![Manchester Art Gallery, Mosley Street](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/Manchester_Art_Gallery%2C_Mosley_Street.jpg)
The Royal Manchester Institution (RMI) was an
English
English usually refers to:
* English language
* English people
English may also refer to:
Peoples, culture, and language
* ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England
** English national ide ...
learned society
A learned society (; also learned academy, scholarly society, or academic association) is an organization that exists to promote an discipline (academia), academic discipline, profession, or a group of related disciplines such as the arts and s ...
founded on 1 October 1823 at a public meeting held in the Exchange Room by
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
merchants, local artists and others keen to dispel the image of Manchester as a city lacking in culture and taste.
The Institution was housed in a building in
Mosley Street
Mosley Street is a street in Manchester, England. It runs between its junction with Piccadilly Gardens and Market Street to St Peter's Square. Beyond St Peter's Square it becomes Lower Mosley Street. It is the location of several Grade II and G ...
designed by
Charles Barry
Sir Charles Barry (23 May 1795 – 12 May 1860) was a British architect, best known for his role in the rebuilding of the Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) in London during the mid-19th century, but also responsi ...
in 1824. Construction of the building began in 1825, and was completed in 1835, at a cost of £30,000. A Grade I
listed building
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
, it is his only public building in the Greek
neo-classical style
Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing style ...
.
The Institution held regular art exhibitions, collected works of fine art and promoted the arts generally from the 1820s until 1882, when the building and its collections were transferred under
Act of Parliament
Acts of Parliament, sometimes referred to as primary legislation, are texts of law passed by the Legislature, legislative body of a jurisdiction (often a parliament or council). In most countries with a parliamentary system of government, acts of ...
to
Manchester Corporation
Manchester City Council is the local authority for Manchester, a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. Manchester is the sixth largest city in England by population. Its city council is composed of 96 councillors, three f ...
, becoming
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery, formerly Manchester City Art Gallery, is a publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823 and today its collection occupies three c ...
.
In the basement a laboratory was installed by
Lyon Playfair
Lyon Playfair, 1st Baron Playfair (1 May 1818 – 29 May 1898) was a British scientist and Liberal politician who was Postmaster-General from 1873 to 1874.
Early life
Playfair was born at Chunar, Bengal, the son of George Playfair (1782-1846) ...
who worked there briefly as Professor of Chemistry after he left Thomson's of Clitheroe. He was succeeded by
Frederick Crace Calvert
Frederick Crace Calvert (14 November 1819 – 24 October 1873), English chemist, was born near London. He was the son of Alfred Crace and the nephew of the noted interior decorator, Frederick Crace.
From about 1836 until 1846 he lived in France, w ...
who made phenol which was used by
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, (5 April 182710 February 1912) was a British surgeon, medical scientist, experimental pathologist and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery and preventative medicine. Joseph Lister revolutionised the craft of s ...
as an antiseptic.
The first school of design in Manchester was accommodated in the building from 1838. The school was renamed the school of art in 1853 which became a sectional department of the Royal Manchester Institution. In 1892 it became the Municipal School of Art. In the 1880s it moved to premises in Cavendish Street,
Chorlton on Medlock
Chorlton-on-Medlock or Chorlton-upon-Medlock is an inner city area of Manchester, England.
Historically in Lancashire, Chorlton-on-Medlock is bordered to the north by the River Medlock, which runs immediately south of Manchester city centre. It ...
, which it still occupies as part of the
Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University is located in the centre of Manchester, England. The university has over 40,000 students and over 4,000 members of staff. It is home to four faculties (Arts and Humanities, Business and Law, Health and Educat ...
. The latter building was designed by G. T. Redmayne (1880-81) and is now known as the Grosvenor Building of the Metropolitan University.
The Manchester School of Art undertook teaching at various levels and became a central institution serving a wide area around Manchester. Two branches of activity were undertaken, the training of creative artists, and the training of trade craftsmen. The resources of the school included well equipped studios and workrooms, a museum of applied art and a library. The school conferred the diploma of associateship on successful students, and also prepared students for diplomas conferred by other bodies including the Board of Education's scheme for training art teachers.
Officers
Among the vice-presidents of the Institution was
Joseph Jordan Joseph or Joe Jordan may refer to:
* Joseph Jordan (Royal Navy officer), English naval officer
* Joe Jordan (born 1951), Scottish international football player and coach
* Joe Jordan (politician) (born 1958), Canadian politician
* Joe Jordan (musi ...
, a pioneer in provincial medical education, who served in that role in 1857.
[ ]
See also
*
List of societies for education in Manchester
Notable societies for education and learning in Manchester, England, have included:
*Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society, founded 1781
*Royal Manchester Institution, founded 1823
*Manchester Mechanics' Institute, founded 1824
*Manchest ...
References
Further reading
*Bud, R. F. (1974) "The Royal Manchester Institution", in D. Cardwell (ed.) ''Artisan to Graduate: Essays to Commemorate the Foundation in 1824 of the Manchester Mechanics' Institution'', Manchester: Manchester University Press,
*
*
''A grand old gallery''- The Royal Manchester Institution – as it came to be known
{{Authority control
Culture in Manchester
Defunct learned societies of the United Kingdom
Education in Manchester
Organisations based in Manchester
Cultural infrastructure completed in 1835
Organizations established in 1823
1823 establishments in England
1882 disestablishments in England
Greek Revival architecture in the United Kingdom
Neoclassical architecture in England