The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1898-11-30
THE ROYAL ACADEMY
FACTS ABOUT ENGtAND'S GREAT AND
WEALTHY SOCIETY.

VEAL ! nv SOOlt Y.
How the Members and Associates
Arc Eiected-The InstitutIon's Big
Fund aud the Good Works That
Are Done With IT.
To become "a Royal acndemioian, or at
all events an associate, is the ambition
ST every young artist, for membership
III the academy means much more than
the mere right to put the letters r. A.
after ono's name and to exhibit pictures
i'll the fine galleries at Burlington House.
In the first place. an acadomician 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 1850
and 500 a year If he dies leaving bis
widow unprovded for, the academy al.
lows her a liberal sum for her mainte-
nance
The associates and the associates wild.
ows are also entitled to pensions ON a
somewhat smaller scale, so that there
are many reasons apart from the honor
and glory why tho painter, sculptor or
architect should wish tn become mem.
Der of the powerful and wealthy body
When therefore young artist begins
to get ON, when no has his pictures we'll
hung year after year, when they find
ready buyers and ara talked about i'll
society, he takes the first step toward
nlnptinn Inv - % h..
academieinns that he should put his
name down ON tho list of candidates.
Once down his name STAYS ON tho list,
either until he dies or is elected or vol
UNFAIRLY 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 vacancy occurs among tho
associates, printed copies of this list on
blue foolsoap paper uo sent to all tho
members, together with request that
they shall attend ut tho academy on
certain evening, when an election will
take place, Tho elections themselves AFRO
conducted in n singular and somewhat
complex fashion peculiar to the academy
IA method which took the place about
30 years ago Of the rough and ready sys.
tenn formerly in vogue.
Both acadcmioinns and associates nro
allowed to take Part in tho election, and
when the members are gathered together
oach scores out with n pencil the name
of the artist for whom no wishes to
vote and hands tho paper so marked to
tho secretary, These scorngs out arc
known rs scratches at tho academy,
and tho secretary, after examining all
the papers, duly announces how many
scratches" have been given to each
candidate.
The election il then advanced another
stage. The president, who, by virtue of
his office, occupies tho chair directs
that the names of all those candidates
who have received moro than four
scratches" shall be inscribed in chalk
upon tho blackboard, while those to
whom only one, two or three votes have
been given have no further chance of
being elected.
Tho academieians and associates thon
vote again for the candidates whose
names are on the board The two lead
ing men In this contest arc now selected
for n final ballot, the winner in which
becomes an associate Of the Royal uoad
envy.
The academicinns are elected in pre-
cisely the SAME manner, except that the
associates are tho candidates instead Of
the Outsiders. All this system of
scratches" and "blackhoards" seems
cumbrous and unnecessary, but it il
said to work extremely we'll in practice.
Sometimes, though very rarely, tic
occurs, and in this case tho president,
or, i'll his absence, the acadomicinn who
temporarily takes his place, has n cast
ing vote When Mr. Ernest Crofts, the
battle painter, was elected no tied in
the final ballot with Mr.. jackson. tho
architect, and to Mr.. Calderon (who in
tho absence Of tho late Sir John Millais
occupied the chair fell tho difficult
task Of making tho final selection.
Tho associates have no voice in tho
election Of president. the power of
voting resting entirely with the aoade-
micians. Sir John Millais tho late
president, was elected by the unani
nous vote Of the members. n fact which
must have been extremely gratifying to
that great artist But on some other oo-
casions the fight for the presdontship
has been very severe indeed
Tho post Is we'll worth n struggle, for
II carries with it substantial remunera-
ton, besides great social and artistic
distinction. Tho late Sir Francis Chan
trey left Gl00, 900 to tho academy, out
of tho interest Of which salary Of some
$500 or 600 year is provided for tho
president.
Tho academy il immensely wealthy.
The receipts from the annual exhibitions
average from $40, 600 to c25, 600, and
it ~ believed that the money invested
in the hands Of tho trustees does not fall
far short Of $500, 600. Out Of this mon
ey the schools lin which 200 on 800 stu
dents are instructed Rratuitously) are
supported and great many pensions
and donations to docayed artists are
given. Little IL heard Of these charities
by the public, but they are very consid-
trable, and tho declining years Of many
old painters and soulptors are made cnsi-
n by them
Upon the academy algo falls the OK.
pense Of the annual banquet. which
costs perhaps Gl00 on G500, besides any
number of minor charges, aa, for exam
Pile the payment u the selecting and
hanging committees ut the spring ex-
hibition. -Pearson's Weekly.