London - A series of new displays have been mounted in the John Madejski Fine Rooms at the Royal Academy of Arts. Four of the Fine Rooms have been re-hung with paintings and sculpture which explore the rich variety of representations of artists in the Academy’s own collection. The display contains highlights from the collection of artists’ portraits, built up since the Academy’s foundation in 1768 and coincides with the major Spring exhibition Citizen and Kings: Portraits in the Age of Revolution,1760-1830. On exhibition until 27 November 2007.

On show are painted and sculpted portraits ranging from C. R. Leslie’s tiny, intimate picture of his friend John Constable to grand formal images such as Giuseppe Ceracchi’s bust of Sir Joshua Reynolds and George Frederic Watts’s portrait of Lord Leighton. Also on view will be Charles West Cope’s magnificent Victorian group, "The Council of the Royal Academy", which depicts eminent Royal Academicians selecting the works for the Summer Exhibition of 1875. Other works on display include Thomas Gainsborough and John Bellany’s revealing self-portraits, Reynolds’s depiction of his theatrically dressed studio assistant Giuseppe Marchi and an early portrait of Laura Knight by her husband-to-be, Harold Knight.

The works in the Fine Rooms offer a fascinating glimpse of artists’ public and private lives,aspirations and achievements, and hold a mirror up to the inner life of the Academy itself as a home-from-home for British artists over almost 250 years.

From 26 January until 27 May, the Tennant Room will display a selection of drawings, prints and photographs. These works will be a mix of formal and informal, ranging from images intended to promote the standing of the Academy and its members to caricatures made at official functions. Works exhibited will include profile drawings by George Dance of early Academicians, romantic     photographs by David Wilkie Wynfield, and a haunting self-portrait by Peter Coker. Busts will also be exhibited including Louis-François Roubiliac’s vivid sculpture of Joseph Wilton and EdwardOnslow Ford’s bust of Sir J. E. Millais, made during the latter’s brief presidency of the Academy,shortly before his death.

The Royal Academy Trust is a registered charity founded in 1981 to manage funds donated to the Royal Academy of Arts. The Trust supports all areas of the Royal Academy’s work including the exhibition programme, RA Schools, education programme and the Academy’s Collection.

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