way
out of the difficulty, which has every ad-
vantagb to recommend it. The Royal Academy
will have ample space without any encumbering con-
ditions. The handsome and harmonious buildings
to front Piccadilly will be secured, while full accom-
modation will be given to the London University
and the scientific bodies at present sheltering them-
selves under the wings of Burlington House. All
these desirable ends are secured by very simple
arrangements. The grounds of Burlington House
are very large, and afford plenty of room in the rear
of the existing building for the construction of a
new Picture Gallery, to which the present house
will serve as a vestibule, thus securing the good
effect from Piccadilly so much desired. So large is
the space in the rear, indeed, that there will be room
beyond the new buildings of the Academy for the
promised frontage for the London University,
while the body of Burlington House itself will be
placed, as we have said, at the service of
the Academy. The wings and the colonnade,
which are neither of use nor ornament, are to
be pulled down and larger wings constructed for
the accommodation of any learned societies that
may require it. There will be also for their recep-
tion the additional space occupied at present by the
University, while the removal of all impediments
from the frontage will give the passers-by in Picca-
dilly the view of a really handsome and consistent
building. It is not surprising that the members of
the Academy have readily accepted this proposal,
by which they will have more than double the space
they now possess, besides the use of Burlington
House itself, while the outlay required for the new
building—which will be hidden between Burlington
House and the London 'University—will be very
much less than the cost of a handsome gallery
standing by itself. The arrangements for the library,
the permanent galleries of sculpture and painting
for the annual exhibitions and for the schools, are
all excellent, and we heartily congratulate the
Academy on having obtained so gratifying a con-
' elusion to their prolonged uncertainty.