Description
Many of the now famous founding members of
The Guild of Boston Artists - Edmund Tarbell, Frank Benson, William Paxton and Joseph DeCamp among others - were also leaders of an important art movement known as the "Boston School" of
painting. Educated in Paris and Munich, they
returned to Boston to develop their own "school." To a man they were "...fascinated by manifestations of beauty ... found in the world immediately about them." according to former Guild president R. H. Ives Gammell, one of the last artists educated by these fine painters. Through their paintings they crystallized the beauty, truth, character and quality we now associate with the "Boston School" and with the Guild itself.
Today's Guild artist may come out of other
representational traditions and influences including the New York Hudson River and the French
Barbizon schools, which stayed close to nature, but all share that same dedication and love of the visual magic and deeper meaning of nature revealed through the ever-changing atmosphere and light around us.
It has been our continuing pleasure to offer
educational opportunities for the community to learn about the crafts of painting and sculpture directly from our members. To that end we hold classes, workshops, and demonstrations at the Guild’s Newbury Street location, in the field, and at times, in the studios of artist members. Additionally, we offer artist-led lectures about the "Boston School" and representational art to outside groups upon request.
The Guild hosts multiple painting exhibitions each year primarily featuring the distinguished work of our professional artist members. The upper gallery features ongoing displays in varying genres and
media, while our President's Gallery, which has a distinctive natural light ideal for viewing work painted in north light studios or out of doors, hosts solo and themed exhibits, as well as juried
competitions. Periodically we hold historical exhibits such as the works of A. Lassell Ripley, Frank Millet or our recent show, which included many of our other renowned fine artists from previous
generations.
