Bert Gallery

1880 Providence Art Club: Watercolors
A Source of Artist Income

“Two years ago, a trio of local artists banded themselves together for mutual protection, intending to make a united stand against their arch enemy, the dealer.” – Dec 3, 1880 Providence Press

Even with the founding of RISD in 1878, the local artist community recognized a need for their own association and thus organized the Providence Art Club for the purpose of elevating local taste along with exhibiting and selling their art. Evidence of the desire that the Providence Art Club be independent was an early vote by its members in the 1880′s not to merge with RISD. The Providence Art Club and RISD were both housed in the Hoppin Homestead Building and the club rented exhibition space from the school but the institutions remained separate entities in the early years.

Art exhibitions at the Providence Art Club offered artists the opportunity to sell works, receive critical reviews and develop patronage. Watercolors became quite popular because of its affordability to patrons and the income provided for artists. By 1896 a separate Watercolor Club and annual watercolor exhibit emerged at the PAC. Selected sampling of historic Providence Art Club artists currently on view in Divine “Providence” include Charles Stetson, Sydney Burleigh, Elijah Baxter and Stacy Tolman.