Royal Academy, first notice

Royal Academy Exhibition (first notice).

Rossetti, William M. "The Royal Academy Exhibition." Academy (May 12, 1877): 420. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.

Rossetti suggests that in comparison to past Royal Academy exhibitions, if one were to choose between "good" and "indifferent" as descriptors, the more accurate term would be indifferent. He states that the exhibition achieves some moderate success, judged by standards of authentic poetic expression executed on canvas.

There is a discussion of the injustices that plague the Royal Academy system of hanging pictures in exhibitions, a recurring Rossetti focus and criticism that usually concludes with a call for a more reasonable system of selection and determination of wall position at Royal Academy exhibitions.

There is also mention of catalogues and their value for viewers of exhibitions. Rossetti offers commentary on specific works, many of which are produced by familiar members of the Pre-Raphaelite school: Sir John Everett Millais's work is considered "a very singular and special centerpiece." Alma-Tadema, a familiar name among Rossetti's Cheyne Walk circle of regular associates is also singled out in the same way as Sir John Everett Millais: not only for the work displayed in the present exhibition, but for consistently executing the aesthetic principles Rossetti considers to be important (Reminiscences 2:323).

critical

Royal Academy exhibition 1877, analysis, exposition

relative merit, comparative achievement, authenticity, quality

evaluative

Morgan, Sir John Everett Millais, Moody, Long, Bromley, Alma-Tadema, Philip H. Calderon, Pickering, Charles Leslie