Royal Society of Marine Artists
Encyclopedia
The Royal Society of Marine Artists (RSMA) is an association of artists in London
, England
, that promotes contemporary marine art
. This includes painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.
. Subsequently, in 1938, Admiral of the Fleet
, the Earl of Cork and Orrey
suggested the formation of a formal society, which came into being with the title "The Society of Marine Artists".
No activity took place immediately because of the outbreak of World War II
, and it was not until 1946 that the Society's inaugural exhibition was mounted in the Guildhall Art Gallery
at the invitation of the City of London Corporation. This became the venue for the Society's annual exhibitions. In 1966, Queen Elizabeth II granted assent for the title of "The Royal Society of Marine Artists". The location for the annual exhibitions was changed to the Mall Galleries in 1981, when building works prevented use of the Guildhall.
The Society maintains links with other relevant organisations, including the National Maritime Museum
, the Royal Navy
, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
and with publishers and the shipping industry. In 1996, Blandford published a 176 page book A Celebration of Marine Art : Fifty Years of the Royal Society of Marines Artists. In 2004, the Society exhibited work at the National Maritime Museum.
Norman Wilkinson
(1878–1971) was a member, as was Harry Heine
(1928–2004) the first Canadian
to be elected.
The society is a registered charity. It is also one of the nine member societies that form the Federation of British Artists
, which is based in and administers the Mall Galleries, next to Trafalgar Square
. Approximately 50 full members are entitled to use the letters R.S.M.A. after their name.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, that promotes contemporary marine art
Marine art
Marine art or maritime art is any form of figurative art that portrays or draws its main inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea—a genre particularly strong from the 17th to 19th centuries...
. This includes painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture.
History
The Royal Society of Marine Artists was founded in 1939. This came about after some initial exhibitions on the subject, staged "largely due to the anomaly that Great Britain, whose history is so bound up with the sea, did not have a society dedicated to painting the sea and its occasions." One of these early exhibitions, Sea Power, gained the patronage of King George VI and was opened by Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
. Subsequently, in 1938, Admiral of the Fleet
Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)
Admiral of the fleet is the highest rank of the British Royal Navy and other navies, which equates to the NATO rank code OF-10. The rank still exists in the Royal Navy but routine appointments ceased in 1996....
, the Earl of Cork and Orrey
Earl of Cork
Earl of the County of Cork, usually shortened to Earl of Cork, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for the Anglo-Irish politician Richard Boyle, 1st Baron Boyle...
suggested the formation of a formal society, which came into being with the title "The Society of Marine Artists".
No activity took place immediately because of the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and it was not until 1946 that the Society's inaugural exhibition was mounted in the Guildhall Art Gallery
Guildhall Art Gallery
The Guildhall Art Gallery houses the art collection of the City of London, England. It occupies a building that was completed in 1999 to replace an earlier building destroyed in The Blitz in 1941...
at the invitation of the City of London Corporation. This became the venue for the Society's annual exhibitions. In 1966, Queen Elizabeth II granted assent for the title of "The Royal Society of Marine Artists". The location for the annual exhibitions was changed to the Mall Galleries in 1981, when building works prevented use of the Guildhall.
The Society maintains links with other relevant organisations, including the National Maritime Museum
National Maritime Museum
The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, England is the leading maritime museum of the United Kingdom and may be the largest museum of its kind in the world. The historic buildings forming part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, it also incorporates the Royal Observatory, Greenwich,...
, the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution
Royal National Lifeboat Institution
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity that saves lives at sea around the coasts of Great Britain, Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, as well as on selected inland waterways....
and with publishers and the shipping industry. In 1996, Blandford published a 176 page book A Celebration of Marine Art : Fifty Years of the Royal Society of Marines Artists. In 2004, the Society exhibited work at the National Maritime Museum.
Norman Wilkinson
Norman Wilkinson (artist)
Norman Wilkinson CBE aka Norman L. Wilkinson was a British artist who usually worked in oils, watercolors and drypoint. He was primarily a marine painter, but he was also an illustrator, poster artist, and wartime camoufleur...
(1878–1971) was a member, as was Harry Heine
Harry Heine
Harry Heine R.S.M.A., C.S.M.A., N.W.W.S. was an artist who specialized in maritime scenes.-Life and work:Harry Heine lived in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada....
(1928–2004) the first Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to be elected.
The society is a registered charity. It is also one of the nine member societies that form the Federation of British Artists
Federation of British Artists
The Federation of British Artists consists of nine art societies, and is based at the Mall Galleries in London where the societies Annual Exhibitions are held. The societies represent living artists working in the UK who create contemporary figurative art...
, which is based in and administers the Mall Galleries, next to Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
. Approximately 50 full members are entitled to use the letters R.S.M.A. after their name.
Officers
- David Howell, PRSMA (President)
- Elizabeth Smith, VPRSMA (Vice President)
- Richard Dack RSMA (Hon. Secretary)
- David Allen RSMA (Hon. Treasurer)