Aberdeen Artists' Society
Foundation date: 3 January 1885
Active: 1885 -
Function: Art society
Policy: To promote arts and artists of the north-east of Scotland, mainly by means of an annual exhibition.
Rules: 1) Annual Exhibitions
2) To facilitate the intercourse of those connected to and interested in Art
3) To promote the practical and theoretical study of art [...] through forming a collection of costumes and armour and by providing a library of art literature, and a studio for the use of the members.
[summarised from 1885 minutes]
The society consists of two classes; Ordinary and Honorary (Professional and Lay respectively)
History or description: In 1827 local artists first associated together with James Giles as president and Archibald Simpson as vice-president, there were some exhibitions but the society at this point failed to continue.
In 1885, it was revived with an annual exhibition at the Aberdeen Art Gallery. These exhibitions were the main activity of the Art Gallery, until it built up its permanent collection. There were regular exhibitions either annually or bi-annually till 1912. It was sporadic after this - no exhibitions from 1920-1922, and from 1938-1957.
'The society consists of professional, ordinary, and honorary members, numbering 540.' President: Marquis of Huntly; Secretary: Alexander Emslie Smith, Jnr, Advocate (Year's Art, 1899, pp. 263-64).
Activities: art union, exhibitions (open to non-members), meetings, musical entertainments, musical evenings, social events
Benefits: advice from fellow members, eligible for exhibition, entry in member's directory, free entry to exhibitions, free entry to museums, grants and prizes, prizes, use of studio, hardship fund
Composition: amateur artists, amateur painters, amateurs, corresponding members, men and women members, professional artists, professional engravers, professional painters, professional portrait painters, professional sculptors, lay members, working artists
Funding types: annual subscription, annual subscription professional artists, annual subscription amateurs, catalogue sales, sales commission
Locations
Club located at 1 Bon Accord Square Aberdeen Scotland | View on map
1930 (Circa)
start date to be confirmed
Held an exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery Schoolhill Aberdeen Scotland | View on map
1885 - 1937
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Organized Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1935
November 1935 - January 1936
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1931
1931
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1929
1929
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1923
1923
p. 42
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1921
1921
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1919
1919
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1912
1912
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1910
1910 (Circa)
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1908
1908
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1906
1906
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1902
1902
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1900
1900
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1898
1898
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1896
1896
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1894
1894
Organized Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1887
December 1887 - February 1888
Organized Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1886
August 1886 - October 1886
Organized Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1885
July 1885 - September 1885
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1893
1885
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1889
Functions included Aberdeen Artists' Society Exhibition of Works of Modern Artists, 1926
1926
Associated People
Honorary members included George James Frampton
1909 (Circa)
Honorary members included Douglas Strachan
1935 (Circa)
Honorary members included James Pittendrigh MacGillivray
1937 (Circa)
Professional members included John Lavery
1935 (Circa)
p. 12
Professional members included George Henry
1935 (Circa)
Professional Honorary Member
Sources
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Constitution and Laws, 1892
1892
Aberdeen Artists' Society. List of Pictures Sold
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Minutes 1884-1892
Bound minute book. Unpublished - handwritten.
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Minutes 1896-1913
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Minutes 1913-1938
Aberdeen Artists' Society. Twenty-second Exhibition of Works of Modern Masters, 1933
November 1933
Citing this record
'Aberdeen Artists\' Society', 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=msib6_1241537368, accessed 21 Sep 2023]