3-052-477 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Exhibition of the City of London Society of Artists in Skinners' Hall, Cannon-Street, 1880. '...a movement has at length been set on foot for the "purpose of holding periodical exhibitions of works of art and promoting the technical education of art in the City of London". A number of artists have formed themselves into a society, and the inaugural exhibition of their works and those by outside contributors was opened by Lord Mayor Truscott...We have given an Illustration of the opening ceremony. The successful realisation of the scheme thus far is largely due to the energy of Mr. Edward W. Parkes, a City solicitor, and to the liberality of the Skinners' Company in lending their handsome hall, Dowgate-hill for the exhibition. While, however, entitled to the honour of initiating an art-exhibition in the City, the Worshipful Company of Skinners have coupled their concession with restrictions so singular and unreasonable that they must be highly prejudicial, if not fatal, to any exhibition. For instance, no admission fees are allowed to be taken at the entrance, nor posters announcing the locale of the exhibition to be placed at the doors. Tickets of admission must be obtained of librarians and stationers in the City!'. From "Illustrated London News", 1880.