Evening star., 1898-10-22
IN THE ROYAL ACADEMY
Why Membership is tbaAmbition of Every
Young Artist.
An Immensely Wealthy institutions
How Elections Are Held-Pen-
siOns for the Needy.


To become a Royal Academician or at all
events, an associate, is the ambition of
every yeung artist, for membership of the
academy means much more than the mere
right to put the letters r. A. after ones
| name, and to exhibit pictures in the fine
galleries at Burlington House. In the first
place,an academician is an esquire by right,
and not merely by courtesy, and. further,
he is entitled, should he ever come on hard
times. to substantial pension of between
ESQ and f40O year. If he dies leaving his
widow unproWided for the academy allows
her liberal sum for her maintenance
The associates and the associates widows
are also entitled to pensions, on a some
| what smaller scale, so that there are many
reasons, apart from the honor and glory,
why the painter, sculptor architect
should wish to become member of the
powerful and wealthy body which has its
headquarters in Piccadilly.
Nhen' therefore, young artist begins to
get on, when he has his pictures well hung,
year after year. when they find ready buy
ers, and are talked about in society, he
takes the first step toward election by sug-
gesting to one of the academicians that he
should put his name down the list of
Candidates Once down, his name stops on
the list, either until he dies or Is elected
or voluntarily removes it. and this explains
why one finds on the roll of candidates the
names of many artists once popular but
long since forgotten by the public.
When a vacancy occurs among the asso-
ciates, printed copies of this list, on blue
foQlscap paper, are sent to all the members,
togelher with request that they shall at
tend at the academy on a certain evening
when an election will take place. The cleo
tons themselves are conducted in a singu-
lar and somewhat complex fashion, pecu-
liar 70 the academy-a method which took
the place about twenty years ago, of the
rouSh and ready system formerly in vogue.
Both academicians and associates are al
n tnlya
when the members are gathered together
each scores out with pencil the name of
the artist for whom he wishes to vote, and
hands the paper so marked to the secre-
titry. These scorings-out are known as
| scratches" at the academy, and the secre-
tary. after examining all the papers. duly
announces how many Scratches have
been given to each candidate
The election is then advanced another
stage. The President who, by virtue of his
once, occupies the chair, directs that the
names OF all those candidates who have
received more than four Scratches shall
De Inscribed in chalk upon the black board
while those to whom only one, two or three
votes have been given have no further
chance of being elected.
The academicianS and associates then
vote again for the candidates whose names
are on the board. The two leading men
III this contest are now selected for a final
BALLOT, the winner in which becomes an
associate of the Royal Academy.
The academicians elected in precisely
the same manner, except that the associates
are the candidates. instead of the outsiders
All this system of Scratches and black
boards seems cumbrous and unnecessary
but 1t is said to work extremely we'll in
practice.
Sometimes. though very rarely, a tie
occurs. and in this case the President or
in his absence the academician who tenn
pofarlly takes his place, has casting vote
When Mr.. Ernest Crofts the battle
painter, was elected recently. he tied in the
flnal ballot with Mr. Jackson, the architect
and to Mr.. Calderon (who in the absence
of the late Sir John Millais occupied the
char) fell the difficult task of making the
final selection.
The associates have no voice in the cleo
ton of President. the power of voting
resting entirely with the academicans
Sir John Millais. the late president, was
elected by the unanimous vote of the mem
bers. a fact which must have been extreme
ly gratifying to that great artist; but on
some ether occasions the fight for the
presidentShip has been very severe indeed
The post is well worth struggle, for it
carries with il substantial remuneration
besides great social and artistic distinction
The late Sir Francis Chantrey left flOO0 900
to the academy, out of the interest of which
u salary of some $500 $500 year is pro-
vided for the president.
The academy is immensely wealthy. The
receipts from the annual exhibitions aver
age from 10000 to f25.0O0. and it is be-
lieyed that the money invested in the hands
of the trustees does not fall far short of
tJD.UU. Out OF this money the schools
| Gn which 100 or 300 students are instructed
gIatuitously) are supported, and a great
many pensions and donations to decayed
artists are given. Little is beard of these
! charities by the public, butthey very
many old painters and sculptors are made
easier by them