American Academy
Paraphrased from Thomas S. Cummings, Historic Annals of the National Academy of Design (1865):
In 1802 an institution was proposed under the title of “New York Academy of Fine Arts”—its charter was not granted until 1808, under the modified name “American Academy of Art.” According to Dunlap, the board contained men of every profession except professional artists—its first group of officers did add one artist, John Trumbull, as president. DeWitt Clinton was on the board of directors. Prior to the granting of the charter, the ambassador to France, Robert R. Livingston, sent a number of “casts from the antique” that were exhibited in the Custom-House on Broadway on the first of February 1804 at the admission price of $5. Apparently, this was not a success and the casts were removed to the store of Captain Farquahr in Vessey Street. The institution lay dormant until 1816 (5-6).
