The Painters' Club Of Los Angeles
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The Painters' Club of Los Angeles was a short-lived arts organization that existed from 1906 to 1909, and allowed only men as members. When the group disbanded a number of artists who had been members reorganized themselves as the
California Art Club The California Art Club (CAC) is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. Founded in December 1909, it celebrated its centennial in 2009 and into the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved out of The ...
, including
Charles Percy Austin Charles is a masculine given name predominantly found in English and French speaking countries. It is from the French form ''Charles'' of the Proto-Germanic name (in runic alphabet) or ''*karilaz'' (in Latin alphabet), whose meaning was " ...
(1883–1948),
Franz Bischoff Franz Albert Bischoff (January 14, 1864 – February 5, 1929) was an American artist known primarily for his China painting, floral paintings and California landscapes. He was born in Steinschönau, Austria (now known as Kamenický Šenov, Czech R ...
(1864–1929),
Carl Oscar Borg Carl Oscar (or Oskar) Borg (March 3, 1879 – May 8, 1947) was a Swedish-born painter who settled in the United States and became known for views of California and the SouthWest. Biography Carl Oscar Borg was born into a poor family in Grinstad ...
(1879–1947), Benjamin Brown (1865–1942),
Hanson Puthuff Hanson Duvall Puthuff (August 21, 1875 – May 12, 1972) was a landscape painter and muralist, born in Waverly, Missouri. Puthuff studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to Colorado in 1889 to study at University of Denver Art Scho ...
(1875–1972),
Jack Wilkinson Smith Jack Wilkinson Smith (February 7, 1873 – January 8, 1949) was an American painter. Life Smith was born on February 7, 1873, in Paterson, New Jersey. He was trained at the Chicago Art Institute. Smith began his career as an illustrator for ''Th ...
(1873–1949), and
William Wendt William Wendt (February 20, 1865, Bentzen, Kingdom of Prussia – December 29, 1946, Laguna Beach) was a German-born American landscape painter. He was called the "Dean of Southern California landscape painters." *Bronze Medal, Buffalo Expositi ...
(1845–1946). Beginning with its founding in December 1909, the new
California Art Club The California Art Club (CAC) is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. Founded in December 1909, it celebrated its centennial in 2009 and into the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved out of The ...
widened its membership guidelines to include female painters and sculptors of any gender.


Before The Painters' Club

Four artists in Indiana,
Albert Clinton Conner Albert Clinton Conner (September 5, 1848 - April 13, 1929) was an American Impressionist painter who was an integral part of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After moving to California, Conner helped found ...
(1848–1929), his brother Charles Fremont Conner (1857–1905), Frank J. Girardin (1856–1945), and
Micajah Thomas Nordyke Micajah Thomas Nordyke (March 9, 1847 – May 15, 1919) was a noted painter and member of the Richmond Group. Nordyke was a student of Frank Duveneck at the Cincinnati Academy of Art and a student at Earlham College, 1865–66. He also served a ...
(1847–1919) were responsible for founding the Rambler's Sketch Club (c. 1881); they soon added
John Elwood Bundy John Elwood Bundy (May 1, 1853 – January 17, 1933) was an American Impressionist painter known as the "dean" of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Bundy was born to a Quaker family in Guilford County, Nort ...
(1853–1933) to their small art group. The Rambler's Sketch Club became the Richmond Art Association (founded 1898), which eventually became the
Richmond Art Museum The Richmond Art Museum was founded in 1898 as the Art Association of Richmond, Indiana. Artist John Elwood Bundy and author and attorney William Dudley Foulke were instrumental in the founding. Permanent collection Its collection includes imp ...
. One of these artists, Albert Clinton Conner, moved to California sometime around 1902 and settled in Manhattan Beach.


Founding

On March 10, 1906, several Los Angeles area painters got together with the idea of forming a club. Many of them had met each other casually at exhibition openings, but they wanted to create a more formal association. A week later, on March 17, eleven of the group, including
Albert Clinton Conner Albert Clinton Conner (September 5, 1848 - April 13, 1929) was an American Impressionist painter who was an integral part of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After moving to California, Conner helped found ...
met at the Los Angeles studio of artist
William Swift Daniell William Swift Daniell (1865 – June 28, 1933) was an American painter, and the founder of The Painters' Club of Los Angeles. He built the second studio in the art colony of Laguna Beach, California. Life Daniell was born in 1865 in San Francisc ...
(1865–1933), where The Painters' Club of Los Angeles was officially created. The intended mission of the club was "to meet in the spirit of comradeship and good temper for mutual criticism and suggestion on one another's recent work."
Albert Clinton Conner Albert Clinton Conner (September 5, 1848 - April 13, 1929) was an American Impressionist painter who was an integral part of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After moving to California, Conner helped found ...
was elected President and Antony Anderson, the ''Los Angeles Times first art critic, was chosen to be the first Secretary and Treasurer. Membership was limited to male painters; no women were allowed to join, nor were sculptors of either gender. "It may be that women painters will be admitted later on, but at present they are not eligible." The eleven founding members of The Painters' Club of Los Angeles present that evening include:
Antony E. Anderson Antony may refer to: * Antony (name), a masculine given name and a surname * Antony, Belarus, a village in the Hrodna Voblast of Belarus * Antony, Cornwall, a village in Cornwall, United Kingdom ** Antony House, Cornwall, United Kingdom * Antony, ...
(1863–1939),
Carl Oscar Borg Carl Oscar (or Oskar) Borg (March 3, 1879 – May 8, 1947) was a Swedish-born painter who settled in the United States and became known for views of California and the SouthWest. Biography Carl Oscar Borg was born into a poor family in Grinstad ...
(1879–1947),
William Henry Cole William is a male given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norm ...
(1870–1955),
Albert Clinton Conner Albert Clinton Conner (September 5, 1848 - April 13, 1929) was an American Impressionist painter who was an integral part of the Richmond Group of painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. After moving to California, Conner helped found ...
(1848–1929),
Frank C. Conner Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...
,
David H. Dunn David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
,
William Swift Daniell William Swift Daniell (1865 – June 28, 1933) was an American painter, and the founder of The Painters' Club of Los Angeles. He built the second studio in the art colony of Laguna Beach, California. Life Daniell was born in 1865 in San Francisc ...
(1865–1933),
Frank Elwin Evans Frank or Franks may refer to: People * Frank (given name) * Frank (surname) * Franks (surname) * Franks, a medieval Germanic people * Frank, a term in the Muslim world for all western Europeans, particularly during the Crusades - see Farang Curre ...
, Frank Rensselear Liddell (1864–1923),
Hanson Puthuff Hanson Duvall Puthuff (August 21, 1875 – May 12, 1972) was a landscape painter and muralist, born in Waverly, Missouri. Puthuff studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to Colorado in 1889 to study at University of Denver Art Scho ...
(1875–1972), and
George Thomas Winterburn George may refer to: People * George (given name) * George (surname) * George (singer), American-Canadian singer George Nozuka, known by the mononym George * George Washington, First President of the United States * George W. Bush, 43rd Presiden ...
(1865–1953).


Meetings

Club meetings were held in various member's studios or at art organizations around Los Angeles, often at the Art Students' League. Members brought their sketches and paintings to be discussed at each meeting: "So far, nobody's feelings have been hurt, though all have been criticised unmercifully. The work brought in each week shows splendid results from this raking fire of criticism."


Exhibitions

Soon after its formation, The Painters' Club was given a small gallery in the art store of Ford, Smith, & Little Co., located at No. 313 Broadway, Los Angeles, for its exclusive use in presenting exhibitions. "Members' pictures will hang there...to see and to buy...there will be no dearth of new pictures from the facile brushes of our own home painters. Drawings in black and white will also be shown, and everything, it is promised, will be of the best." The Club presented four or five exhibitions at Ford Smith & Little's, starting in December 1906 and continuing with new exhibitions monthly through January, February, March, and April 1907. *Ford Smith & Little's, Dec. 1–31, 1906 *Ford Smith & Little's, Jan. 1-31, 1907 *Ford Smith & Little's, Feb. 1-28, 1907 *Ford Smith & Little's, March 1–31, 1907 (Not known if this was a separate exhibit or a continuation of the February exhibit) *Ford Smith & Little's, April 1–30, 1907 The Club later held two large annual exhibitions at the Blanchard Art Gallery in Los Angeles. The First Annual Exhibition was held October 7 – 22, 1908 and showcased eighty-eight pieces of artwork. The Second Annual Exhibition was held November 1 – 13, 1909. It included "...almost 100 pictures in oil and watercolor, the work of 20 painters." The work included was not juried, as members could choose what work they wanted to exhibit.


Membership

During the course of its three-year existence, The Painters' Club of Los Angeles had around 53 members. A number of them went on to become major artists in
California Impressionism The terms California Impressionism and California Plein-Air Painting describe the large movement of 20th century California artists who worked out of doors (''en plein air''), directly from nature in California, United States. Their work became pop ...
as well as significant members of the
California Art Club The California Art Club (CAC) is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. Founded in December 1909, it celebrated its centennial in 2009 and into the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved out of The ...
, including its first three Presidents. A membership card was designed by Martin Jacob Jackson. Some of the more prominent members are listed below. *AUSTIN, Charles Percy (1883–1948), Active Member *BISCHOFF, Franz (1864–1929), Active Member *BORG, Carl Oscar (1879–1947), Charter Member *BROWN, Benjamin Chambers (1865–1942), Active Member *CONNER, Albert Clinton ("Pops") (1848–1929), Charter Member *DANIELL, William Swift (1865–1933), Charter Member *JACKSON, Martin Jacob (1871–1955), Active Member *KILPATRICK, Aaron Edward (1872–1953), Active Member *LIDDELL, Frank Rennsselear (1864–1923), Charter Member *PUTHUFF, Hanson Duvall (1875–1972), Charter Member *SMITH, Jack W. (1873–1949), Active Member *WENDT, William (1845–1946), Active Member Membership Source:


Disbanding

In December 1909 the Los Angeles Times announced that The Painters' Club was disbanding; in the next paragraph a new organization is announced: "...to be called the
California Art Club The California Art Club (CAC) is one of the oldest and most active arts organizations in California. Founded in December 1909, it celebrated its centennial in 2009 and into the spring of 2010. The California Art Club originally evolved out of The ...
." Despite this seemingly sudden breakup, which happened soon after their second Annual Exhibition, there might be some clues. On at least two instances - August 24 and December 12, 1908 - members of the male-only Painters' Club visited the studios of
William Wendt William Wendt (February 20, 1865, Bentzen, Kingdom of Prussia – December 29, 1946, Laguna Beach) was a German-born American landscape painter. He was called the "Dean of Southern California landscape painters." *Bronze Medal, Buffalo Expositi ...
and
Julia Bracken Wendt Julia Bracken Wendt, (1870–1942) a notable American sculptor, was born on June 10, 1871 in Apple River, Illinois, the twelfth of thirteen children in an Irish Catholic family.Rubenstein, Charlotte Streifer, ‘’American Women Sculptors: A Hi ...
. William Wendt had been elected as a member just weeks before their visit on August 4, 1908, but due to club rules regarding women artists, Julia Wendt was never a member, despite the fact that she was a successful sculptor who was exhibiting and working on commissions on a national level. During their first visit the men viewed new paintings by Mr. Wendt and "recent bits of modeling" by Mrs. Wendt, before members of the club were treated to lunch. On the second occasion, the club threw the Wendts a surprise party. Tucked in with the announcements of the ending of one art club and the start of another, Antony Anderson casually dropped a snide comment about the new club's decision to allow women artists to join, as if to say we may as well allow them to join because they would find a way to get in anyway.Anderson, Antony, Art and Artists, ''Los Angeles Times'', December 12, 1909 Two swift responses to it were printed as Open Letters in the Times: the first by J. B. Wendt in January 1910 and the second by one L. Pinkham, February 1910. Along with these rebukes, another successful female artist was exhibiting at Blanchard Art Gallery, though not of course with The Painters' Club.
Helma Heynsen Jahn Helma is a feminine German or Dutch given name, and a Czech surname. Notable persons with that name include: * Helma Knorscheidt (born 1956), East German shot putter * Helma Lehmann (born 1953), German rower * Helma Neppérus (born 1950), Dutch ...
(1874–1925), later a member of the California Art Club, participated in another exhibition that followed just on the heels of the Second Annual Exhibition. Referred to only as "...the second annual exhibition of works by representational oil painters of Southern California...," it ran from November 16 – December 4, 1909, and though "...only 15 painters in oils have contributed to this exhibition...", that included work by major artists
Franz Bischoff Franz Albert Bischoff (January 14, 1864 – February 5, 1929) was an American artist known primarily for his China painting, floral paintings and California landscapes. He was born in Steinschönau, Austria (now known as Kamenický Šenov, Czech R ...
,
Carl Oscar Borg Carl Oscar (or Oskar) Borg (March 3, 1879 – May 8, 1947) was a Swedish-born painter who settled in the United States and became known for views of California and the SouthWest. Biography Carl Oscar Borg was born into a poor family in Grinstad ...
,
Hanson Puthuff Hanson Duvall Puthuff (August 21, 1875 – May 12, 1972) was a landscape painter and muralist, born in Waverly, Missouri. Puthuff studied at the Art Institute of Chicago before moving to Colorado in 1889 to study at University of Denver Art Scho ...
, and
William Wendt William Wendt (February 20, 1865, Bentzen, Kingdom of Prussia – December 29, 1946, Laguna Beach) was a German-born American landscape painter. He was called the "Dean of Southern California landscape painters." *Bronze Medal, Buffalo Expositi ...
. Perhaps The Painters' Club felt it would ultimately be better to allow women to join and unify the strongest artists, regardless of gender, into one group.


Notes


External links

* http://www.californiaartclub.org/the-painters-club-of-los-angeles {{DEFAULTSORT:Painters' Club of Los Angeles, The American artist groups and collectives Arts organizations based in California Clubs and societies in California Art in Greater Los Angeles American Impressionism Landscape art by school Men's organizations in the United States 1900s in Los Angeles Arts organizations established in the 1900s Arts organizations disestablished in the 20th century 1906 establishments in California 1909 disestablishments in California