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History
It was founded in 1833 by William Brockedon, artist and inventor, as a society for artists to hold monthly meetings (“conversazione”) and exhibitions; architect John Buonarotti Papworth was a founder member
Its membership was originally limited to 100, comprising forty painters, twelve watercolour painters, six sculptors, twenty architects and twenty engravers, together with a Treasurer and Hon. Secretary who could not be artists
Turner’s painting of Bamborough Castle was exhibited there in 1837 and pronounced to be “one of the finest watercolour-drawings in the world”, a judgement which was frequently quoted in 2007 as the painting returned to public view (see, for example, The Independent, 18 October 2007); it subsequently sold for almost £3 million at auction
The membership was increased to 125 in 1852, and female members were eventually admitted in 1887
It was wound up for financial reasons in 1890
One newspaper commented at the time “The Graphic Society of London is in extremis and will soon cease to exist. The reasons given for its death are the growth of societies not strictly limited to artists, the number of deaths of members, and the extend to which artists have abandoned London due to its murky atmosphere, which interferes with work” (New York Times, 9 November 1890)
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What was reforming about it?
It was resolutely anti-commercial from its inception; its members were not allowed to sell their works via the meetings
It was also inclusive; non-members, including scientists, were encouraged to attend meetings
Where in Bloomsbury
The Treasurer in 1859 and 1861 was Lewis Pocock of 20 Upper Gower Street, and the Hon. Secretary was C. C. Atkinson, Secretary of UCL
Its members included about 70 painters, of whom a few lived in Bloomsbury, namely Alex Johnston of 43 Upper Gower Street, John Henry Mole of 5 Powis Place, A. Solomon of 18 Gower Street, and E. H. Wehnert of 12 Great Coram Street; there were also ten sculptors, including Timothy Butler of Euston Road
Twenty architects were also members, including four in Bloomsbury, namely Thomas Bellamy of 8 Charlotte Street, Thomas Donaldson of Bolton Gardens, Professor of Architecture at UCL, M. Digby Wyatt of 54 Guilford Street, and Thomas H. Wyatt of 77 Great Russell Street
Its twenty engravers included among their number Thomas Lupton of 4 Keppel Street
Members in 1859 but not 1861 included the painters Frank Stone of Russell House (who in 1851 had moved out of Tavistock House to let Dickens move in), and Francis Dillon of 3 Montague Place, and the architect Samuel Angell of 16 Russell Square
Website of current institution
It no longer exists
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Books about it
None found
Archives
Its records from 1833 to 1890 are in the Royal Academy, ref. GS; details are available online via the Royal Academy library catalogue (opens in new window)
There is a finding aid, compiled by Jean Agnew: Report on the Records of the Graphic Society in the Custody of the Royal Academy of Arts (1974)
Some records are also in UCL Special Collections; no details are available online
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