Statue

Burlington House courtyard - Joshua Reynolds

Inscription

{On the pedestal, at the front:}
Sir Joshua Reynolds, 1723 - 1792
First President of the Royal Academy
Alfred Drury RA - Sculptor

{On the pedestal, at the back:}
Erected by the Royal Academy of Arts through the Leighton Fund 1931.
The inscription was recarved 2002.

Site: Burlington House (12 memorials)

W1, Piccadilly, Royal Academy

This building is commonly known as the Royal Academy (of Arts). The wings of the building are occupied by a number of learned societies, known collectively as the "Courtyard Societies".

The Reynolds statue is in the centre of the courtyard, the Artists Rifles plaque is to the right of the entrance porch, and the students' plaque to the left. The other 9 memorials are statues ranged high up, along the facade of the building. Left to right: Phinias, da Vinci, Flaxman, Raphael, Michelangelo, Titian, Reynolds, Wren, Wykeham, with the first and last on the inside of the wings of the building.

We had not known the sculptors until the endlessly knowledgeable Ornamental Passions posted this building.

Burlington House was built c.1664 but transformed c.1718 by the 3rd Earl of Burlington into a neo-Palladian mansion. In 1854 it was sold to the government, originally with the plan of demolition and using the site to build the University of London. This plan, however, was abandoned in the face of strong opposition. In 1857 the learned societies moved in, with the Royal Academy arriving in 1867.

See also Burlington House colonnade.

This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Burlington House courtyard - Joshua Reynolds

Subjects commemorated i

Sir Joshua Reynolds

Born in Plympton, Devonshire. Came to London in 1753. As a student of Italian...

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This section lists the subjects who helped to create/erect the memorial on this page:
Burlington House courtyard - Joshua Reynolds

Created by i

Leighton Fund

Originated as the bequest left by Lord Leighton in 1896. Bob Speel provides s...

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Alfred Drury

Born London. More of his work can be seen on the Old War Office in Whitehall....

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This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Burlington House courtyard - Joshua Reynolds

Also at this site i

Artists Rifles War Memorial

Artists Rifles War Memorial

To the glorious memory of the 2003 members of the Artists Rifles, 28th Battal...

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Nearby Memorials