Society of Artists of Great Britain

The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761

Paris salons. Leading members seceded from the society in 1768, a move leading directly to the formation of the Royal Academy of Arts. The society was dissolved 1791 after years of decline.^[2]

History

The Society of Artists of Great Britain began in 1760 as a loose association of artists, including

Society of Arts (founded in 1754). The new society organised their first exhibition in April 1760 and over one thousand visitors per day attended.^[3] The following year they held their second exhibition at Christopher Cock's Auction Rooms in Spring Gardens, Charing Cross,^[3] and "In a conspicuous gesture they called themselves the Society of Artists of Great Britain to emphasise their identity with the 'nation' and to announce a clear split with Shipley's faction."^[1] Some 13,000 people bought a copy of the catalogue for the 1761 exhibition which featured a frontispiece designed by William Hogarth depicting Britannia watering three trees marked Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.^[3]

In 1765, the Society, then comprising 211 members, obtained a

Royal Charter as the "Incorporated Society of Artists of Great Britain".^[1]

Reynolds would later be a founder of the

George III

to create the new body – the Royal Academy of Arts was formally launched in 1769. However, the Society of Artists of Great Britain continued its schedule of exhibitions until 1791, while those who remained with the older "Society of Arts" now called themselves the "Free Society of Artists" (1761–1783).