Society of Artists

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The Society of Artists was founded in London in 1760 by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons.

A prominent figure among the founders was Joshua Reynolds— soon to be a founder as well of the Royal Academy, after an unseemly leadership dispute between two leading architects, Sir William Chambers and James Paine had riven the Society of Artists. Paine won, but Chambers used his strong connections with George III to create the new body: the Royal Academy was formally launched in 1769, but the Society of Artists continued its schedule of exhibitions, in rivalry also with the Free Society of Artists (1761-1783) until 1791.

The history of the Society of Artists was written by Algernon Graves, The Society of Artists of Great Britain, 1760-1791 [and] the Free Society of Artists, 1761-1783: a Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their Work from the Foundation of the Societies to 1791. (London: G. Bell and Sons) 1907.