Royal Hibernian Academy

Royal Hibernian Academy, founded by royal charter in 1823 with William Ashford as its first president, followed by Francis Johnston, who at his own expense provided the Academy with a building in Abbey Street for its exhibitions and schools. Exhibitions have been held annually from 1826 to the present. After the Great Famine the Academy faced a financial crisis, leading to internal dissension and public controversy which resulted in a new royal charter of 1861, which enlarged the membership. The exhibitions and school prospered in the second half of the 19th century, supported by purchases by the Art Union Lottery. In the rising of 1916 the Academy's house and possessions were destroyed and the exhibitions transferred to the National College of Art, Kildare Street, while life classes continued in rented rooms. In 1939 no. 15 Ely Place was acquired and on the site a modernist Academy building was built to the design of Raymond McGrath, funded by Matthew Gallagher and his family. The annual exhibitions transferred there in 1985. RHA‐Gallagher Gallery, supported by the Arts Council, has had a continuing programme of large loan exhibitions. The Academy has been the single most important artists' organization and exhibition body in the history of Irish art, although from the 1920s its traditionalism has been criticized by modernists.

John Turpin