Certificate admitting William Burges to the Royal Academy, 1881. Engraving by F. Bartolozzi after G.B. Cipriani, 1786.

[London] : Royal Academy, 28th January 1881.

1 print : engraving with etching, with blue blind stamp and manuscript ; platemark 66 x 51 cm

His Majesty having been graciously pleased to establish in this city of London, a society for the purposes of cultivating and improving the arts of painting, sculpture, and architecture. ... G.B. Cipriani invt. et delt. ; F. Bartollozzi Engraver to his Majesty sculpt. Lettering continues: "under the name and title of the Royal Academy of Arts, and under his own immediate patronage and protection: and his Majesty having thought fit to intrust the sole management and direction of the said society, under himself, unto forty academicians, with a power to elect a certain number of associates: we therefore, the President and academicians of the said Royal Academy, by virtue of the said power, and in consideration of your skill in the art of painting do by these presents constitute and appoint you William Burges, gentleman, to be one of the associates of the Royal Academy: hereby granting unto you all the privileges thereof, according to the tenour of the laws relating to the admission of associates, made in the general assemby of the academicians, and confirmed by His Majesty's sign manual. In consequence of this resolution, you are required to sign the obligation in the manner prescribed, and the secretary is hereby directed to insert your name in the roll of the associates Print bears two signatures in sepia ink: Fred. Leighton Pr. [President] ; Fred. A. Eaton Sec. [Secretary]. The name of William Burges and the rank "Associates" are also hand-written Print bears date hand-written in grey ink: 28th January 1881 Print bears circular blind stamp on blue card (?); lettering surrounded by wreath: Royal Academy London 1768

Wellcome Collection 2897490i