The academy was established by royal decree in 1744, whereas it got its present home by the enlightened monarch Charles III around 20 years later, when he commissioned Diego de Villanueva to convert the building for academic use.

Francisco Goya was once one of the academy's directors. Its illustrous alumni include Felip Pedrell, Pablo Picasso, Kiko Argüello, Salvador Dalí, Antonio López García, Juan Luna, Oscar de la Renta, and Fernando Botero.

For more detailed inforations, see website