The Royal Academy of Art’s Summer Exhibition in London has been an annual event since 1768. Today, about a thousand works are selected to be shown each year from over 10,000 entries. The exhibition, which includes paintings, drawings, prints, sculpture, and architectural designs, and models, continues to be the largest open exhibition in the UK.

First published in the 1870's, the Royal Academy Illustrated presents the highlights of each year's show and is a fascinating barometer of changing artistic tastes. Its extensive range of illustrations, this year chosen by Humphrey Ocean RA, includes a wide-cross section of the works on display, and a number of installation shots of the galleries. With an introduction by Frank Whitford, who outlines the exhibition's major themes, these elelments make the Royal Academy Illustrated a handsome and informative record of this popular event.

http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/ra-publications-86/summer-exhibition-royal-academy-illustrated-2008-561/product.html