The Royal Academy of Art s Summer Exhibition in London has been an annual event since 1769. Today, about 1,000 works are selected to be shown each year from more than 10,000 entries. The exhibition, which includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and architectural designs and models, continues to be the largest open exhibition in the UK. First published in the 1870s, Royal Academy Illustrated is an excellent way to stay current with trends in contemporary British art by surveying the highlights of each year s show. This colorful collection features a cross-section of the works on display at the Summer Exhibition, accompanied by installation shots of the galleries and an insightful introduction to the theme of the show.
Richard Cork is an art critic, historian, broadcaster, and curator. His many books include a four-volume collection of his critical writings on modern art, published in 2003, and Wild Thing: Epstein, Gaudier-Brzeska, Gill, published by the Royal Academy in 2009.