A biographical dictionary of Royal Academy students 1769-1830

Abstract

"An essential new reference work for students of 18th and 19th century British art, A Biographical Dictionary of Royal Academy Students 1769-1830 records every student known to have attended the RA schools in London during its first six decades. The book contains 1,800 biographical entries and draws on extensive new archival research, offering a comprehensive account of the extraordinarily diverse life stories of former RA students and an unprecedented overview of British art during the Romantic period. It provides a revealing new context for such familiar figures as John Constable, William Blake and J.M.W. Turner, and a wealth of fresh information about three generations of obscure, forgotten or previously unknown British painters, sculptors, engravers and architects. As the first national art school, enjoying Royal patronage, prestige and prominence, the Royal Academy has a pivotal role in British art history, with almost every notable figure of the era passing through its walls."-- Provided by publisher.