The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers was a union of professional artists that existed from 1898 to 1925, "To promote the study, practice, and knowledge of sculpture, painting, etching, lithographing, engraving, and kindred arts in England or elsewhere...". It came to be known simply as The International.Philip Athill (January 1985). The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. The Burlington Magazine 127(982): 21-29+33. The society organised exhibitions, some for members only and some open to others, and social events such as musical evenings and soirées. The exhibitions were held in a number of London venues, and in other cities around England, including Nottingham and Manchester. Its founder and first president was James McNeill Whistler. On his death, the presidency was taken up by Auguste Rodin, with John Lavery as vice-president. The society contributed £500 towards the cost of Whistler's memorial.
Formation The society was initially incorporated as The Exhibition of International Art Ltd., but soon changed its name to the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. The prospectus issued by the new society read in part:Quoted in The Morning Post, 9 February 1898; cited by: Philip Athill (January 1985). The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. The Burlington Magazine 127(982): 21-29+33.
Members Honorary and associate members included:
Paul Wayland Bartlett Alexander Kellock Brown Ernest A. Cole John Paul Cooper Nelson Dawson Alfred Drury John Henry Monsell Furse Alfred Gilbert Charles Holroyd John Humphreys Johnston Thomas Stirling Lee David McGill Gari Melchers Constantin Meunier Ernst Oppler Glyn Warren Philpot Alfred William Rich Charles de Sousy Ricketts William Rothenstein Augustus Saint-Gaudens Georg Sauter Kathleen Scott Charles Shannon Franz Stuck James Havard Thomas John Tweed Reginald Fairfax Wells Harry (Henry) Wilson
During World War I, the membership of German and Austrian artists was suspended.
Exhibitions Exhibitions organised by the society included: 1898: Exhibition of International Art of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers; Prince's Skating Rink, Knightsbridge, London, May–July 1899: Second Exhibition of The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers; Prince's Skating Rink, Knightsbridge, London, May–July 1900: No exhibition, on account of the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900 1901: Third Exhibition of the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers; Galleries of the Royal Institute, 191 Piccadilly, London, October–December 1903: American Tour: Boston Art Club, the Buffalo FIne Arts Academy, the Carnegie Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cinicinnati Art Museum, the Saint Louis School and Museum of Fine Arts—where the exhibition was displayed during the Louisiana Purchase Exposition world's fair. 1904: Fourth Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–March 1905: Fifth Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–February 1906: International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers Exhibition; Nottingham Castle Museum 1906: Sixth Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–February 1907: Seventh Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–March 1908: Eighth Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–February 1908: Exhibition of Fair Women; International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, New Gallery, Regent Street, London 1909: Ninth Exhibition; New Gallery, Regent Street, London, January–February 1909: Exhibition of Fair Women; International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers; New Gallery, Regent Street, London 1910: Tenth Annual Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, London, April–May 1910: Exhibition of Fair Women; International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers; Grafton Gallery, London, May–June 1911: Eleventh Annual Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, London, April–May 1911: "A Century of Art, 1810-1910"; Grafton Gallery, June–July 1912: Twelfth Annual Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, London, April–May 1912: "Contemporary British landscape"; Thirteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery 1912: "Exhibition of Fair Children"; Grafton Gallery, London, June–July 1913: The Spring Exhibition; Fourteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, April–May 1913: The Autumn Exhibition; Fifteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October–November 1914: The Spring Exhibition; Sixteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, April–May 1914: The Autumn Exhibition; Seventeenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October–November 1915: The Spring Exhibition; Eighteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, May–June 1915: The Autumn Exhibition; Nineteenth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October–November 1916: The Spring Exhibition; Twentieth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, May–July 1916: The Autumn Exhibition; Twenty-first London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October–November 1917: Twenty-second Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, June 1918: The Summer Exhibition; Twenty-third London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, May 1918: The Autumn Exhibition; Twenty-fourth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October–November 1919: The Spring Exhibition; Twenty-fifth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, May–July 1919: The Autumn Exhibition; Twenty-sixth London Exhibition; Grosvenor Gallery, October 1921: The Annual Exhibition; Twenty-seventh London Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, April–May 1922: The Annual Exhibition; Twenty-eighth London Exhibition; Grafton Gallery, April–May 1925: The Annual Exhibition; Twenty-ninth London Exhibition; Royal Academy
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