History
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A Brief History Of The Royal Cambrian Academy
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Some of the early Academicians on the steps of Plas Mawr, Conwy
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| Enthusiasm for the North Wales landscape brought a group of artists together in 1881. Ever since the late 18th century British Artists of international fame had painted these mountains and rivers, when political unrest abroad had made the Grand Tour more hazardous than the Welsh roads. After the railways came, these few artists from Manchester and Liverpool could safely carry their easels and paints to Wales. | |
| By arrangement they met some like-minded Welsh artists at Llandudno Junction. The group thus formed called themselves the Cambrian Academy of Art. Although they had no permanent gallery, things started with a flourish. They circulated their prospectus to other artists in Wales and their numbers grew. They exhibited only in North Wales, but had it in mind to extend their membership to the south as well. | |
| Official recognition came quickly when Queen Victoria commanded that the Academy be styled as 'Royal' in 1882. To further their reputation they made four eminent English artists honorary members and looking South they organised a huge exhibition in Cardiff, with a catalogue of over 200 pages. | |
In 1885 they were back at Llandudno Junction making fresh plans. The local land-owner Lord Mostyn, offered them the lease of his neglected Elizabethan mansion,Plas Mawr,in Conwy, partly occupied then by a junior school. Their achievement here was to restore Plas Mawr, making it one of the outstanding examples of Elizabethan architecture in Britain. |
Plas Mawr before refurbishment |
| It gave style to the social side of the Academy's activities, but it did not make a good gallery, almost as though the ancient stones tied them to the past. In 1896 they extended their hanging space, building an annexe, the Victoria Gallery. Work from non-members was now included in their exhibitions and the Annual Summer Exhibition started here. | |
In 1934 Augustus John become their president until 1939. After the Second World War the Academy went from strength to strength, especially more recently with the enthusiasm of two forward looking artists from Cheshire as presidents. |
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In 1994, the
Academy had its greatest opportunity for a new flourishing start. It
broke its connection with Plas Mawr and now has a purpose built gallery
of its own, a few yards from Plas Mawr. It has renewed contacts with
galleries in the South. The well known Welsh artist, Sir Kyffin Williams,
now president, and other distinguished artists, both from the South
and North of Wales, have accepted invitations to become members. |
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No one knows what the true definition of Welsh Art is, but if it exists, it can be seen at the Royal Cambrian Academy. The RCA has extensive archive material
dating back to it's foundation in 1881 and would be happy to assist
with any research or queries you might have about a particular artist
or painting. |
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