The public may justly require to be inform’d of the nature and extent of every design, for which the favour of the public is openly solicited. The artists, who were themselves the first projectors of an exhibition in this nation, and who have now contributed to the following catalogue, think it therefore necessary to explain their purpose, and justify their conduct. An exhibition of the works of art, being a spectacle new in this kingdom, has rais’d various opinions and conjectures among those, who are unacquainted with the practice in foreign nations; those, who set out their performances to general view, have been too often consider’d as the rivals of each other, as men actuated, if not by avarice, at least by vanity, and contending for superiority of fame, tho’ not for a pecuniary prize. It cannot be denied or doubted, that all who offer themselves to criticism are desirous of praise; this desire is not only innocent but virtuous, while it is undebased by artifice and unpolluted by envy; and of envy or artifice these men can never be accused, who, already enjoying all the honours and profits of their profession, are content to stand candidates for public notice, with genius yet unexperienced, and diligence yet unrewarded; who, without any hope of encreasing their own reputation or interest, expose their names and their works only that they may furnish an opportunity of appearance to the young, the diffident, and the neglected. The purpose of this exhibition is not to enrich the artists but to advance the art; the eminent are not flatter’d with preference, nor the obscure insulted with contempt; whoever hopes to deserve public favour is here invited to display his merit.

Of the price put upon this exhibition some account may be demanded. Whoever sets his work to be shewn, naturally desires a multitude of spectators, but his desire defeats its own end, when spectators assemble in such numbers as to obstruct one another. Tho’ we are far from wishing to diminish the pleasures, or depreciate the sentiments of any class of the community, we know however, what every one knows, that all cannot be judges or purchasers of works of art; yet we have already found by experience, that all are desirous to see an exhibition. When the terms of admission were low, our room was throng’d with such multitudes as made access dangerous, and frightened away those, whose approbation was most desired.

Yet because it is seldom believed that money is got but for the love of money, we shall tell the use which we intend to make of our expected profits.

Many artists of great abilities are unable to sell their works for their due price; to remove this inconvenience, an annual sale will be appointed, to which every man may send his works, and send them if he will without his name. These works will be review’d by the committee that conduct the exhibition. A price will be secretly set on every piece, and register’d by the secretary. If the piece exposed is sold for more, the whole price shall be the artist’s, but if the purchasers value it at less than the committee, the artist shall be paid the deficiency from the profits of the exhibition.