From the 18th century to the 21st, the Royal Academy of Arts in London has occupied a prominent, sometimes controversial and always individual position in the art world. Its Annual Exhibitions, now known as the Summer Exhibitions, have seen artistic reputations rise and fall, and its enduringly popular international loan exhibitions have helped to shape the public's appreciation of the visual arts. As it celebrates its 250th year, the Academy continues to be governed and run by artists. Packed with illustrations, this concise introduction to the Academy's 250-year story considers the people, places and events that have made the Academy such a unique institution.