The Life Of Sir Martin Archer Shee, President Of The Royal Academy, F.R.S., D.C.L. By His Son, Martin Archer Shee, Of The Middle Temple, Esq., Barrister-At-Law. In Two Volumes. Vol. I. (II)
Vol. I: [Half-t., t.p., dedic.] - Preface - Contents Of The First Volume; Errata - [Text]; [colophon]. - Vol. II: [Half-t., t.p.] - Contents Of The Second Volume - [Text] - Appendices; [colophon].
Responsibility Note
The printer is named in the colophons: 'London Printed By Spottiswoode And Co. New-Street Square.'
The biography is dedicated to the President and membes of the Royal Academy.
References
J. Fenton, School of genius: a history of the Royal Academy (2006); S.C. Hutchison, The history of the Royal Academy (1986); Q. Bell, 'Haydon versus Shee', in Journal of the Warburg and Courtauld Institutes, 22 (1959), p.347-58.
Summary Note
Although mainly a portrait painter, Shee also painted historical and religious subjects. He enrolled in the Royal Academy schools in 1790, became an Associate of the Academy in 1798 and a full Academician in 1800. In 1830 Shee succeeded Sir Thomas Lawrence as President of the Royal Academy, and was knighted. He successfully defended the Academy and its privileges from critics such as B.R. Haydon, and supervised its transfer from Somerset House to Trafalgar Square, where it shared a building with the National Gallery. The Academy holds his portrait of Queen Victoria (1842).
The text of Volume II is followed by a 24-page publishers' advertisement, 'List Of Works In General Literature Published By Messrs. Longman, Green, Longman, And Roberts 39 Paternoster Row, London'
Provenance
Presented by the author before 'the close of 1860' (see Annual report from the Council of the Royal Academy; 1861, p. 32). For the Academy's acknowledgement of this gift see RA Council Minutes, XI, 358.
Binding Note
19th-century blue cloth-covered boards, upper and lower covers with blind-stamped border; spines lettered 'The Life Of Sir M.A. Shee - Vol. I. (II.)'.
Artists - Painters - Great Britain - History - 18th century - 19th century
Administrators - Academies (organizations) - Great Britain - London - 19th century
Biography - Art history - Memoirs - Great Britain - 19th century
Publishers' catalogues - Great Britain - 19th century