Cincinnati Art Club

The Cincinnati Art Club was founded in 1890 by a group of 13 artists, known as 'John Rettig's Life Class', who had been meeting as a private sketch group in Rettig's studio from as early as 1885.

The organizational meeting of the Club was held at the studio of Clarence D. Bartlett on March 15, 1890, with John Rettig elected as the first President. As well as Rettig and Bartlett, also present were James McLaughlin, Edward S. Butler, Matthew A. Daly, Alberto O. Elzner, Edward Johnson, Remington Lane, Leon Van Loo, Lewis C. Lutz, William A. McCord, Perry Morris, and Joseph Henry Sharp. Barlett's dog, Fritz, was granted a charter membership so that the number of signatories would not be an unlucky one.

Other renowned artists who were early Club members include Henry Farny (president 1892-1894), Frank Duveneck, (president 1896-1898) and Paul Ashbrook (president 1914-1916).

As stated in the 1890 Constitiution, the object of the Club was: 'to advance the knowledge and love of Art, through exhibitions of works of art, the acquisition of books and papers for the purpose of forming an art library, lectures on subjects pertaining to art, and by other kindred means, and to promote social intercourse among its members'.

During the first thirty-three years of its existence, the Club meetings were held at a number of rental locations. In 1923, the Club bought a building at 527 East Third Street to serve as its headquarters. When this building was demolished in 1955, the Club moved to a newly built home on Parkside Avenue in Mount Adams, where it remains as of 2014.

Based upon materials in the Cincinnati Art Club collection, and taken from the Club website (http://www.cincinnatiartclub.com/history.html - accessed 5/22/2014)

From the guide to the Cincinnati Art Club Records, undated, 1890-2013, (Cincinnati Art Museum, Mary R. Schiff Library & Archives)