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Zoffany’s image similarly shows the ‘back-of-house’ clutter and the intellectual dignity of working artists, where fine gentlemen sit on packing cases and converse with polish and good-humour. He depicts the Academy’s life-drawing

The Royal Academy aimed to revive British arts and crafts

Johan Joseph Zoffany (Frankfurt 1733-London 1810)

The Academicians of the Royal Academy 1771-72

RCIN 400747

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This group portrait of all the founder members of the Royal Academy engaged in a life drawing exercise (the two female Academicians, Mary Moser and Angelica Kauffmann are depicted in portraits on the walls – women being forbidden from attending male life-drawing classes) was painted by Johann Zoffany, probably for George III, and was exhibited at the annual Academy exhibition in 1772 to great acclaim.