Recognizing, Honoring, and Celebrating the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts-Home to America's Artists-for its invaluable contributions to the Arts as the oldest Art School and Museum of Fine Arts in the Nation-on the occasion of its 200th Anniversary: 1805-2005.

WHEREAS, On December 26, 1805, painter Charles Wilson Peale and 70 prominent Philadelphians gathered at Independence Hall and signed the charter of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; and

WHEREAS, In the year 2005,

the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts completes its 200th year and begins its third century as the oldest art school and museum of fine arts in the nation; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th Century American paintings, sculptures, and works on paper, and its archives house important materials for the study of American art history, museums, and art training; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts collects and exhibits the work of distinguished American artists, and is renowned for training fine artists, with a current enrollment of 300 full-time students and an additional 16,000 children and adults through its outreach programs annually, has become known as the “Home to America’s Artists” because of such notable alumni as: Thomas Eakins, Mary Cassatt, Cecilia Beaux, Maxfield Parrish, Robert Henri, John Sloan, Charles Sheeler, Charles Demuth, Arthur B. Carles, John Main, Sarah McEneaney, Vincent Desiderio, and film-maker David Lynch; and

WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia looks forward to yet another century of excellent artistic leadership from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts; now, therefore,

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Recognizing, Honoring, and Celebrating the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts— Home to America’s Artists—for its invaluable contributions to the Arts as the oldest Art School and Museum of Fine Arts in the Nation—on the occasion of its 200th Anniversary: 1805-2005.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, further evidencing the sincere admiration and gratitude of this legislative body.

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