Royal Cambrian Academy of Art
Encyclopedia
The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art is a centre of excellence for art
in Wales
. Its main gallery is located in Conwy
and it has over a hundred members.
in Wales comparable to those already in existence in England, Scotland and Ireland. The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art was eventually founded in 1881, by a group of mainly English painters led by Henry Clarence Whaite
, many of whom were now based in the Conwy Valley. Ever since political unrest had made the Grand Tour
hazardous for travellers, the wilds of North Wales became a fashionable alternative for English artists, in particular the area around Betws-y-Coed
which attracted the likes of David Cox
. The coming of the railways later aided artists from Liverpool
and Manchester
in transporting their art materials to Wales. These artists arranged to meet a group of like-minded Welsh artists at Llandudno Junction
, and from this meeting a group was formed called the Cambrian Academy of Art.
Although they had no permanent gallery, they circulated their prospectus to other artists in Wales and their numbers began to grow. Initially they only exhibited their work in north Wales, but they later extended membership to the south of the country. The Academy's rapid growth was recognised the year after its formation, when in 1882 Queen Victoria commanded that it should be styled the 'Royal' Cambrian Academy of Art. Originally based in Llandudno, where there was already a number of commercial art galleries in the town, catering for the growing tourist trade, the academy later moved their operations to Plas Mawr
in Conwy. Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan
town house which the Academy share with a local junior school, was offered to the group under lease by Lord Mostyn. The town house, which at the time was in a state of neglect, was restored by the Academy. Although an impressive historic building, Plas Mawr was not a natural gallary, and in 1896 an annexe was added to house the Victoria Gallery.
In 1934 the Royal Cambrian Academy gained one of its most notable Presidents when Augustus John
accepted the role, holding the title until 1939. In 1994, inspired by the efforts of their then President, Sir Kyffin Williams
the Academy broke its ties with Plas Mawr opening a new gallery close to their old headquarters in Conwy.
The Academy's present President is Professor Maurice Cockrill
, while its patron is Charles, Prince of Wales
.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Its main gallery is located in Conwy
Conwy
Conwy is a walled market town and community in Conwy County Borough on the north coast of Wales. The town, which faces Deganwy across the River Conwy, formerly lay in Gwynedd and prior to that in Caernarfonshire. Conwy has a population of 14,208...
and it has over a hundred members.
Early history
During the 19th century there were numerous attempts to establish an academyAcademy
An academy is an institution of higher learning, research, or honorary membership.The name traces back to Plato's school of philosophy, founded approximately 385 BC at Akademia, a sanctuary of Athena, the goddess of wisdom and skill, north of Athens, Greece. In the western world academia is the...
in Wales comparable to those already in existence in England, Scotland and Ireland. The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art was eventually founded in 1881, by a group of mainly English painters led by Henry Clarence Whaite
Henry Clarence Whaite
Henry Clarence Whaite often referred to as Clarence Whaite was an English artist who is best known for his landscape paintings of Wales...
, many of whom were now based in the Conwy Valley. Ever since political unrest had made the Grand Tour
Grand Tour
The Grand Tour was the traditional trip of Europe undertaken by mainly upper-class European young men of means. The custom flourished from about 1660 until the advent of large-scale rail transit in the 1840s, and was associated with a standard itinerary. It served as an educational rite of passage...
hazardous for travellers, the wilds of North Wales became a fashionable alternative for English artists, in particular the area around Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed
Betws-y-Coed is a village and community in the Conwy valley in Conwy County Borough, Wales. It has a population of 534. The name Betws or Bettws is generally thought to be derived from the Anglo-Saxon Old English 'bed-hus' - i.e. a bead-house - a house of prayer, or oratory...
which attracted the likes of David Cox
David Cox (artist)
- David Cox Junior :David Cox had a son of the same name who followed his calling as a watercolour painter. He was born in Dulwich, but educated in Hereford. He exhibited in London from 1827, although today he is known mainly through association with his father. He died in Streatham on 4 December...
. The coming of the railways later aided artists from Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
in transporting their art materials to Wales. These artists arranged to meet a group of like-minded Welsh artists at Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction
Llandudno Junction , once known as Tremarl, is a small town in the county borough of Conwy, Wales. It is part of the ancient parish of Llangystennin, and it is located south of Llandudno. It adjoins Deganwy and is to the east of the walled town of Conwy, which is on the opposite side of the River...
, and from this meeting a group was formed called the Cambrian Academy of Art.
Although they had no permanent gallery, they circulated their prospectus to other artists in Wales and their numbers began to grow. Initially they only exhibited their work in north Wales, but they later extended membership to the south of the country. The Academy's rapid growth was recognised the year after its formation, when in 1882 Queen Victoria commanded that it should be styled the 'Royal' Cambrian Academy of Art. Originally based in Llandudno, where there was already a number of commercial art galleries in the town, catering for the growing tourist trade, the academy later moved their operations to Plas Mawr
Plas Mawr
right|thumb|250px|Plas MawrPlas Mawr is a historic house in Conwy, north Wales, dating from the 16th century. The house has been restored to its original appearance, with assistance from Cadw, in whose care it is now...
in Conwy. Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
town house which the Academy share with a local junior school, was offered to the group under lease by Lord Mostyn. The town house, which at the time was in a state of neglect, was restored by the Academy. Although an impressive historic building, Plas Mawr was not a natural gallary, and in 1896 an annexe was added to house the Victoria Gallery.
Twentieth century
In its early days the AcademyIn 1934 the Royal Cambrian Academy gained one of its most notable Presidents when Augustus John
Augustus John
Augustus Edwin John OM, RA, was a Welsh painter, draughtsman, and etcher. For a short time around 1910, he was an important exponent of Post-Impressionism in the United Kingdom....
accepted the role, holding the title until 1939. In 1994, inspired by the efforts of their then President, Sir Kyffin Williams
Kyffin Williams
Sir John "Kyffin" Williams, KBE, RA was a Welsh landscape painter who lived at Pwllfanogl, Llanfairpwll on the Island of Anglesey...
the Academy broke its ties with Plas Mawr opening a new gallery close to their old headquarters in Conwy.
The Academy's present President is Professor Maurice Cockrill
Maurice Cockrill
Professor Dr. Maurice Cockrill, RA, FBA is a British painter and poet.Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, he studied at Wrexham School of Art, north east Wales, then Denbigh Technical College and later the University of Reading from 1960-4.In Liverpool, where he lived for nearly twenty years since...
, while its patron is Charles, Prince of Wales
Charles, Prince of Wales
Prince Charles, Prince of Wales is the heir apparent and eldest son of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Since 1958 his major title has been His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. In Scotland he is additionally known as The Duke of Rothesay...
.
External links
- Royal Cambrian Academy of Art - official site