3-101-058 - "Royal Academy of Arts, London"/Heritage Images

Academy Notes, 1881. Scenes at the Royal Academy of Arts, Burlington House, London, depicted on an artist's palette. In the centre are guests and artists at the private view of an exhibition. 'Skied'; artists up a ladder putting the final touches to their paintings which have been hung near the ceiling. 'The Hit of the Exhibition'; people crowd round a portrait. 'Rejected'; distraught artist whose work has been refused. 'Doubtful'; painter waiting to hear if his work has been accepted. 'Off "the line", not a good Exhibition'. 'On the line, first rate Exhibition'. On the right is a female artist holding palette and brushes as she touches up her picture. Behind the large trompe l'oeil palette are an invitation to the private view or vernissage (varnishing), and a rejection letter to artist W. J. Smudge's submission, signed by Vandyke Brown Esq, Secretary of the RA. (The name is a pun on Van Dyke brown, a shade of oil paint). At bottom right, paintings are stacked in the Cellars. From "The Illustrated London News", 1881.