Group    From /9/1890 

Chelsea Arts Club

Categories: Art, Sculpture

Started in 1890 when a group of friends began meeting informally. At least one of these friends, Whistler, was dissatisfied with the club of which he was already a member, the Arts Club. They were concerned about exhibition facilities and a committee was formed in November. Their website says "James Elder Christie, offered the use of the ground floor and basement of his house at 181 Kings Road – a flat fronted Georgian House with a studio at the back, next door to the newly built {1886} Town Hall. The formal launch of the Club took place here on the 18th of March 1891 ... {Wikipedia says 21st}." Our picture of 181 comes from that website. It must be post-1906 since the town hall which can be seen at the left is the one there today.

In 1901 the club moved to 143-5 Old Church Street. The annual Chelsea Arts Balls, held in the Albert Hall from 1910, were extravagant bohemian events which, in 1958 were banished from the Albert Hall due to the nudity, rowdiness, etc.

The Library Time Machine has a charming post " The first costume balls associated with the Chelsea Arts Club were held in the artists’ studios in Manresa Road, the first in 1887..."

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This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Chelsea Arts Club

Creations i

Derwent Wood sculpture

Difficult to photograph this young lady without making it look as if she's sh...

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Other Subjects

Walter Greaves

Walter Greaves

Painter and boat builder. Born at 31 Cheyne Walk. His father was J.M.W. Turner's boatman. His most famous painting is 'Hammersmith Bridge on Boat-Race Day'. Although a colleague of Whistler, he fel...

Person, Art

1 memorial
George Cruikshank

George Cruikshank

Engraver, caricaturist and illustrator, best known for his political caricatures and for his illustrations for Charles Dickens novels. His father, Isaac, and brother, Robert, were also illustrators...

Person, Art

3 memorials
Thomas Girtin

Thomas Girtin

Water-colour painter.  Born Great Bandy Leg Walk, Southwark but brought up in the City.  Worked alongside Turner as a copyist 1794 to 1797.  Toured Britain painting local views.  1802 Girtin painte...

Person, Art

1 memorial
Sir John Lavery

Sir John Lavery

Painter. Born Belfast. One of the "Glasgow Boys" he went on to become a successful portrait painter.

Person, Art, Ireland, Scotland

1 memorial
Will Coles

Will Coles

Installation artist.  From his website (2021): "Will Coles is best known for his defiant and accessible take on street art – sculptures that bring together pop and conceptual aesthetics. These fami...

Person, Art

1 memorial

Previously viewed

Holly Lodge wall - B

Holly Lodge wall - B

N6, Holly Lodge Gardens

These plaques seem to relate to the maintenance and changing ownership of the grounds of "The Holly Lodge". The house (which was between ...

1 subject commemorated
Croydon Palace

Croydon Palace

The summer residence of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The Manor of Croydon was connected with Canterbury from at least the late Saxon period, and records of buildings date back to before 960. The ...

Building, Religion

1 memorial
Isabella Ford

Isabella Ford

Isabella Ormston Ford was a social reformer, suffragist and writer. She became a public speaker and wrote pamphlets on issues related to socialism, feminism and worker's rights. After becoming conc...

Person, Gender Issues

1 memorial
Croydon East Rotary Club

Croydon East Rotary Club

Rotary clubs were founded to encourage fellowship amongst members of local business communities.

Group, Community / Clubs

4 memorials
Society of Friends in London

Society of Friends in London

English Buildings has a good short intro to Quakers in England and an assessment of an important Quaker building, albeit, not in London. Quakers were active in the WW2 Kindertransport.

Group, Religion

3 memorials