The two female founding academicians – Angelica Kauffmann and Mary Moser – are not shown as present, as it would have been inappropriate for them to attend a life drawing class in person: rather, Zoffany includes them by showing their portraits hanging on the walls.

An hourglass times each pose, but also acts as a memento mori, that life is short but art is long ("Ars longa, vita brevis").

The main source of light is a large oil lamp hanging from the ceiling, creating deep shadows on the walls: its flames show the colours of a Newtonian spectrum.

Sir Joshua Reynolds, the President of the Royal Academy, is in black to the left of centre, with his ear trumpet.

Also included with the Royal Academicians is the Chinese artist Tan-Che-Qua – fifth from the left – who was visiting London at the time, and two life models.