Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers facts for kids
The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) is a famous art group in London, England. Until 1991, it was called the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers. This society started in 1880 to promote original etching. Over time, it grew to include many different types of printmaking, like engraving, wood-engraving, and lithography.
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How the Society Started
The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers began on July 31, 1880. It was first known as the Society of Painter-Etchers. Its main goal was to encourage etching as a creative art form. This idea was inspired by a similar group in Paris, France.
The first six artists chosen to be Fellows of the Society were:
- Francis Seymour Haden (from England)
- Heywood Hardy (from England)
- Hubert von Herkomer (from Germany/England)
- Alphonse Legros (from France)
- Robert Walker Macbeth (from Scotland)
- James Tissot (from France)
Some other famous artists, like Samuel Palmer and James McNeill Whistler, were not part of the first group for different reasons. Many important people, including Frederick Leighton and John Ruskin, wrote letters to support the new Society.
In 1888, Queen Victoria gave the Society a special honor called a Royal Charter. This meant it became the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers. Later, in 1898, it also included engravers. A member named George W. Eve designed new diplomas for the members in 1893 and 1904.
By 1911, the RE had become very well-known and respected. From 1919, the leaders of the Royal Academy and the Royal Watercolour Society became special Honorary Fellows of the RE. The Society's original motto was "Never Stoop to be a Copyist." In 1920, it changed to "Nulla Dies Sine Linea," which means "No Day Without A Line."
Who Has Led the Society?
Since 1880, the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers has had thirteen presidents. The first president was Sir Francis Seymour Haden, who led the group from 1880 to 1910.
Some of the other presidents include:
- Professor Sir Francis Job Short (1910-1938)
- Professor Malcolm Osborne (1938-1962)
- Professor Robert Austin (1962-1970)
- Paul Drury (1970-1975)
- Harry Eccleston (1975-1989)
- Joseph Winkelman (1989-1995) – he was president when the Society changed its name in 1991.
More recent presidents have included Dr David Carpanini (1995-2003), Anita Klein (2003-2006), Hilary Paynter (2006-2011), Dr Bren Unwin (2011-2013), and Mychael Barratt (2013-2018).
Professor Dr David Ferry became the current President in 2018. He works with a special Council and four officers to help run the Society.
Becoming a Member
Being a member of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers is a special honor. The number of members is limited. To join, artists must show their work to the Society's Council. The Council then reviews the work to decide if the artist can become a member.
In 1920, the Society started allowing artists who made prints using materials other than metal. This meant artists who created woodcuts, like Gwen Raverat, could join. In the same year, a "Print Collectors' Club" was formed. This club had 300 members who received a special print each year made by a Society artist.
One unique thing about this Royal Society is that it treated the work of women and men equally from the very beginning. Artists were chosen based on the quality of their art, no matter their gender or nationality.
Full members of the Society can use the letters "RE" after their names. Associate members, who are a step towards full membership, can use "ARE." Associate members can become full members if the RE Council votes for them.
Famous Members of the Society
Many well-known artists have been members of the Society over the years. Here are some of them and the year they became full members:
- Mary Nimmo Moran (1881)
- William Strang (1881)
- Auguste Rodin (1882)
- Walter Sickert (1887)
- Sir David Young Cameron (1895)
- Margaret Kemp-Welch (1901)
- Sir Frank Brangwyn (1903)
- Anna Airy (1908)
- Dame Laura Knight (1932)
- Sir William Russell Flint (1933)
- Charles Tunnicliffe (1934)
- Joan Hassall (1948)
Since 1980, the Society has been located at the Bankside Gallery in London.
See also
In Spanish: Real sociedad de grabadores para niños
Images for kids
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The fellows diploma of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, created by member George W. Eve in 1904.
