LANGHAM SKETCHING CLUB
The Artists’ Society and Langham Sketching Club, possibly the oldest of its type in the UK, commenced in 1823 when a group of artists met in a rough stable yard in Grays Inn Lane 'For General Study from the Life'. The Society was formalised in 1830 and The Society added ‘Langham Sketching Club’ to its name when it moved to 1 Langham Chambers, All Souls Place, West London, in 1838. In the early 1800s many artists’ societies were in existence, their main purpose was to promote exhibitions and at that time, several artists felt that there was a need for a society where professional men could develop life drawing, improve work standards, and meet in the company of like-minded artists, an ‘academie’ of the old sort. This group of artists were in fact sowing the seed for The Langham as known today. While The Club had already begun to welcome female guests, there had not been an opportunity to formalise their membership and while continuing to honour the club’s benefactor Francis W Reckitt, lady members were officially incorporated into The Club in 2018. Today there are similar numbers of men and women who enjoy the membership cherish and for many years, The Langham met weekly at Dilke Street, the home of their historically linked society, the London Sketch Club. Since 2021 the Society has met in the Upper Hall at St Columba’s, Pont Street, SW1.
Website: https://www.langhamsketchclub.com