Still life drawing 100 years on
Going into the London Sketch Club is like entering
a time–warp from a hundred year's ago. It still remains one of London's
best-kept secrets, and forms a link with the artists, illustrators and
writers of a century ago.
The gentleman's club was a very important part of Edwardian life, not
just for the wealthy and well-connected, but for members of any trade
or body whose members felt the need to relax and keep in touch with others
of the same leaning. The Langham Sketching Club (from which the London
Sketch Club was born), was founded in 1838, and pulled together a rare
and celebrated breed – the black and white illustrator.
It is difficult to imagine in these days of instant everything –
from entertainment to communication through satellites and the internet
– that the stars of the past worked in a medium that is no longer
held in such esteem.
Looking through the club's intriguing archives, it's amazing to discover
that, in those days before television or cinema, the graphic artist was
regarded with much the same awe and respect as a music hall celebrity,
actor or musician. The illustrated book was the entertainment centre for
practically every home, and the people who produced them often became
household names.
Drawing for your Supper
The Langham Sketching Club could boast the cream of London's artists.
Every Friday night, at seven o'clock sharp, from October to May, the members,
including such all-time greats as Arthur Rackham, Sir John Tenniel and
George Keene would get together in their studio-cum-clubhouse-cum-dining-room
and draw for two hours on any given subject.These drawings were then pinned
up and a lively discussion ensued, based on the work's merit.
Sketchers