Supplement to the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Editions of the Encyclopædia Britannica/Academies
ACADEMY. An enumeration has been already given in the body of the work of most of those associations for the cultivation and improvement of science, learning, and art, which are known under the name of Academies; but as some of them have been omitted in that sketch, and others have been founded since it was written, we shall here endeavour, in as far as our information extends, to supply these defects. We shall also subjoin, in an additional article, an account of those Royal Academies whose object is the education of young men for the navy and army of Britain.
Geographical Academy of Lisbon.I. In the year 1799 a Geographical Academy was established at Lisbon, principally for the purpose of elucidating the geography of Portugal. By the labours of the members of this academy, an accurate map of this country (which was much wanted) has been completed.
Royal Academy of Sciences at Lisbon.II. Academies of Science. The present Queen of Portugal, at the beginning of her reign, established, at Lisbon, a Royal Academy of the Sciences, agriculture, arts, commerce, and economy in general. It is divided into three classes, natural science, mathematics, and national literature. It is composed of honorary members,—as ministers of state, and persons of high rank in Lisbon,—foreign members,—socios veteranos, and acting members. The total number is sixty, of which twenty-four belong to the last class. They enjoy an allowance from government, which has enabled them to establish an observatory, a museum, a library, and a printing-office. Their published transactions consist of Memorias de Litteratura Portugueza; and Memorias Economicos; besides Scientific Transactions. They have also published Collecçao de Livros ineditos de Historia Portugueza.
Royal Neapolitan Academy.The Royal Neapolitan Academy was established in 1779; the published Memoirs contain some valuable researches an mathematical subjects. Royal Academy at Turin.The Royal Academy of Turin was established by the late King when Duke of Savoy. Its memoirs were originally published in Latin, under the title of Miscellanea Philosophica Mathematica Societatis privatæ Taurinensis. The first volume appeared in 1759. They are now published in French. Among the original members of this institution the most celebrated was La Grange, who burst on the scientific world quite unexpectedly, by the novelty and profoundness of his papers in the first volume of the Transactions. An Academy of Sciences, Belles-lettres, and Arts, was established at Padua.Padua, by the senate, near the close of the eighteenth century. It is composed of twenty-four pensionaries, twelve free associates, twenty-four pupils, sixteen associates belonging to the Venetian states, and twenty-four foreigners, besides honorary members. It has published a few volumes of Transactions in the Italian language. The Academy of Sciences and Belles-lettres of Genoa.Genoa was established in 1783. It consists of thirty-two members; but their labours have been chiefly directed to poetry, nor are we aware that they have published any memoirs. The academy of Milan.Milan was preceded, and perhaps introduced, by a literary assembly consisting of ten persons, who published a sheet weekly, containing short remarks on subjects of science, belles-lettres, and criticism. This society terminated in 1767. Soon afterwards another was established, who publish their Transactions, under the title of Scolta d’Opuscoli Scientifici, which contain several very interesting papers. The Academy of Sciences at Sienna.Sienna, which was instituted in 1691, published the first volume of their transactions, in 1761, and have continued them since, at long intervals, under the title of Atti dell’ Academia di Siena. Between the year 1770 and 1780, M. Lorgna established at Verona.Verona an academy of sciences, of a novel description. The object of it was to form an association among the principal scientific men in all parts of Italy, for the purpose of publishing their memoirs. The first volume appeared in the year 1782, under the title of Memorie di Matematica e Fisica della Societa Italiana. The most celebrated names that appear in this volume are those of Boscovich, the two Fontanas, and Spallanzani. There are also scientific academies at Mantua, Pisa, and Pavia, but the two last do not publish their Transactions.
Changes in the Academy of Berlin.In the Royal Academy of Sciences at Berlin some changes have lately been made, which it may be proper to mention. The object of these changes was to direct the attention of the members to researches of real utility, to improve the arts, to excite national industry, and to purify the different systems of literary and moral education. To attain these ends, a directory was chosen, consisting of a president, the four directors of the classes, and two men of business, not members of the academy, though at the same time men of learning. To this directory was entrusted the management of the funds, and the conducting the economical affairs of the institution. The power of choosing members was granted to the academy, but the King was to have the privilege of confirming or annulling their choice. The public library at Berlin, and the collection of natural curiosities, was united to the academy, and entrusted to its superintendence.
Academy of Sciences at Manheim.The Academy of Sciences at Manheim was established by Charles Theodore, Elector Palatine, in the year 1755. The plan of this institution was furnished by Schæpflin, according to which it was divided into two classes, the historical and physical. In 1780 a subdivision of the latter took place, into the physical, properly so called, and the meteorological. The meteorological observations are published separately, under the title of Ephemerides Societatis Meteorologicæ Palatinæ. The historical and physical memoirs are published under the title of Acta Academia Theodoro Palatinæ. Bavarian Academy.The Electoral Bavarian Academy of Sciences at Munich was established in 1759, and publishes its memoirs under the title of Abhandlungen der Baierischen Akademie. Soon after the Elector of Bavaria was raised to the rank of King, the Bavarian government, by his orders, directed its attention to a new organization of the academy of sciences of Munich. The design of the King was to render its labours more extensive than those of any similar institution in Europe, by giving to it, under the direction of the ministry, the immediate superintendence over all the establishments for public instruction in the kingdom of Bavaria. The Privy-Councillor Jacobi, a man of most excellent character, and of considerable scientific attainments, was appointed president. Erfurt.The Electoral Academy at Erfurt was established by the Elector of Mentz, in the year 1754. It consists of a protector, president, director, assessors, adjuncts, and associates. Its object is to promote the useful sciences. Their memoirs were originally published in the Latin language, but afterwards in German. Hessian.The Hessian Academy of Sciences at Giessen publish their transactions under the title of Acta Philosophico-Medica Academiæ Scientiarum Principalis Hessiacæ. In the Netherlands there are scientific academies at Flushing and Brussels, both of which have published their Transactions.
Academies of the Fine Arts: Turin.III. Academies of the Fine Arts. In 1778, an academy of painting and sculpture was established at Turin. Their meetings were held in the palace of the king, who distributed prizes among the most successful members. In Milan.Milan an Academy of Architecture was established so early as the year 1380, by Galeas Visconti. About the middle of the last century, an Academy of the Arts was established there, after the example of those at Paris and Rome. The pupils were furnished with originals and models, and prizes were distributed annually. The prize for painting was a gold medal, and no prize was bestowed till all the competing pieces had been subjected to the examination and criticism of competent judges. Before the effects of the French revolution reached Italy, this was one of the best establishments of the kind in that kingdom. In the hall of the academy were some admirable pieces of Correggio, as well as several ancient paintings and statues of great merit; particularly a small bust of Vitellius, and a statue of Agrippina, of most exquisite beauty, though it wants the head and arms. The Academy of the Arts, which had been long established at Florence.Florence, but which had fallen into decay, was restored by the late Grand Duke. In it there are halls for nudities and for plaster figures, for the sculptor and painter. The hall for plaster figures had models of all the finest statues in Italy, arranged in two lines; but the treasures of this, as well as all the other institutions for the fine arts, have been greatly diminished by the rapacity of the French. In the saloon of the Academy of the Arts at Modena, &c.Modena, there are many casts of antique statues; but since it was plundered by the French it has dwindled into a petty school for drawings from living models: it contains the skull of Correggio. There is also an academy of the fine arts in Mantua, and another at Venice.
In Madrid.Madrid, an Academy for Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture, was founded by Philip V. The minister for foreign affairs is president. Prizes are distributed every three years. In Cadiz a few students are supplied by government with the means of drawing and modelling from figures; such as are not able to purchase the requisite instruments are provided with them.
An Academy of the Fine Arts was founded at Stockholm.Stockholm in the year 1733 by Count Tessin. In its hall are the ancient figures of plaster presented by Louis XIV. to Charles XI. The works of the students are publicly exhibited, and prizes are distributed annually. Such of them as display distinguished talents obtain pensions from government, to enable them to reside in Italy for some years, for the purposes of investigation and improvement. In this academy there are nine professors, and generally about four hundred students. Vienna.In the year 1705 an Academy of Painting, Sculpture, and Architecture was established at Vienna, with the view of encouraging and promoting the fine arts.
Academies of History: Madrid.IV. Academies of History. About the year 1730, a few individuals in Madrid agreed to assemble at stated periods, for the purpose of preserving and illustrating the historical monuments of Spain. In the year 1738, the rules which they had drawn up, were confirmed by a royal cedula of Philip V. This academy consists of twenty-four members. The device, a river at its source; the motto, In patriam populumque fluit. It has published editions of Mariana, Sepulveda, Solis, and the ancient Chronicles relative to the affairs of Castile, several of which were never before printed. All the diplomas, charters, &c. belonging to the principal cities in Spain, since the earliest period, are in its possession. It has long been employed in preparing a geographical dictionary of that country.
Academies of Antiquities: Herculaneum.V. Academies of Antiquities. Under this class the Academy of Herculaneum properly ranks. It was established at Naples about 1755, at which period a museum was formed of the antiquities found at Herculaneum, Pompeia, and other places, by the Marquis Tanucci, who was then minister of state. Its object was to explain the paintings, &c. which were discovered at those places; and for this purpose the members met every fortnight, and at each meeting three paintings were submitted to three academicians, who made their report on them at their next sitting. The first volume of their labours appeared in 1775, and they have been continued under the title of Antichita di Ercolano. They contain engravings of the principal paintings, statues, bronzes, marble figures, medals, utensils, &c., with explanations. In the year 1807, an Academy of History and Antiquities, on a new plan, was established at Naples.Naples, by Joseph Bonaparte. The number of members was limited to forty; twenty of whom were to be appointed by the king, and those twenty were to present to him, for his choice, three names for each of those wanted to complete the full number. Eight thousand ducats was to be annually allotted for the current expences, and two thousand for prizes to the authors of four works, which should be deemed by the academy most deserving of such a reward. A grand meeting was to be held every year, when the prizes were to be distributed, and analyses of the works read. The first meeting took place on the 25th April 1807; but the subsequent changes in the political state of Naples have prevented the full and permanent establishment of this institution. In the same year an academy was established at Florence.Florence, for the illustration of Tuscan antiquities, which has published some volumes of memoirs.
Celtic Academy at Paris.In consequence of the attention of several literary men in Paris haying been directed to Celtic antiquities, a Celtic Academy was established in that city in the year 1807. Its objects were, 1st, the elucidation of the history, customs, antiquities, manners, and monuments of the Celts, particularly in France; 2d, the etymology of all the European languages, by the aid of the Celto-Briton, Welsh, and Erse; and, 3d, researches relating to Druidism. The attention of the members was also particularly called to the history and settlements of the Galatæ in Asia. Lenoir, the keeper of the museum of French monuments, was appointed president. A fasciculus, consisting of one hundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty pages, was to be published monthly; the engravings, illustrative of Celtic antiquities, were to be under the inspection of Lenoir. The devices are, Gloriæ majorum; and Sermonem patrium, moresque requiret.
VI. Academies of Languages. The Royal Swedish Academy was founded in the year 1786, for the purpose of purifying and perfecting the Swedish language. A medal is struck by its direction every year, in honour of some illustrious Swede. This academy do not publish their Transactions. An Academy of the Russian language is attached to the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Petersburgh. (C.)
The following is a catalogue of the published Memoirs and Transactions of the principal Academies of science and literature in Europe.
Denmark.
France.
Germany.
Ireland.
Italy.
Naples.
Netherlands.
Prussia.
Portugal.
Russia.
Spain.
Sweden.
We shall introduce a similar catalogue of the Transactions of those kindred associations, known under the name of Societies, when we come to give the necessary additions to that article. For an account of the Institute of France, see Institute in this Supplement.