Records of the Victorian Artists' Society

Identifier(s): MS 7593

Collection

Scope and Content

The collection includes minute books, receipts, annual reports, records, of exhibitions of the Victorian Society of Fine Arts, the Victorian Academy of Arts, the Australian Artists Association and the Victorian Artists Society covering the period 1856-1962. However, the bulk of the collection is formed by the inward correspondence of the latter three organizations. No correspondence files would appear to have survived from the Victorian Society of Fine Arts. There is very little outward correspondence from either the A.A.A. or the V.A.S. The correspondence of Chester Earles and James Robertson does provide a substantial body of outward correspondence from the V.A.A.

Arrangement

In order to illustrate their distinctive origin and growth, and the progress of art in Victoria, the four organizations have been treated and arranged as separate groups. The correspondence from each organisation has been treated separately from the other records. Correspondence is arranged in alphabetical order under author’s name and then chronologically where an author is represented by more than one letter.

Note: Letterbooks of the V.A.S. 1891-1919m have been arranged in Section IV (IX) and not as part of the correspondence files.

Dates

1856-1970

Creator

Victorian Artists’ Society. (Organization)

Restrictions

Available for reference. Microfilm copy will be issued in preference to original manuscripts.

Historical Information

The first society for the promotion of art in Victoria was the Victorian Society of Fine Arts formed on 15 October 1856 as a society of resident artists, amateurs and patrons of art. One of its objects was “to educate citizens of Victoria by familiarizing them with the sight of paintings and statuary”. Several exhibitions were held by the society but it failed to attract sufficient public support and closed in 1857.

There was no lasting or influential artist’s association in Victoria until 1870 when James Robertson convened a meeting to lay the foundation of what became known as the Victorian Academy of Arts. Its objects were: a) The establishment of schools for the study of drawing, painting, sculpture and architecture b) The periodic exhibition of works of art in Melbourne c) The delivery of lectures and the institution of other means for the advancement or art

The first president of the Academy was Oswald Rose Campbell and the first secretary James Robertson. Early members included Louis Buvelot, Thomas Wright, Frederick Woodhouse, H.L. Van den Houten and John Mather. The first exhibition was held at the Melbourne Public Library in 1870.

In 1886 a group of artists led by Tom Roberts, Arthur Streeton and Charles Conder broke away from the Academy which they felt was too much dominated by amateurs. They formed a “professional” society known as the Australian Artist Association whose members included John Mather, John Ford Paterson, W.P. Spong, Pervcival Ball, Arthur Loureiro and Ugo Catani. They held three exhibitions at Buxton’s Gallery and several “smoke nights” were organized by George Ashton, Hugh Paterson and J. D’Estree.

The Victorian Academy of Arts and the Australian Artist Association functioned concurrently for nearly two years until 1888 when they amalgamated to form the Victorian Artists Society. Its objects were “The periodical exhibition of works of art and the institution of other means for the advancement of art in Victoria”. Its first president was Joseph A. Panton and the first secretary C.V. Wilson. Its activities included regular exhibitions as well as monthly “smoke nights” dinners and life classes.

The Society published the Victorian Artists Society Journal 1908 to 1918 and Genre (later The Australian Artist 1946 to 1949).

The V.A.S. is still in existence.

Extent

8.40 linear metres

Language

English

Additional description

Provenance

Correspondence, minute books, exhibition material, financial records of the Victorian Academy of Arts, Australian Artists’ Association and Victorian Artists’ Society. Included is a minute book, 1856-1857, of the earlier Victorian Society of Fine Arts.