The New British Institution

New British Institution Institution.

Rossetti, William M. "The New British Institution." Academy (March 13, 1875): 149. Web. 21 Sept. 2011.

Rossetti questions whether the exhibition is even necessary so recently after the November 7, 1874 exhibition of the same name. He also questions the title itself, given that he counts so many foreign works among the 200 on display.

Familiar names arise as he "attends to our own first:" William Powell Frith, Smetham, an artist included in Rossetti's Cheyne Walk circle of friends (Reminisences 1:324), plus a few others receive brief mention, mostly positive or neutral.

Rossetti mentions an interesting painting from Belgium intended, he said, as "a hit at the non-professional dining members of the club of artists and amateurs," meaning the non-professional painters selling works in the same market. Rossetti muses whether those so targeted "seceded" or if the painter, Professor Verlat, "was visited with the cold shoulder."