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Aquatint by Pugin and Rowlandson, shows the Great Room from the completion of Barry's paintings until the alteration in 1815. The Great Room. Engraving, 1809.

This painting was bequeathed to the Society in 1861 by Lady Brown, widow of Captain Sir Samuel Brown, RN (1776-1852), the engineer of the bridge and for many years a member of the Society. Brown invented an improved method of manufacturing links for chain cables which greatly extended their use in the construction of suspension bridges and landing piers. Brown's bar link was first employed in the Union Bridge, completed in July 1820 and subsequently in the Chain Pier at Brighton. The bridge is 18ft wide, 368ft long and the distance between the points of suspension is 432ft. It was the earliest suspension bridge erected in Great Britain calculated for the passage of loaded carriages. The painting itself was executed before the bridge was built to show the effect it would have on the landscape. The large building discernible on the skyline in the centre of the picture, standing high on the northern bank of the Tweed is Paxton House, built to the designs of James and John Adam in the 1750's, with later additions by Robert Reid. Like the bridge, it still stands in fine condition.

Roxburgh was elected an Honorary Corresponding Member of the Society in 1797 and awarded the Society's Gold Medal in 1805 for his communications on East India products

Limited edition of 200 copies

Awarded the sum of twenty guineas by the Society for his set of working drawings in 1824

Drawn from life in the year of the Prince's betrothal to Queen Victoria. Painting presented to the Society by Sir Hilary Blood, Chairman of Council, 1963-65

The picture, reconstructed from contemporary prints, represents the meeting in June 1849, at which the suggestion was made to the Prince which led to the inauguration by the Society of Arts of the Great Exhibition of 1851. By Miss Anna Zinkeisen, RDI.

Painted by Anna Zinkeisen, RDI; 12,500 sold

Original painting was awarded a prize of five guineas and a silver medal in 1759. The artist was 15 years old and the silver medal was given in addition to the advertised monetary prize 'as a further reward for her extraordinary merit'. Mary Moser was a founder member of the Royal Academy in 1768 and one of the first two women Academicians. 11,000 sold

Fifth painting in a series entitled 'The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture', displayed in the Great Room. Key to some of the portraits on reverse of card. 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 Paul's. 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 behind 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.

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

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.

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.

Shows the Society's House on left

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.

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.