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Notes
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William Shipley while living in Northampton first envisaged the establishment of a Society for the encouragement of arts, manufacture and commerce. Shipley’s vision was simple; he believed that industry should be stimulated by means of prizes drawn from a fund contributed to by public-spirited people. In 1753 Shipley left Northampton for London and in June of that year made public his proposals for a new Society. On the 22 March 1754 the first meeting of the Society was held at Rawthmell’s Coffee House in Covent Garden. His proposal to offer awards was a feature that was to characterise the (R)SA for its first hundred years. The Society encouraged developments, ideas and inventions in six areas of contemporary importance: Agriculture, Chemistry, Colonies and Trade, Manufacture, Mechanics and Polite Arts.
Royal Society of Arts
London
Title
William Shipley, Founder and First Secretary of the Society of Arts
Date
c.1759–1760
Medium
oil on canvas
Measurements
H 72.5 x W 59.5 cm
Accession number
RSA031
Acquisition method
presented by the artist through the intervention of Caleb Whiteford, Vice-President of the RSA, 1785
Work type
Painting
Inscription description
Inscription in Shipley Room
Royal Society of Arts
8 John Adam Street, London, Greater London WC2N 6EZ England
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