Exhibition of 1768

The Society had been holding annual shows at Spring Gardens since the Exhibition of 1761, but this was the last held before a major split in the organisation led to the formation of the breakaway Royal Academy.

[2] Joshua Reynolds, having missed the Exhibition of 1767, returned with Crossing the Brook featuring the five-year old niece of the actress Peg Woffington carrying a pet dog.

[7] Along with West's Agrippina the work that attracted the greatest interest and praise with Joseph Wright of Derby's An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump.

[8] In September 1768, the Society organised a special exhibition held in honour of Christian VII of Denmark, the brother-in-law of George III, who was visiting London.

[9] It was the last exhibition held before a major split among Society members that led to the creation of a new rival organisation, the Royal Academy of Arts, which secured backing from the king.