The Exhibition, Or A Second Anticipation: Being Remarks on the principal Works to be Exhibited next Month, at the Royal Academy; By Roger Shanhagan, Gent. - [Epigraph from Marcus Aurelius]
RA Collection: Book
Record number
07/3091
Imprint
London,: Printed for Richardson and Urquhart, under the Royal Exchange. Price 2s-6d., [1779]
Physical Description
[2], 101, [3] p.; 203 mm. (Quarto.)
Contents
[T.p.] - [Text] - Errata.
Responsibility Note
According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 'Roger Shanhagan' is a pseudonym for the co-authors - the architect, William Porden (1755-1822), and the painters, Robert Smirke (1753-1845) and Robert Watson.
The title-page vignette is unsigned.
References
ESTC, T154013
A study of criticism of Royal Academy exhibitions was M. Hallett, 'The Business of criticism: the press and the Royal Academy exhibition in eghteenth-century London', in D. Solkin, ed., Art on the line (2001), p.65-75.
On the history of the Royal Academy see J. Fenton, School of genius (2006).
H. Hoock, The King's artists (2003).
I. Pears, The discovery of painting: the growth of interest in the arts in England 1680-1768 (1988).
I. Bignamini, 'Art institutions in London 1689-1768', in Walpole Society Journal, 55 (1988), p.19-148.
S. Hutchison, The history of the Royal Academy (1986).
H.C. Morgan, 'The Schools of the Royal Academy', in Brit. J. Educ. Stud., XXI/1 (1973), p. 88-103.
A.W. Boschloo, ed., Academies of Art (1989).
N. Pevsner, Academies of art ( 1940 /R New York, 1973).
On Thomas Sandby see L. Herrmann, Paul and Thomas Sandby (1986)
J. Ball, Paul and Thomas Sandby, Royal Academicians (1985).
Summary Note
No publication-date is given. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography the work was published in 1779.
The text describes imaginary paintings and drawings, and is a satire on the Royal Academy and on its first professor of architecture, Thomas Sandby, R.A.
The book is decorated with a title-page vignette captioned in the plate, 'Rog · Shan · Mart · Scrib · Nep'.
Reproductions
A microfilm version was published in 1986 (Woodbridge CT: Research Publications).
Provenance
The front pastedown carries a 19th-century bookplate inscribed in ink 'J.H.A. 18 June 1846.' and 'from Upcott's Collection'. This is repeated in an inscription on a preliminary leaf, 'Lot 886. of a curious & interesting Collection of Books, MSS. and prints. - J.H.A. this Vol sold on 18. June 1846. in Mr. Upcotts sale for 10/6.-'. The pastedown is inscribed in ink, 'Gift of Mr. J.H. Anderdon to The Library of The Royal Academy of Arts in London Nov 1878.'
Copy Note
The date of '1785' has been inscribed in ink below the imprint.
Preliminary leaves of the volume are copiously inscribed in ink, on the Contents &c., in what appears to be Anderdon's hand. There are some marginal annotations in ink and pencil on other pages of the text.
Binding Note
20th-century half calf, grey cloth-covered boards; spine lettered 'Essays On Design And Royal Academy Gwynn', 'R.A.' and '1749-97'. Bound with three others.
Paintings - Drawings - Arts - Architecture - Artists - Great Britain - History - 18th century
Academies (organizations) - Exhibitions - Great Britain - London - 18th century
Art criticism - Satires - Great Britain - 18th century