The Boston Artists' Association (1841–1851) was established in Boston, Massachusetts by Washington Allston, Henry Sargent, and other painters, sculptors, and architects, in order to organize exhibitions, a school, a workspace for members, and to promote art "for the art's sake."

History

According to the group's constitution: "The artists of Boston, deeply impressed with the importance of their profession, and with the necessity of a systematic course of study for its successful culmination; also with the advantages to be derived from mutual co-operation and support, resolve to form themselves into an association for the furtherance of these objects. In so doing, they pledge to each other their honor as gentlemen, to lay aside all ungenerous, envious, or selfish feelings, and to seek the advancement of the arts alone, for the art's sake."The constitution of the Boston Artists' Association, with a catalogue of the first public exhibition of paintings at Harding's Gallery, no. 22 School Street. Boston: John H. Eastburn, printer, 1842.

There were "44 members in 1842, and 66 in 1845."Leah Lipton. "The Boston Artists' Association, 1841-1851." American Art Journal, Vol. 15, No. 4 (Autumn, 1983) They held "regularly scheduled bi-weekly social meetings" in Chester Harding's space on School Street. In the association's "studio ... both living models and casts were provided for members."Norman A. Geske. A Pioneer Minnesota Artist [George Fuller]. Minnesota History, Vol. 31, No. 2 (Jun., 1950); p.101. The association "had casts donated to them by member Henry Sargent, and negotiated to borrow some of those at the Athenaeum." A school was organized in 1842, overseen by John Pope. Instructors included Samuel P. Long and B.F. Nutting. The school was located at first in Harding's Gallery on School Street, and from 1846 in rented rooms on Tremont Row.

Images

Members

Francis AlexanderBoston Artists Association. Boston Daily Atlas, April 4, 1842. Washington Allston Joseph Alexander Ames (i.e. Joseph Eames) Joseph AndrewsCatalogue of paintings of the second exhibition of the Boston Artists' Association, 1843 Thomas G. Appleton Thomas BallWilliam Howe Downes. Boston Painters and Paintings. Atlantic Monthly, Sept. 1888 Hammatt BillingsJames F. O'Gorman. Accomplished in all departments of art--Hammatt Billings of Boston, 1818-1874. Univ of Massachusetts Press, 1998; p.11. Joseph Edward Billings Edward Augustus BrackettBoston Athenaeum Exhibition. Boston Daily Atlas, May 26, 1848. Joseph Carew Henry Dexter George Fuller Samuel Gerry Edward D. Greene Henry Greenough Richard Saltonstall Greenough Chester Harding Joshua H. Hayward A.G. Hoit George Hollingsworth Charles Hubbard D.C. Johnston Charles Lane Fitz Hugh LaneJames A. Craig. Fitz H. Lane: an artist's voyage through nineteenth-century America. 2006; p.73. P. Mallory N.B. Onthank John Pope Henry Cheever Pratt Thomas Buchanan Read J. Rogers Eastman Sanburn Henry Sargent William Sharp George G. Smith William E. Smith W. Southworth Charles J. Sprague Richard M. Staigg W.W. Story Asa Coolidge Warren M.J. WhippleUnrivaled exhibition at City Hall: Champney's immense moving picture of the River Rhine! showing both banks of this most celebrated river of Europe. 1849. American Broadsides and Ephemera, Series 1, no. 7447 Ammi B. Young

Exhibitions 1842 - 1st Boston Artists' Association exhibit, at Harding's Gallery. Included: Henry Sargent; Fitz Henry Lane; Tintoretto; Anthony van Dyck; Caroline Negus;Massachusetts Historical Society. Catherine Sargent and others. 1843 - 2nd Boston Artists' Association exhibit, at Harding's Gallery. Included: Thomas Cole; Philip Harry; Asher Brown Durand; Thomas Sully; and others.The Rover, v.2, no.10, 1843 Lenders to the exhibit: E. Haskett Derby; David Sears; George Howe; T. Whittemore; Boston Museum; C. Kimball; and others. 1844 - 3rd Boston Artists' Association exhibit, at Harding's Gallery. Lenders to the exhibit: Professor Ticknor; Mrs. Allston; Col. H. Sargent; T.H. Perkins; Daniel Webster; J.B. Joy; H.C. Stebbins; Mrs. Wheelock.Catalogue of paintings, of the third exhibition of the Boston Artists' Association, 1844. Boston: Clapp and Son's Press, 1844. 1845 - Joint exhibition of the Boston Artists' Association and the Boston Athenaeum. 1846 - Joint exhibition of the Boston Artists' Association and the Boston Athenaeum. 1847 - Joint exhibition of the Boston Artists' Association and the Boston Athenaeum.

See also

Harding's Gallery (Boston)

References