EXHIBITIONS of Works of Fine Art.—A collection of works of fine art arranged in some suitable place for public inspection is styled an exhibition. It is organized on a different principle from that of a national gallery or museum, for the works are not permanently conserved, but contributed for a limited period annually, new examples being provided for every successive exhibition.
Exhibitions are comparatively of modern institution. In former times artists were chiefly patronized by the church or the government, and the edifices in which their productions were placed were patent to the public; but now artists rely mainly on private patronage, and generally obtain the sanction of those for whom they execute works to exhibit them publicly for a limited period as specimens of their skill, or if executed for sale these exhibitions afford an opportunity of disposing of their works, while they themselves are improved in their art by the opportunity of comparing their own efforts with those of other artists.
The members of the Academy of the Fine Arts, founded at Rome in 1593, probably on particular occasions exhibited their works collectively to the public; but it was in France in 1737 that the members of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture (founded 1648) first regularly instituted annual exhibitions. These were made biennial in 1745, and were from their commencement confined to works executed by members of the academy; but during the Revolution (by a decree in 1791) all artists, French or foreign, were allowed to participate in the exhibition, which in 1796 was again made annual.
The earliest attempt at an exhibition in England was in 1760; and the efforts of the artists were at length united in the Royal Academy's exhibitions, the first of which was opened in 1769. Since then they have been continued with increasing energy. In 1760 the number of works exhibited was 130, contributed by 69 artists; in 1855 there were 1558 works, contributed by 918 exhibitors. The annual revenue of the academy arises from a fee of one shilling from each visitor, and now exceeds £8000.
The Royal Scottish Academy's exhibition is the second in importance in the United Kingdom. Though according to its present constitution it only dates from 1826, those who instituted it had previously organized exhibitions in Edinburgh, which had been annually continued, with some few interruptions, since 1808. At the first exhibition, 178 works were sent in by 27 contributors; at the exhibition in 1855 789 works were contributed by 287 exhibitors. The annual revenue exceeds £2000. Exhibitions are annually opened in Dublin by the Royal Hibernian Academy. These are the only fine-art corporations in this country aided by government, the two first-mentioned being accommodated in public galleries, and the last receiving an annual money grant. Besides the above mentioned the following societies in London have also exhibitions, namely, the British Institution, founded in 1806; the Society of British Artists, in 1824; the National Institution, in 1850; the Society of Painters in Water Colours, in 1805; and the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, in 1835. There are also annual exhibitions in Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow, Birmingham, Cork, Newcastle, &c. But with the exception of those in London and the Royal Scottish and Hibernian Academies, they are mainly composed of works collected all over the kingdom, but principally in London.