Sir Francis Grant, PRA, letters to James Faed

11 pieces

Sir Francis Grant was elected an ARA in 1842 and to the full membership in 1851. In 1866 he succeeded Sir Charles Eastlake as President of the Royal Academy. Generally percieved to be have been an effective, conscientious and popular President, his diplomatic skills enabled him to obtain Burlington House for the Royal Academy despite it's uncertain right to claim public property.

James Faed, painter and engraver, brother of Thomas Faed, R.A.. He moved to Edinburgh when in his twenties and took up painting. After experimenting with oils he specialised in mezzotint engraving, inventing a machine for speeding the process.

Faed became the favoured engraver of Francis Grant from the early 1850's until the President's death. These letters centre on the working relationship of the two men.

The letters remained in the Grant family by direct descent.

Sent as gift to the Royal Academy by Laetitia Stapleton, Great-Granddaughter of Francis Grant, on the 23 June 1998.

Although a chronology has been attempted the lack of dates on the letters makes any stable arrangement impractical.