The Winslow mail., 1898-11-26
THE ROYAL ACADEMY
Why Young Artists Are Ambitious
to Become Members.
1t Is an Immensely Wealthy Institu-
tion and Affords Great Ad-
vantages-HOw Elections
Are Held.

=
ship of the academy means much more
than the mere right to put the letters
| Il. \. after ones name, and to exhibit
| pictures in the fire galleries at Bur
! lingtOn 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 2 substantial pension
of between 6 $50 and e 400 a year. If
he dies leaving his widow unprovided
! for the academy allows her a liberal
! sum for her maintenance.
The associates and the associates
! widows are also entitled to pensions, on
! d somewhat smaller scale, so that there
! are many reasons, apart from the honor
aEd glory. why the painter, sculptor or
architect should wish to become a mem
blr of the powerful and wealthy body
which has its headquarters in Picca-
Oily.
/ When, therefore, young artist be-
! gins to get on, when he has his pictures
we'll hung, year after year, when they
| find ready buyers, and are talked about
| in society, ne takes the first step to-
ward election by suggesting to one CT
! the ac2demicians that he should put
his name down on the list Of candi-
dates. Once down, his name stops on
| the list, either until he dies or is elected
| or voluntarily removes it, and this eX-
plains why one finds on the roll of can
didates the names of many artists once
popular, but long since forgotten by
the public.
When vacancy occurs among the
associates, printed copies of this list,
on blue foolscap paper, are sent to all
the members, together with request
that they shall attend at the academy
en- Il certain evening, when an election
will take place. The elections them
selves are conducted in q singular and
somewhat complex fashion, peculiar to
the academy method which took the
place, about 20 years ago, OF the rough
and ready system formerly in vogue.
Both academicians and associates
are allowed to take part in the cleo
ton, and when the members are gath
cred 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 secretary. These
scorings out are known as scratches"
at the academy, and the secretary, after
examining all the papers, duly an
nounces how many scratches" have
been given to each candidate.
The election is then advanced an
other stage. The president, who, by
virtue of his office, occupies the chair
directs that the names OF all those can
didates who have received more than
four scratches shall be inscribed in
chalk upon the blackboard, 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 in this contest arc row
selected for final ballot, the winner in
which becomes an associate of the
Royal Academy.
The academicians are elected in pre-
cisely the same manner, except that the
| associates are the candidates, instead
y
scratches" and "blackboards" seems
cumbrous and unnecessary, but it is
said 10 work extremely well in practice.
Sometimes, though very rarely, a tie
occurs, and in this case the president.
| or in his absence the academician who
temporarily takes his place, has cast
| ing vote. When Mr.. Ernest CrOfts, the
| battle painter, was elected recently. he
| tied in the final ballot with Mr. Jackson,
| the architect, and to Mr.. Calderon (wht
| in the absence of the late Sir John Mil
| lai3 occupied the chair) fell the Difficult
task of making the final selection.
The associates have no voice in the
election of president, the power of
voting resting entirely with the acad-
! emicians. Sir John Millais, the late
president, was elected by the unani-
nous vote of the members, fact which
must have been extremely gratifying to
| that great artist; but on some other &C
casions the fight for the presidentship
has been very severe indeed.
The post is well worth u struggle, for
| it carries with it substantial remunera-
ton, besides great social and artistic
distinction. The late Sir Francis Chan
trey left e1G0,O0O to the academy, cut
Of the interest of which salary Of some
c SEQ or c 90O a year is provided for the
president.
The academy is immensely wealthy.
The receipts from the annual eXhibi-
tions average from 6 20, 0OO to G $4,000,
| and it is believed that the money in
| vested in the hands of the trustees does
not fall far short Of 6 5G0,OO0 Out of
| this money the schools lin which 200
| or 300 students are instructed gra-
| tuitously) are supported, and great
many pensions and donations to de-
cayed artists are given. Little is heard
of these charities by the public, but
they are very considerable, and the de-
clining years of many old painters and
sculptors are made easier by them
Pearson's Weekly.
Uncle Allen.