Institute of British Sculptors

Other names: Sculptors' Institute
Foundation date: 1852
Dissolution date: 1872 (Circa)

Function: Art society

Policy: 'To establish unity among British sculptors...and...to regulate as far as possible the public and general practice of the Art, and of earnestly fostering not only noble emulation, but also a high and honourable feeling among the members of the profession.' (Rules, 1861, p.6)

Rules: I 'That all Sculptors by profession shall be eligible for election into the Society. Every candidate must be proposed by one Member and seconded by two others...'
II 'That all elections shall be by ballot, to take place at the first General Meeting after the letter of nomination shall have been received.'
III New members were elected by a simple majority of at least ten existing members.
IV 'The Society to consist of a Council of Management, an Honorary Treasurer, Honorary Secretary (both members) and the general membership.'
V-XIII Concern the rules for election of officers and management of accounts. The Council comprised six members elected annually and the treasurer and secretary. Five constituted a quorum. Half of the council was to retire annually but could be re-elected after one year. Council meetings were held 'from time to time' and special meetings could be called by the secretary or at the written request of two members. The treasurer was elected annually.
XIV-XVII Relate to membership fees: member subscriptions comprised an 'entrance fee' of half a guinea and then a guinea annually. Failure to pay the subscription within three months could result in being removed from the list of members unless a 'sufficient reason' was given.
XVIII-XIX Rules concerning society meetings. General meetings were held four times a year on the fourth Tuesday of January, April, July and October. Special meetings could be called at a week's notice by the secretary at the written request of three members.
XX 'The great objects of this Society being to watch over the interests of Sculpture, all subjects relating thereto may be discussed at General Meetings; and all members are to consider themselves bound to obey Laws and regulations passed by the Society.'
XXI States laws passed by the General meetings are to be considered part of the constitution
XXII 'As honourable and Upright dealing should at all times characterize the relations of Members with each other, and with their brother Artists who may not be Members of this Society, any conduct on the part of a Member which shall be considered as contravening this principle may be brought before the Society at a General Meeting; the decision of the two-thirds of the Members present to be recorded in the Minutes as the opinion of the Society as to the merits of the questions brought before them.'
XXIII 'Any Member who may have laid himself open to reflection or accusation should, of course, have every opportunity afforded him to explain what may appear irregular in his professional practice.'
XXIV 'It may be competent to the body to request a member to withdraw from the Society, or for them even to strike his name from the list, should any act, or acts, of his, unbecoming an Artist and a Gentleman, subject a Member to so strong a measure; a majority of three-fourths of those present being necessary to warrant this extreme proceeding.'
XXV States that all members were to sign the book of rules on joining the society.

Meeting schedule: quarterly

History or description: 'The Institute never had a physical identity in terms of a building, but was closely associated with the Royal Academy. It also played a key role in the early histories of the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria & Albert Museum) and the Royal Horticultural Society. The Institute was established in 1852 and flourished until c.1865 but petered out after 1872. Like the Royal Academy it was constituted as a society of artists. Membership attracted well established and younger sculptors, many of whom had trained at the Royal Academy Schools and were Academicians. The founder members were the Academicians (ARA and RA) Edward Hodges Baily, Patrick McDowell, William Calder Marshall, John Henry Foley and Henry Weekes.' [Dr. Angela Summerfield, unpublished notes 29 February 2008]

Activities: exhibitions (members only), meetings

Publications: pamphlets

Composition: professional sculptors

Funding types: annual subscription

Citing this record

'Institute of British Sculptors', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=ann_1255809793, accessed 21 Mar 2023]