Chronology

The beginnings

1823
Members of emerging Artists' Society first meet in stable yard in Grays Inn Lane

1830
Artist's Society is formally founded.
Members comprise many 'black and white' artists of the day, including such eminent artists as Sir John Tenniel, Arthur Rackham and Charles Keene

1835
Artist's Society acquires studio off Fitzroy Square (second studio is added in 1841)

1838
Sketching section is formed within the Artists' Society. This section is later to form the basis for The Langham Sketching Club

1854
Artists' Society moves to purpose-built studios at 1 Langham Place. Renames itself The Artist's Society and Langham Sketching Club (now known as The Langham)

1890s
Conversazioni and smoking parties become commonplace in London.
Founding of the club

1898
Young turks of The Langham found The London Sketch Club on April Fool's Day. Founder members include Dudley Hardy, Phil May, Walter Churcher, Tom Browne and Cecil Aldin
The club's first president is George Haité
The club meets at The Modern Gallery, 175 Bond Street.
Inaugural exhibition at Modern Gallery
See the Early Minutes page for meetings leading up to the club's foundation.

Early characters:
Phil May, John Browne, John Hassall
Associations and cross memberships:
The Savage Club and others

1899
Boer War starts

1900–1914

1900s
Club divided into Fairy school and Poster school.
'Say, Watchman, What of the Night?' adopted as club song. Words from Isaiah XXI,II, Composed by J Sargeant, published by Boosey & Co. in 1905.

1900
When news of the relief of Mafeking reached the club its President George Haité led the members in columns of four to the celebrations in the streets outside the War Office

1902
Boer War ends
The club meets at the The Continental Gallery, 157 Bond Street
Dinner held to commemorate King's coronation
The club leases Punch Bowl Club for meetings

1903
Death of Phil May
Club moves to permanent premises in 79 Wells Street, off Oxford Street

1904
The Poster Exhibition at The Royal Aquarium gave the poster industry a boost and reveals the work of the Beggarstaffs

1908
Clay Thomas, baritone and the club's First Watchman, joins club.

1910
Death of Tom Browne

1911
London Sketch Club, Chelsea Arts Club and The Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours jointly hold the Three Arts Ball

1913
Club moves to new premises at 246a Marylebone Road
Silhouettes of members started
Introduction of Tuesday nights
Club holds first London Sketch Club Ball

1914
WW1 begins
Club remains open throughout the war

Club characters:
Tom Browne, John Hassall

Members eminent in other fields:
Robert Baden-Powell and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Famous visitors:
Charlie Chaplin and GK Chesterton

Entertainers:
Clay Thomas, Harry Hemsley

 

 

Period: 1915–1929

1914–18
First World War

1914
Collapse of the illustrated book market

1920s
Drawing sessions on Tuesday evenings started

Club characters:
John Hassall, George Parlby

Entertainers:
Clay Thomas, Stanley Holloway, Harry Hemsley

Period: 1930– 1949

1934
Club holds public exhibition in Mall Galleries

1936
Whole club invited to visit Empress of Britain liner to view Heath Robinson's mural

1939–45
Second World War
Club remains open throughout the war

1939
Collapse of the illustrated magazine market

1940
Bomb demolishes Langham Chambers, home of The Langham

1945–?
Julian Kimble gives singing lessons at club

1947
Edward Swann pioneers weekend drawing trips with Galleon Holidays

Artists of 30s:
Sidney Strube, Harrison, Terence Cuneo Beauvais

Artists of 40s:
David Langdon, Arthur Ferrier, Ley Kenyon

Club characters:
George Parlby

Members eminent in other fields:
Sir Arthur William Tedder

Entertainers:
Clay Thomas, Stanley Holloway, Harry Hemsley

1950–1989

1957
Club moves to new premises at 7 Dilke Street

1970's
Club suspends dinners co-hosted with the Chelsea Arts Club

1975
'The Sketch Pad', the official organ of the London Sketch Club launched. Its first editor is Deric St Julian-Bown

1976
Club holds last joint exhibition with The Langham
Club holds first public exhibition since 1934, again in Mall Galleries.

Member's income from painting holidays offsets lack of commissioned magazine work

Edward Swann launches Galleon World Travel

1983
Don Blake takes over editorship of The Sketch Pad

Key personalities:
John Seabrook and Don Blake in 70's, Gathorne Butler in 80s

Regular sketchers of 70s:
Adrian Bury, Rudolph Benesh, Charles Skilton amongst others

Sketchers of 80s:
Peter Blake, Michael Forman amongst others

Entertainers:
Clay Thomas, Stanley Holloway, Leslie Sarony, Henry Oscar

Period: 1990–1999

1998
Club holds Centenary Dinner to commemoratie the founding of the club
Exhibition of archives
Public Exhibition in Physic Garden

1998
Hiring of part-time barman

Recruitment of younger artist members, including architects, graphic designers

Period: 2000–

2000
Club launches its internet site

2002
Club pioneers monthly open drawing sessions
Club reinstates dinners co-hosted with the Chelsea Arts Club
Arts and Craft's style bar installed.