International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers explained

International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers
Type:	Artists' union
Leader Title:	1st president
Leader Name:	James McNeill Whistler
Leader Title2:	2nd president
Leader Name2:	Auguste Rodin
Leader Title3:	3rd president
Leader Name3:	William Orpen

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...".^[1] It came to be known simply as The International.^[2] 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:^[3]

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
• 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^[4]
• John Tweed
• Reginald Fairfax Wells^[5]
• Harry (Henry) Wilson

During World War I, the membership of German and Austrian artists was suspended.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions organised by the society included:^[2]

• 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
• 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

Notes and References

1. Web site: The International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951. Glasgow University. 31 May 2013.
2. [Philip Athill]
3. 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.
4. Web site: James Havard Thomas (1854-1921).
5. Web site: Reginald Fairfax Wells - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951.