Royal College of Art

The College, which has university status, was founded as the Government School of Design in 1837. It is headed by a Rector, and since 1961 has been sited in purpose-designed buildings in Kensington Gore, London. It was originally established in Somerset House in the Strand, moving from there to Marlborough House, and then to Brompton Park House. In 1853 it was renamed the National Art Training School and moved to a purpose-built site adjoining the Brompton Oratory in Kensington, which also included the Victoria and Albert Museum. It was, due to its location, informally known as the South Kensington Schools. In 1896 the name was changed once more, this time to the Royal College of Art, and by 1902 the College had been granted its own Diploma and separated into four Schools, each headed by a Professor.

Painting was given greater emphasis in the curriculum after the appointment of William Rothenstein as Principal in 1920. The College's roll of former staff and students boasts many distinguished names. Amongst many notables who trained there were Eric Ravilious, Edward Bawden, Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth. In the early 1960’s many of its students – such as Ron Kitaj and David Hockney – were associated with Pop Art, although under the direction of Carel Weight as Professor of Painting from 1957 to 1973 its teaching retained a more traditionalist approach. After more than 130 years of operation it was granted a Royal Charter in 1967 thus awarding it the status of a University enabling it to bestow successful pupils with its own degree.

Number of Artists referenced: 2,510