Memory and tradition collide in a forthcoming exhibition which celebrates the centenary of the Royal West of England Academy receiving royal patronage from King George V in 1913, and commemorates the academy's long relationship with royalty.
One Hundred Years: The RWA and Royal Patronage presents work by RWA academicians past and present. A selection of prints, drawings and watercolours, generously lent by the Queen from the Royal Collection, are paired with key pieces from the RWA's own important collection, to demonstrate the unique legacy of the academy's members to British art over the last 100 years.
Formed in 1844, the RWA is affectionately known as "Bristol's first art gallery". Since its foundation it has gone on to establish a significant artistic community.
Its collection of permanent artwork bears testimony to this reputation, reflecting an ongoing dialogue between the academy and other international artistic hubs such as Newlyn in Cornwall and Charleston, the bohemian Sussex home of the Bloomsbury Group.
One Hundred Years… makes exciting use of works by later 19th and 20th-century British artists from both the Royal Collection and the permanent collection of the RWA, and finds intriguing connections between them which provide a unique insight into the collecting habits of the monarchy over the last century.
Exhibits include gifts to the Royal Family, such as an absorbing selection of miniature works created for Queen Mary's dolls' house; and commissioned works, including a selection of portrait drawings of members of the Order of Merit. All the works on loan from the Royal Collection are drawn from the holdings of the Royal Library at Windsor Castle.
Featured artists include those who have made a significant contribution to the RWA over the last century, including past presidents: Paul Ayshford, Lord Methuen; Bernard Dunstan; and Leonard Manasseh. In addition, a life-size portrait bust in marble of honorary academician the Prince of Wales by sculptor Richard Mossman emphasises the academy's continuing relationship with the Royal Family.
Also accompanying the 22 pairings are photographs and archival material which document the awarding of royal patronage.
Combining previously unexhibited works and documentation, One Hundred Years… pivots upon the captivating dialogue between history and memory: stories told and moments captured. By exploring the fascinating history between these two collections, the RWA aims to navigate this intriguing narrative, presenting artists as diverse as Walter Crane and Dame Elisabeth Frink alongside one another in this historic exhibition.
The Royal West of England Academy is one of only five royal academies of art in the UK. It is a registered charity which has been self-supporting for over 150 years and possesses an outstanding Grade II* listed building, galleries and permanent fine art collection.
The RWA is an established venue for the fine arts and embraces an artistic awareness of the widest nature. The exhibition programme provides a showcase for one-person and mixed exhibitions in a variety of media, which attract large numbers of visitors nationwide. The Academy is situated at the Clifton Triangle, where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road.
Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household, is responsible for the care of the Royal Collection and manages the public opening of the official residences of the Queen. Income generated from admissions and from associated commercial activities contributes directly to The Royal Collection Trust, a registered charity.
The aims of the trust are the care and conservation of the Royal Collection, and the promotion of access and enjoyment through exhibitions, publications, loans and educational programmes. Royal Collection Trust's work is undertaken without public funding of any kind.
The Royal Collection is among the largest and most important art collections in the world, and one of the last great European royal collections to remain intact.
