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Shows the Society's House on left

This painting was commissioned from the artist in 1863 by Members' subscriptions as part of the Society's memorial to the Prince Consort's Presidency (1843-1861). Together with a companion portrait of the Prince himself (by C.W. Cope, RA) it was hung in the Great Room. Both pictures remained there until the alterations to the Society's House in 1922-23 when they were removed to their present positions on the main staircase. In Horsley's painting The Queen and her children are shown as they would have been in 1851, the year of the Great Exhibition, which Prince Albert so largely inspired and guided. The young Prince of Wales is holding a plan of the Exhibition building. The other children depicted are (in order of age) The Princess Royal, Princess Alice, Prince Alfred (subsequently Duke of Edinburgh), Princess Helena, Princess Louise and little Prince Arthur (who as Duke of Connaught was to assume the Presidency in 1911). 43,125 copies sold.

Viscount Folkestone was the first President of the Society of Arts, 1755-1761. 13,000 sold

Taken from a bas-relief in marble by Ernst Rietchel, a renowned 19th century European sculptor. 'The Angel is represented in the form of a graceful youth floating in the air with the infant saviour in his arms; two infant Angels attend his course. This group has a peculiar charm from the beauty of the heads and figures, the grace of the action, the suddenness of the movement impressed on the flying drapery, and the masterly yet tender handling of the marble'. Extract from the jurors commentary in the Art Journal Illustrated Catalogue of the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Painted by Anna Zinkeisen, RDI; 12,500 sold

Transfer drawing in pen and watercolour by Thomas Bewick for the engraving in his History of British Birds Vol I. 1797. Several hundred of such preparatory drawings and watercolours have survived and many are considered outstanding in their own right. The drawing is in the collection in the British Museum. In 1767 Bewick became apprenticed to Ralph Bielby of Newcastle upon Tyne and so commenced his career as a wood engraver. He received a premium or prize from the Society for engravings to illustrate a book of fables published in 1776. On being given the choice of a gold medal or seven guineas he chose the latter and presented it to his mother. Several of his pupils later also gained premiums. a fact of which he was very proud. 21,000 copies sold.

Reproduced from the painting in the Society's collection, attributed to Joseph Nash (1808-1878). The Queen, accompanied by Prince Albert, the Princess Royal and Prince Alfred, together with the King of Portugal, appear in the centre of the picture, amidst a huge throng of spectators. The Great Exhibition of 1851, house in Sir Joseph Paxton's original Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, was set up by the Society of Arts as a showcase for the industry of all nations but especially that of Britain, then nearing its apogee. When the exhibition closed the structure was bought by the Crystal Palace Company, dismantled, and in an enlarged form devised by Paxton, re-erected at Sydenham, a labour of an immensity in keeping with the concept of the exhibition itself and with Victorian ambition and confidence. Until its destruction by Fire in November 1936 the 'new' Crystal Palace was the leisure resort of vast numbers of Londoners and a centre for recreational and cultural activities. Particularly notable for fostering musical appreciation in this country were the series of concerts initiated and organized by Sir George Grove, first Secretary to the Crystal Palace Company and Secretary of the Society of Arts at the time of the Great Exhibition. 70,530 copies sold.

Painted by Anna Zinkeisen, T R Crampton is third from left, wearing an Inverness cape. Awarded the Society's gold medal in 1846 for his invention of the narrow-gauge locomotive engine. Working from engravings and records preserved at the Science Museum and in the archives, the artist has reproduced not only the design but also the original colouring of the engine. 34,000 copies sold.

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The subject of the 1956 Christmas card was chosen from the records of Benjamin Franklin's association with the Society in view of the 200th anniversary on September 1st 1956 of his election to membership and of the 250th anniversary of his birth, which was celebrated in January 11th 1956. The designer, Miss Anna Zinkeisen, has reconstructed a meeting held on February 3rd 1759, of the committee responsible for fine art competitions, at this meeting selected candidates were interviewed for confirmation of their awards. The minutes of the meeting give a list of those who were present, and from contemporary portraits Miss Zinkeisen has been able to select those shown: Judges: Benjamin Franklin (seated), William Chambers (standing behind chair), Edward Hooper and James 'Athenian' Stuart (looking at figure drawn by Richard Cosway). Candidates: William Peters (being examined by Benjamin Franklin), Richard Cosway and Henry Pingo (seated at end of room). 25,000 copies sold.

Fifth painting in a series entitled 'The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture', displayed in the Great Room. It depicts officers and members of the Society distributing its awards to encourage arts, manufactures and commerce in the presence of the then Prince of Wales, later George IV. Beyond is an idealised representation of the river front of Somerset House and the dome of St Pauls. In the centre, a young female prizewinner is being presented to the Duchess of Northumberland by Mrs Montagu, and the Duchess of Rutland and Devonshire are grouped behing them, a reminder that membership of the Society was from its earliest years open to women. The founder of the Society is seated bottom left. 15,000 copies sold

In 1758 the Society made the first of its many awards intended to promote reafforestation in Great Britain. A gold medal was awarded to Henry, fifth Duke of Beaufort, to mark the planting of acorns 'for the raising of Oak Timber' upon 23 acres of his estate at Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire. The artist, Anna Zinkeisen has depicted the Duke (in a red coat) listening as his steward, Robert Croucher, reads an advertisement of the conditions upon which the Society's offer of the medal was made. The mounted figure on the left is the Duke's sister, Lady Anne Somerset. Badminton House, the Duke's seat, can be seen in the distance. 24,000 copies sold.

In 1758 the Society made the first of its many awards intended to promote reafforestation in Great Britain. A gold medal was awarded to Henry, fifth Duke of Beaufort, to mark the planting of acorns 'for the raising of Oak Timber' upon 23 acres of his estate at Hawkesbury, Gloucestershire. The artist, Anna Zinkeisen has depicted the Duke (in a red coat) listening as his steward, Robert Croucher, reads an advertisement of the conditions upon which the Society's offer of the medal was made. The mounted figure on the left is the Duke's sister, Lady Anne Somerset. Badminton House, the Duke's seat, can be seen in the distance. 24,000 copies sold.

The first known Christmas card appeared in 1843. The artist was J C Horsley, RA, who carried out the work at the suggestion of Henry Cole, a staunch supporter of the Society and Chairman of Council in 1850 and 1852. 25,000 copies sold.

The first known Christmas card appeared in 1843. The artist was J C Horsley, RA, who carried out the work at the suggestion of Henry Cole, a staunch supporter of the Society and Chairman of Council in 1850 and 1852. 25,000 copies sold.

Designed by Miss Anna Zinkeisen, incorporates the features of five members whose portraits can now be traced as: Dr Stephen Hales (at far end of table), Henry Baker and Viscount Folkestone (both standing), Lord Romney and William Shipley (centre of table, far side). The others present at the meeting were John Goodchild, Gustavus Brander, James Short, Nicholas Crisp, Charles Lawrence and Husband Messiter. 22,500 copies sold.

Shows a prize giving ceremony in the Great Room. 23,000 copies sold.

Reporoduced by permission of the Dean and Chapter, designed by Gordon Drummond, TD, ARMS, member of council. 41,813 copies sold.

Shows part of the Nave and West Dome of the International Exhibition of 1862, with the statue of Queen Victoria, by John Durham, in the right foreground. The Exhibition, which lasted from May to November, occupied the site in South Kensington where the Natural History and Science Museums now stand. The Society was the prime mover of this great display of the arts, sciences, manufactures and trade, perhaps the high water-mark of Victorian material prosperity and ebullience in design. It was responsible for the initial planning, for raising the necessary guarantee fund and for nominating the managing Commission. The Exhibition itself was on a larger and more ambitious scale than its famous predecessor of 1951, and attracted nearly six and a quarter million visitors. 24,000 copies sold