British InsiiiUlionJar promoting the Fine Arts. 1,7,3 



institution. Since that time the Slmkspeare craliery, held 

 for a^erm of sixtv-two vears from lad):-day 1805, under a 

 rent of 1251. a year, has been purchased as an exhibition 

 room for the society tor the sum of 450{)1. An ample fund 

 has been provided bv liberal subscriptions from those of the- 

 nobilitV and gentry who are amateurs and cnconragers of the 

 fine arts ; and the institution has been regulnrlv organized 

 under the patroiuise of the king. The following are the bye- 

 laws of the institution. 



Patron. — The king. 



Vice-patron. — The Prince of Wales, 



I. Of tne Object -of the Insliiutiun. 



1. The primary object of the British Institution, under 

 his majesty's patrona(j;e, is to encourao;e and reward the 

 talents -ef the artists oT the united kingdom; so as to im- 

 prove and extend our manufactures, by that degree of taste 

 and eltgfance of design, which are to be exclusively derived 

 from the cuhivatien of the fine arts ; and thereby to increase 

 the general prosperity and resources of the empire. It is 

 conceived, that such an institution is of peculiar miportance 

 to thetmitcd kinodonj at the present moment ; when efforts 

 are making in different parts of Europe to proujote the arts 

 of painting, sculpture, and design, bv great national esta- 

 blishments, and thereby to wrest from us those advan- 

 tages, which can only be retained by a pre-eminence in the 

 fine arts. 



2. \Vith a view to this object it is intended to open a 

 public exhibition, for the sale of the productions of British 

 artists ; — to excite the emulation and exertions of tht' 

 younger artists by premiums ; — and to endeavour to form a 

 public gallery of the works of British artists, with a few 

 aelect specimens of each of the great schools. 



3. Tlic exhibition is to be exclusively confined to t^e 

 productions of artists of, or resident in, the united king- 

 dom ; and the higher branches of painting, sculpture, and 

 modcUinc;, are to be considered as the prefi^rable subjects of 

 preniiums, and of purchases for the gallery. Ail other 

 works, however, of the abovc-menti(jned artists will be ad- 

 missible, if deemed worthy. 



4. The British Institution being intended to extend and 

 increase the beneficial cfTects of the royal academy, which 

 has been founded by his majesty, and by no means to in- 

 terfere with it in any respect, a favourable attention will 

 be p.iid to such pictures a^ have been exhibited ai the royal 



Vol. 2;J. No. 91. Dec. 1805. S academy ; 



