The Society of Women Artists (SWA) is a British art body dedicated to celebrating and promoting fine art created by women. It was founded as the Society of Female Artists (SFA) in about 1855, offering women artists the opportunity to exhibit and sell their works. Annual exhibitions have been held in London since 1857, with some wartime interruptions.

History

Particularly during the 19th century, the British art world was dominated by the Royal Academy (RA), founded in 1768. Two of the 34 named founders were women painters:

Angelica Kauffman Maria Anna Angelika Kauffmann ( ; 30 October 1741 – 5 November 1807), usually known in English as Angelica Kauffman, was a Swiss Neoclassical painter who had a successful career in London and Rome. Remembered primarily as a history painter, K ...

(1741–1807) and

Mary Moser Mary Moser (27 October 1744 – 2 May 1819) was an English painter and one of the most celebrated female artists of 18th-century Britain. One of only two female founding members of the Royal Academy in 1768 (along with Angelica Kauffman), Mose ...

(1744–1819). However, it was not until 1922 that other female artists were admitted to the academy.

Annie Swynnerton Annie Louisa Swynnerton, ARA ( Robinson; 26 February 1844 – 24 October 1933) was a British painter best known for her portrait and symbolist works. She studied at Manchester School of Art and at the Académie Julian, before basing herself i ...

, a member of the Society of Women Artists since 1889, was elected as the first female associate member of the Royal Academy and in 1936, Dame Laura Knight became the first female elected full member of the Royal Academy. A woman's place in society was perceived as passive and governed by emotion. And in the 1850s, the idea that women could be artists was hotly debated by John Ruskin and other critics in various journals. Ruskin wrote to Sophia Sinnett in 1858 "You must resolve to be quite a great paintress; the feminine termination does not exist, there never having been such a being as yet as a lady who could paint." Women were not considered as serious contributors to the field of art and had great difficulty in obtaining a public showing. Their education in the arts was limited and they had been excluded from the practice of drawing from the nude figure since the Royal Academy was founded. However, Ruskin later revised his opinion of women artists after seeing

Elizabeth Thompson Elizabeth Southerden Thompson (3 November 1846 – 2 October 1933), later known as Lady Butler, was a British painter who specialised in painting scenes from British military campaigns and battles, including the Crimean War and the Napoleonic ...

's ''The Roll Call'' at the Royal Academy in 1874. After much debate and petitioning, in December 1883, the Royal Academy Schools agreed to provide life classes "for the study of the partially draped figure" to female students but it was a further 10 years before women were admitted to these classes. It was at this time that life classes for women were becoming more widely available across the country. Nevertheless, British women artists proved themselves capable of working both individually and in collaboration and consequently, gained greater credibility. In order to progress and find opportunities to exhibit, they began to form their own organisations. One of the most significant of those bodies was the Society of Female Artists, founded around 1855. Initially, membership was granted to women who had exhibited with the Society and who earned their livelihood through art.

Society of Female Artists (c. 1855 – c. 1869)

In 1855, English biographer Harriet Grote (1792–1878) and opera singer

Jenny Lind Johanna Maria "Jenny" Lind (6 October 18202 November 1887) was a Swedish opera singer, often called the "Swedish Nightingale". One of the most highly regarded singers of the 19th century, she performed in soprano roles in opera in Sweden and ...

(1820–1887) were cited as founder members of the SFA, with the society's first headquarters located at the

Architectural Association The Architectural Association School of Architecture in London, commonly referred to as the AA, is the oldest independent school of architecture in the UK and one of the most prestigious and competitive in the world. Its wide-ranging programme ...

in Conduit Street, London. The society was initially managed by a committee, and, although its members were sometimes listed in early catalogues, no presiding officer was ever named. Early members included

Rosa Bonheur Rosa Bonheur (born Marie-Rosalie Bonheur; 16 March 1822 – 25 May 1899) was a French artist known best as a painter of animals ( animalière). She also made sculpture in a realist style. Her paintings include ''Ploughing in the Nivernais'', fir ...

and Elizabeth Thompson. The society's first exhibition, held at 315 Oxford Street, London between 1 June and 18 July 1857, became the focus of debate with regard to the role of women in art. The exhibition comprised 358 works by 149 female artists, the predominant genre being landscapes. In May 1857, prior to the opening, ''

The Art Journal ''The Art Journal'' was the most important British 19th-century magazine on art. It was founded in 1839 by Hodgson & Graves, print publishers, 6 Pall Mall, with the title ''Art Union Monthly Journal'' (or ''The Art Union''), the first issue of 7 ...

'' and ''

The Spectator ''The Spectator'' is a weekly British magazine on politics, culture, and current affairs. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving weekly magazine in the world. It is owned by Frederick Barclay, who also owns ''Th ...

'' were supportive of the exhibition. The then secretary stated in ''The Art Journal'' (June 1857): "The Committee are (sic) gratified to announce that the success of their first Exhibition has fully exceeded their expectations." The Society then held annual exhibitions in London showing work of women artists (except in the years 1912–1914, 1919 and 1940–1946). Until 1863, the annual exhibition received controversial reviews, probably as exhibits were chosen on a liberal and amicable basis. This was addressed in 1865, when their lack of professionalism led to a reorganisation of the Society under the patronage of the Duchess of Cambridge and consequently it was renamed the Society of Lady Artists. The Society has received royal patronage since 1865 (the current patron is Princess Michael of Kent). In 1867 Mrs. Madeline Marrable, a prolific watercolourist and oil painter, joined the committee.

Society of Lady Artists (c 1869 – 1899)

The Society's earliest records were lost or destroyed during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

at the Society's headquarters at 195 Piccadilly, London (the Society's catalogues and remaining papers dating from 1929 are now housed in the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

Library). As a result, there is some debate as to exactly when the Society was renamed from the SFA to the SLA. Secondary sources of reference suggest 1869, whereas other sources suggest it was 1873. In 1886, Marrable became the first president of the society. In 1899, the mid-Victorian persona was discarded and the 20th century was embraced by the society with a new name, the Society of Women Artists (SWA).

Society of Women Artists (1899–present)

The society has had many notable artists among its members. Dame Laura Knight, the first woman Royal Academician, was elected president in 1932 and retained that office until she retired in 1968 to become a Patron. Illustrator Mabel Lucie Atwell and Suzanne Lucas, past President of the Society of Botanical Artists and the first woman president of Royal Miniature Society (now known as

Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers The Royal Society of Miniature Painters, Sculptors and Gravers, more commonly known as the Royal Miniature Society (RMS), is an art society founded in 1895 dedicated to upholding and continuing the tradition of miniature painting and sculpture, ...

), were also members. Current members include

Daphne Todd Daphne Todd OBE (born 27 March 1947) is an English artist who was the first female President of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters from 1994–2000, and who won the BP Portrait Award 2010 with a painting of her 100-year-old mother's corpse.

, the first female president of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters from 1994 to 2000 and winner of the BP Portrait Award 2010, portraitist

June Mendoza June Yvonne Mendoza, AO, OBE, RP, ROI, HonSWA (born 1924) is an Australian portrait painter, working mainly in oil. Early life June Mendoza was born in Melbourne, Australia. Her parents, John Morton and Dot (née Mendoza), were both musi ...

, and

Philomena Davidson Philomena ( el, Ἁγία Φιλομένα), also known as Saint Philomena or ''Philomena of Rome'' was a young virgin martyr whose remains were discovered on May 24–25, 1802, in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Three tiles enclosing the tomb bore ...

, first woman president of the

Royal British Society of Sculptors The Royal Society of Sculptors is a British charity established in 1905 which promotes excellence in the art and practice of sculpture. Its headquarters are a centre for contemporary sculpture on Old Brompton Road, South Kensington, London. It ...

. Many SWA members are also members of other well-established societies, such as the

Royal Society of British Artists The Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy. History The RBA commenced with twenty-seven members, and took until 1876 to reach fif ...

, the

Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours The Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI), initially called the New Society of Painters in Water Colours, is one of the societies in the Federation of British Artists, based in the Mall Galleries in London. History In 1831 the s ...

The Pastel Society The Pastel Society is an art society, based in London, which promotes the use of pastel painting in contemporary art, through exhibitions, workshops, demonstrations and lectures. The Pastel Society is a registered charity and was founded in Eng ...

, and the

Society of Equestrian Artists A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. So ...

. The SWA collated a four-volume dictionary of the society's exhibitors to 1996. The society's archive was given to the

Victoria & Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and nam ...

's Archive of Art and Design in 1996. Only the RA and the

Royal Scottish Academy The Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) is the country’s national academy of art. It promotes contemporary Scottish art. The Academy was founded in 1826 by eleven artists meeting in Edinburgh. Originally named the Scottish Academy, it became the ...

produce such records.

Membership

Membership of the SWA is composed of a maximum of 150 members. They promote new artists and encourage non-members to show their work at their annual exhibition. The first step towards becoming a member is to submit six works regularly (although a maximum of four will be hung) for the Annual Open Exhibition. These are considered by a selection committee, and if judged exceptional, the artist is elected to become an associate member (ASWA), subject to space within the society. Associate members become eligible for election to full membership in the following year.

Presidents

* 1886–1912 Madeline Marrable * 1913–1915 Mary Pownall * 1916 Probably Beth Amoore * 1917–1922 Lota Bowen * 1923–1931 Charlotte Blakeney Ward * 1932–1967 Dame Laura Knight * 1968–1976 Lady Muriel Wheeler * 1977–1982 Alice Rebecca Kendall * 1982–1985

Gladys Dawson Gladys Dawson, later Gladys Woodruff, (1909-1993) was a British artist known as a painter and illustrator of children's books. Biography Dawson was born in Castleton in Rochdale and, after a private school education, she attended Heatherley' ...

* 1985–2000

Barbara Tate Barbara Tate (2 June 1927 – 12 November 2009) was a British artist and writer, perhaps best known for her bestselling book ''West End Girls'', which was published shortly after her death. Career in Art Born in Uxbridge as Barbara June Ped ...

* 2000–2005 Elizabeth R. Meek, MBE, HPRMS, FRSA * 2005–2012 Barbara Penketh Simpson * 2012–2017 Sue Jelley * 2017–2020 Soraya French * 2020– Dr Linda Smith

Acting presidents

* 1932–1933 Dorothea Sharp * 1934–1936 Helen Stuart Weir * 1937–1939 Constance Bradshaw * 1940 Ethel Léontine Gabain * 1947–1948 Dorothea Medley Selous (aka. Jamieson) * 1949–1950 Irene Ryland * 1951–1967 Lady Muriel Wheeler * 1973–1976 Alice R. Kendall

Notable members

(In alphabetical order, excluding SWA presidents or acting presidents, listed above) * Margaret Backhouse * Rose Maynard Barton * Jose Christopherson * Florence Claxton *

Edith Collier Edith Marion Collier (28 March 1885 – 12 December 1964) was an early modern painter from New Zealand. Brought up and educated in Wanganui, Edith received a thorough although conservative art education studying at the Technical School in Whan ...

* Lillian Cotton *

Helga von Cramm Baroness Helga von Cramm (1840–1919) was a German and Swiss painter, illustrator and graphic artist. Early life Baroness Helga von Cramm was the eldest child of Wolf Frederick Adolf von Cramm-Burchard (1812–1879) and his wife Hedwig (18 ...

* Ursula Fookes * Frances C. Fairman * Laura Sylvia Gosse * Alice Gwendoline Rhona Haszard * Cecil Mary Leslie * Sarah Louisa Kilpack * Vivien Mallock *

* Sara Page * Emily Murray Paterson *

Hazel Reeves Hazel Reeves, MRSS SWA FRSA is a British sculptor based in Sussex, England, who specialises in figure and portrait commissions in bronze. Her work has been shown widely across England and Wales. Public commissions can be found in Carlisle, Lo ...

* Janet Russell *

Mabel Mary Spanton Mabel Mary Spanton (1 December 1874 — ca. 1940) was a British landscape painter who primarily worked in watercolour.''Who's Who in Art'' (Third Edition, 1934) Life and work Mabel Mary Spanton was born in Hanley, Staffordshire on 1 December ...

* Elizabeth Southerden Thompson *

Helen Thornycroft Helen Thornycroft (1848 – 11 November 1937) was an English painter and watercolourist of the Victorian era. Biography Born in London, she was a member of the Thornycroft family of sculptors, which included her maternal grandfather John Fr ...

Flora Twort Flora Caroline Twort (24 June 1893 – 1985) was an English painter who specialised in watercolours and pastels of the scenes and people of Petersfield, Hampshire. Twort was born in Yeovil, Somerset; her parents were Albert Samuel Twort an ...

Emily Warren Emily Warren Schwartz (born August 25, 1992) is an American singer and songwriter signed to the label Prescription Songs. She is best known for the songs she has written for several high-profile pop artists, including Backstreet Boys, The Chai ...

* Mabel Wickham * Caroline Fanny Williams

Officers

President * Dr Linda Smith Vice Presidents * Rosemary Miller SAA *Helen Sinclair * Directors * Soraya French * Dani Humberstone * Sue Jelley PPSWA SPF * Rosemary Miller SAA Honorary Treasurer * Rachel Parker SWA Company Secretary * Rosemary Miller SAA Executive Secretary * Rebecca Cotton Press Officer * Soraya French Council Members * Anne Blankson-Hemans *Sera Knight *Rachel Parker *Rosalind Robinson * Helen Sinclair * Dr Linda Smith * Diane Urwin *Rosalind Robinson Honorary Members * Philomena Davidson PPRBS *

AO OBE RP ROI * Ruth Pilkington ROI * Susan Ryder PVPRP NEAC * Emma Sergeant * Daphne J. Todd OBE PPRP NEAC FRSA * Belinda Tong * Joyce Wyatt HonUA ASAF(HC) FRSA Honorary Retired Members * Eva Castle * Pamela Davis * Mary Grant * Pam Henderson * Patricia Nichols * Joyce Rogerson * Dorothy Watts

Activities

Annual exhibition

The society holds various exhibitions throughout the year, culminating in the annual exhibition at the

Mall Galleries Mall commonly refers to a: * Shopping mall * Strip mall * Pedestrian street * Esplanade Mall or MALL may also refer to: Places Shopping complexes * The Mall (Sofia) (Tsarigradsko Mall), Sofia, Bulgaria * The Mall, Patna, Patna, Bihar, India * ...

in London. The exhibition consists of works by members and non-members, which are selected by a panel from an open call for entries. The exhibition offers awards to selected artists, many of which are supplied by the Society's sponsors, and aims to highlight the wide range and diversity of fine art created by women. Exhibition venues since the inception of the SFA have always been in London – listed below: * 1857 The Gallery, 315 Oxford Street * 1858 & 1859 Unknown * 1860–1863 53 Pall mall * 1863–1867 48 Pall Mall * 1868–1896 Initially held at the Architectural Association, Conduit Street, with other venues, probably at Great Marlborough Street, the Haymarket, Pall Mall, and at the Egyptian Hall, Piccadilly. * 1897–1922 6a Suffolk Street, with the exception of the years 1912 to 1914 and 1919. * 1923–1940 Royal Institute Galleries * 1941–1946 No exhibitions were held during World War II * 1947 The Guildhall * 1948–1969 Royal Institute Galleries * 1970 Chenil Galleries * 1971–1987 The Mall Galleries * 1988–1989 Westminster Gallery * 2000–2003 Westminster Hall * 2004– The Mall Galleries *2020 The exhibition this year was held online due to COVID-19 restrictions

Special reception

The SWA has a history of collaborating with charities to help with the under-privileged and vulnerable. Currently, the SWA collaborates with

Breast Cancer Now Breast Cancer Now is a charity in the United Kingdom which was formed in 2015 by the merger of Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. It is the United Kingdom's largest breast cancer charity. Its declared "Action Plan" is "by 2050 ...

, the UK's largest breast cancer charity, created by the merger of Breast Cancer Campaign and Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Each year a special reception is held during the annual exhibition, here members donate works that are auctioned and the proceeds from the sales are presented to the charity.

Demonstrations and workshops

During the annual exhibition and within the gallery, member artists provide a series of informal demonstrations to the public. Special workshops are also led by members and held within the Learning Centre at the Mall Galleries.

References

Sources

* ''Barbara Tate and the Society Of Women Artists''
www.barbaratate.co.uk/painting-menu/23-fine-art-stories/150-society-of-women-artists.html
retrieved 01-01-2017 * Baile De Laperriere, Charles, ''The Society of Women Artists exhibitors 1855–1996 : a dictionary of artists and their works in the annual exhibitions of The Society of Women Artists'', 4 volumes, Hilmarton Press, Wiltshire, c1996 * Gray, Sara, ''The Dictionary of British Women Artists'', The Lutterworth Press, 2009
www.lutterworth.com/pub/dictionary%20women%20artists%20intro.pdf
retrieved 01-01-2017 * ''Just Opened London''
Society of Women Artists
retrieved 01-01-2017 * Nunn, Pamela Geraldine
''The Mid-Victorian Woman Artist 1850–1879''
PhD Thesis, University College London, 1982 * ''The Society of Women Artists 155th Annual Exhibition 2016 catalogue''

External links

Society of Women Artists
{{Authority control British art Art societies British artist groups and collectives 1855 establishments in the United Kingdom Arts organizations established in 1855 Women's organisations based in the United Kingdom Women in art