The Society of Artists of Great Britain was founded in London in May 1761[1] by an association of artists in order to provide a venue for the public exhibition of recent work by living artists, such as was having success in the long-established Paris salons.
The Society of Artists began in 1760 as a loose association of artists, including Joshua Reynolds and Francis Hayman, who wanted greater control by artists over exhibitions of their work previously organised by William Shipley's Society of Arts (founded in 1754). They organised an alternative exhibition at Spring Gardens, Charing Cross in May 1761 and "In a conspicuous gesture they called themselves the Society of Artists of Great Britain to emphasise their identity with the 'nation' and to announce a clear split with Shipley's faction."[1]
In 1765, the Society, then comprising 211 members, obtained a Royal Charter as the Incorporated Society of Artists of Great Britain.[1]
Reynolds would later be a founder of the Royal Academy, after an unseemly leadership dispute between two leading architects, Sir William Chambers and James Paine had split the Society. Paine won, but Chambers used his strong connections with George III to create the new body - the Royal Academy was formally launched in 1769. However, the Society of Artists continued its schedule of exhibitions until 1791, while those who remained with the older "Society of Arts" now called themselves the "Free Society of Artists" (1761-1783).
The history of the Society of Artists was written by Algernon Graves, The Society of Artists of Great Britain, 1760-1791 [and] the Free Society of Artists, 1761-1783: a Complete Dictionary of Contributors and their Work from the Foundation of the Societies to 1791. (London: G. Bell and Sons, 1907.[2])