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Signed by George III

Lettered, upper center: "LABOR ET INGENIUM"; lettered, center left: "ROYAL ACADE | OF ARTS | INSTITUTED | MDCCLXVIII"; lettered, lower center: "GEORGE THE THIRD, BY THE GRACE OF GOD KING OF GREAT-BRITAIN, | FRANCE, AND IRELAND, DEFENDER OF THE FAITH, &c. | TO OUR TRUSTY AND WELL-BELOVED JOHN OPIE ESQUIRE, | GREETING. | WHEREAS WE HAVE THOUGHT FIT TO ESTABLISH IN THIS OUR CITY OF LONDON, A SOCIETY FOR | THE PURPOSES OF CULTIVATING AND IMPROVING THE ARTS OF PAINTING, SCULPTURE, AND | ARCHITECTURE, UNDER THE NAME AND TITLE OF "THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS" AND UNDER | OUR OWN IMMEDIATE PATRONAGE AND PROTECTION: AND WHEREAS WE HAVE RESOLVED TO | ENTRUST THE SOLE MANAGEMENT AND DIRECTION OF THE SAID SOCIETY, UNDER US, UNTO | FORTY ACADEMICIANS, THE MOST ABLE AND RESPECTABLE ARTISTS RESIDENT IN GREAT BRITAIN: | WE, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF YOUR GREAT SKILL IN THE ART OF PAINTING, | DO, BY THESE PRESENTS, CONSTITUTE AND APPOINT YOU TO BE OF THE FORTY ACADEMICIANS | OF OUR SAID ROYAL ACADEMY; HEREBY GRANTING UNTO YOU ALL THE HONORS, PRIVILEGES, AND | EMOLUMENTS, THEREOF ACCORDING TO THE TENOR OF THE INSTITUTION. GIVEN UNDER OUR | ROYAL SIGN MANUAL, UPON THE TENTH DAY OF DECEMBER, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED | AND SIXTYEIGHT, AND IN THE NIGHTH YEAR OF OUR REIGN | AND WE ARE THE MORE READILY INDUCED TO CONFER UPON EVERY OCCASION, EXERT YOURSELF IN | SUPPORT OF THE HONOR, INTEREST, AND DIGNITY, OF THE SAID ESTABLISHMENT; AND THAT YOU | WILL FAITHFULLY AND ASSIDOUSLY DISCHARGE TEN DUTIES OF THE SEVERAL OFFICES TO WHEREIN | YOU SHALL BE NOMINATED. | IN CONSEQUENCE OF THIS OUR GRACIOUS RESOLUTIONS, IT IS OUR PLEASURE THAT OUR NAME | BE FORTHWITH INSERTED IN THE ROLL OF THE ACADEMICIANS, AND THAT YOU DO SUBSCRIBE | THE OBLIGAITON IN THE FORM AND MANNER PRESCRIBED. | GIVEN AT OUR ROYAL PALACE OF SAINT JAMES'S, THE SIXTEENTH DAY OF NOVEMBER | TWENTY EIGTH YEAR OF OUR REIGN."; lettered, lower left: "G. B. Cipriani invt. et delt."; lettered, lower right: "F. Bartolozzi Engraver to his Majesty sculpt."