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Sixty Years' Memories of Art and Artists XXIII . IN the year 1855, the Boston Art Club was founded. I was one of the party of architects, artists and sculptors who met in the rooms of Mr. F. D. Williams, on Tremont Row, to formulate a plan. A constitution and by-laws were adopted, and Joseph Ames was elected president. The election was for one year only. ]everything was done in a small way, but we had sociable, pleasant meetings. The second year I was made president. At this time, Mrs. Fanny Kemble Butler was giving readings from Shakespeare in Tremont Temple. Learning from some source that we were in need of funds, she announced that if the club wished it she would give a reading for its benefit. This she did, and the hall was filled with our friends to listen to her rendering of " A Midsummer Night's Dream." This reading realized for the club the munificent sum of $1200, and put us on our feet. The artists, feeling that we owed a debt of gratitude to the great actress, decided that each one should contribute a little picture to be bound in a handsome volume, and presented to her as a recognition of her kindness. This was done, and it became my pleasing duty, in company with Mr. Edward Cabot, to call upon the lady and present the volume. She was very gracious and courteous, receiving us without formality, and sang a song to please us, and made us feel at home. This reception was not in accordance with our preconceived ideas of her brusqueness of manner. The club was moved into some well-appointed rooms on Essex Street, where there was fine light for exhibition purposes. We had arranged a very pleasant show of pictures, when a misfortune suddenly came upon us. During the time between Saturday night and Monday morning some one entered the rooms and carried off thirteen paintings. The club, feeling responsible for the loss, thought it best to make a small remuneration to each artist suffering. We had our suspicions as to the burglar, but the pictures were gone, and were never traced. We also gave a course of lectures on art. James Russell Lowell gave the first, and it was my duty to introduce him to the audience. He was then in the prime of his manhood, and was a handsome man, with genial manners. The club now languished for several years, but after a time new life was introduced by adding many lay members to the club, gentlemen interested in art matters, and a new era commenced. We took new rooms on Boylston Street, and from that period the club flourished, and enlarged its sphere of usefulness. |
