Documents associated with: Wortley, Archibald J. Stuart-
Record 4 of 31
System Number: 05972
Date: [22/23 July 1887?][1]
Author: The Society of British Artists
Place: [London]
Recipient: Queen Victoria[2]
Place: [London]
Repository: Glasgow University Library
Call Number: MS Whistler V61
Document Type: MsD
To the Queen's most excellent Majesty.
The humble and dutiful Memorial of the undersigned in behalf of a Society of Your Majesty's faithful Subjects, being Artists, and Patrons and Well-wishers of the Arts and Artists, of Your Majesty's Kingdom of Great Britain.
Humbly Showeth,
That, under the auspices and patronage of Your Majesty's Royal and Revered Uncle, the late Illustrious Duke of Sussex, and of other highly distinguished Patrons of the Arts, there was, in the year 1823, established in your Majesty's Metropolis, an Institution for the aid and promotion of the Arts, entitled, "The Society of British Artists," which has continued up to the present time, the great objects of the Society being to provide for meritorious Artists an advantageous Exhibition of their works; for the Friends of Arts a wider scope than had previously existed for the Encouragement of British talent, and for students the advantages of systematic and enlightened Instruction.
That the recorded proceedings of the Society show that these objects have been carried out with undeviating honesty, perseverance, independence, and success.
That, in the tenth year of Your Majesty's fortunate and glorious reign, on the third day of February 1847 your Majesty was graciously pleased upon the petition of the Members of the Society to grant to it a Royal Charter which has ever since facilitated and promoted its pursuit of the objects for which it was established.
[p. 2] That the name of your Majesty's illustrious revered and lamented consort[3] who honoured the Exhibitions of the Society with his presence, encouraged its efforts by the purchase of works contributed by its members, and strengthened it in Common with all other influences tending to good in these realms, by his wise Counsel and lofty examples, is enrolled by the Society with grateful and patriotic pride at the head of a list of friends and Patrons[4] which Embraces among others the names of
The late Duke of Bedford The Duke of Rutland The late Duke of Marlborough The late Duchess of St. Albans The Duke of Newcastle The late Duke of Montrose The late Duke of Sutherland The late Duchess of Sutherland The late Duchess of Buccleuch The Marquis of Northampton The late Marchioness of Bute The Marquis of Landsdowne The late Marquis of Westminster The late Marquis of Ormond Earl Fitzhardinge Earl Ducie The late Earl of Essex The Earl of Albemarle The Earl of Shaftesbury The late Earl of Fitzwilliam The late Earl of Durham The late Earl of Egremont The Earl of Normanton The Earl of Carlisle The Earl of Tankerville The Earl of Carysfort The late Earl Grey The Coutess of Arunden and Surrey Viscount Emlyn The Bishop of Winchester The late Lord Gwydyr The late Lord Monson The late Lord Wharncliffe The late Lord Rolle Lord Strathavon Lord Ellenborough Lord Francis Egerton Lady Hesilrige Lord Northwick Lord Dunally Lord Selsey The late Lord Muncaster The late Lord Mountcharles Lord Charles Townsend Lord Colborne Lord de Tabby Lord de Saumarez Lord Kinnaird Lord William Powlett Lord De Lisle [p. 3] R. Hart Davis, Esq., M.P. W. Chamberlayne, Esq., M.P. M. M. Zachary, Esq The late Sir Henry Meux, Bart. W. T. Copeland, Esq., M.P Sir Felix Booth Sir Thomas Phillips, Bart. M. A. Taylor, Esq., M.P. Sir Ronald Ferguson, M.P. Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P. Hon. J. Liddell, M.P. R. Vernon, Esq. Sir Gerard Noel, Bart., M.P. W. Beckford, Esq. Sir George Crewe, Bart, M.P. Sir Thomas Baring, Bart W. Allnutt, Esq. L. Parnther, Esq J. Fielden, Esq, M.P. H. C. Hoare, Esq. J. J. Ruskin, Esq. C. F. Huth, Esq. A. E. Hulton, Esq. R. H. Solly Esq Col. Sir Wm. Herries, K.C.B. H. Villiers Stuart, Esq., M.P. The Hon. D. Kinnaird The Rev. E. Stanley Sir Christopher Cole. M.P. Wynn Ellis, Esq., M.P. William Wells, Esq C. Baring Wall. Esq., M.P. John Gibbons, Esq Sir John Soane, R.A. Col. Sibthorpe, M.P. Sir Hyde Parker, Bart. Rev. S. Coleridge James Wadmore, Esq. Col. Shipardson Robert Ferguson, Esq., M.P. Sir P. Hesketh Fleetwood, Bt., M.P. J. Lewis Ricardo, Esq. Hon. Sydney Herbert. M.P. E. Turner, Esq., M.P. E. N. Dennys. Esq. C. Saville Unley, Esq. J. Fairlie, Esq. G. H. Errington, Esq. F. Broderip. Esq. Sir J. R. Reid, Bart., M.P. Edward Holland, Esq., M.P D. Salomons, Esq. Robert Farrant, Esq., M.P. C. R. M. Talbot, Esq., M.P. Col. A'Court Simon M'Gillivray, Esq. Hon. Mrs B. Wilbraham H. Munro, Esq. S. Solly, Esq. G. Young, Esq. Hon. A. Duncombe, M.P. Rev H. Waldo Sibthorpe Hon. W. L. Melville J. Bell, Esq. B. Botfield, Esq., M.P. Charles Scarisbrick, Esq W. Collett, Esq., M.P. Sir George Phillips, Bart [p. 4] Sir C. H. Coote, Bart, M.P The Hon. G. King. B. Bernasconi, Esq. C. W. Packe, Esq., M.P. W. J. Broditip. Esq. Sir Walfrin W. Wynn. Bart Sir Robert Frankland.
That the members of this Society in common with all sorts and conditions of men throughout your Majesty's world wide dominions earnestly desire to mark and celebrate in some becoming and appropriate manner their gratitude and joy upon the completion of this ever to be remembered Fiftieth Year of your Majesty's benign and beneficent sway;
May it therefore Please your Majesty graciously to acceed [sic] to this Society your august permission to take to itself wear and be henceforth known by the style and title of The Royal Society of British Artists, which shall be to us and to our successors an undying witness of our collective and individual loyality [sic] to Your Majesty's person and throne, and a memorial bond binding us and them to pursue with undeviating and unceasing fidelity the great aims and objects for which this Society was founded and herein before set forth, and by your Majesty's most gracious Royal Charter constituted, in the earliest years of Your Majesty's most glorious and auspicious Reign:
This document is protected by copyright.
Notes:
1. [22/23 July 1887?]
This is one of several drafts of a Memorial sent by JW on behalf of the Society of British Artists to Queen Victoria following her Jubilee celebrations (#05970, #05971, #05972, #13099, #05975), which appear to predate Hurlbert's letter to JW on 24 July 1887 (#02213).
2. Queen Victoria
Victoria (1819-1901), Queen of Great Britain [more].
3. consort
Prince Albert (1819-1861), the Prince Consort [more].
4. a list of friends and Patrons
The list includes: George Charles Spencer-Churchill (1844-1892), 8th Duke of Marlborough [more]; Edward Montagu Stuart Granville Stuart-Wortley (1827-1899), 1st Earl of Wharncliffe [more]; John Ruskin (1819-1900), critic, social reformer and artist [more]; Sir Robert Peel (1788-1850), British statesman and Prime Minister (1834-1835, 1841-1846) [more]; Hon. Edward Lyulph Stanley (1839-1925), 4th Baron Stanley of Alderley, barrister and MP [more]; Hyde Watson Parker, art collector [more]; John Robertson Reid (1851-1926), genre, landscape and marine painter [more].