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Across the road from Fortnum & Mason, the Royal Academy of Arts
(RA) occupies the enormous Burlington House, one of the few suriors
from the ranks of aristocratic mansions that once lined the north side
of Piccadilly. The Academy itself was the country's first-ever formal
art school, founded in 1768 by a group of English painters including
Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds. Reynolds went on to become the
academy's first president, and his statue now stands in the courtyard,
palette in hand.
The
Academy has always had a conseratie reputation for its teaching and,
until recently, most of its shows. The Summer Exhibition, which
opens in June each year, remains a stop on the social calendar of upper
middle-class England. Anyone can enter paintings in any style, and the
lucky winners get hung, in rather close proximity, and sold. Supposed
graitas is added by the RA "Academicians", who are allowed to display
six of their own works - no matter how awful. The result is a
bewildering display, which gets annually panned by highbrow critics.
Mon-Thurs & Sat 10am-6pm, Fri 10am-8.30pm; £6-8; guided tours of the
permanent collection Tues-Fri 1pm; free; www.royalacademy.org.uk; Tube:
Greven Park or Piccadilly Circus.
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