Philadelphia Sketch Club artwork.

Format:

Other

Author/Creator:

Philadelphia Sketch Club, 1860

Contributor:

Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

Language:

English

Genre:

sketches.

Drawings.

Watercolors.

Penn Provenance:

Sold by Marika's Antiques (Shelter Island, NY), 2021.

Physical Description:

1 box (1.67 linear foot)

Language Note:

English.

Biography/History:

The Philadelphia Sketch Club was founded in 1860 by six students of the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts: George F. Bensell and his brother Edmund B. Bensell, Edward J. Mcllhenny, Henry C. Mispham, John L. Gihon, and Robert Wylie. The group sought out illustration and design opportunities not available within the Academy. By 1894 the group's membership exceeded 400 active members, a number of whom were also instructors at the Academy. The sketch club offered members courses on life drawing and classes on anatomy. In addition to classes, the group offered artists a space for exhibitions. The first exhibition was held in 1865 and featured a small oils show and competition. The Philadelphia Sketch Club continues to support working visual artists by providing studio space, workshops, programs, exhibition and networking opportunities. The organization supports the visual arts by providing free public access to exhibitions; supports visual arts education through low cost, open enrollment workshop programs; and promotes the historical value of the visual arts to the community by providing free public access to their historic collections and facility.

Summary:

The Philadelphia Sketch Club artwork comprises original pen and ink drawings, watercolor, and ink wash sketches by founding members of the organization. A significant portion of the images portray scenes from Shakespearean plays including <emph>Ophelia</emph> and <emph>The Tempest</emph>. Most pieces are signed by the artist, but the collection also includes some unsigned works. Among the artists included in the collection are: E.B. Bensell, J.W. John, J.B. Beale, W.E. Cresson, R., R.H. Reed, Gihon, G.F. Bensell, H.C. Bispham. Also included in the collection is a chromolithographic proof of a small poster advertising the first prize exhibition of the Sketch Club in New York City in 1866.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Horace Howard Furness Memorial Fund.

OCLC:

1390967207