The RSA moved to its current home in 1774. The House, situated in John Adam Street, near the Strand in central London, had been purpose-designed by the Adam Brothers (James Adam and Robert Adam) as part of their innovative Adelphi scheme. The original building (6–8 John Adam Street) includes the Great Room, which features a magnificent sequence of paintings by Irish artist James Barry titled "The Progress of Human Knowledge and Culture" and portraits of the Society's first and second presidents, painted by Thomas Gainsborough and Joshua Reynolds respectively.