American Art-Union - Creation

Creation

A new venue and a new name—the American Art-Union—set itself to a double task within its Charter, dated May 7, 1840. The first was a moral task of developing the taste of the middling classes towards (what was in the AAU's estimation) the best kind of American art and its themes. The second, was to provide a venue for the exhibition and sale of art from contemporary and emerging American artists within its “Perpetual Free Gallery” (free to members, nominal charge to non-members).

The AA-U's management were among the wealthiest,(six of the ten most wealthy in the city), conservative and well connected men in New York City. They were mostly first, (at most second) generation wealth and had close ties in business, political and social endeavors. There were only five presidents in the thirteen years and of the 211 possible choices of individuals for office, the duties were performed by eighty-two. The following men were elected:

The Committee of Management in 1839

• John W. Francis, M.D., President
• Philip Hone, (banker, politician, etc.)
• J. Watson Webb (newspaper editor)
• John P. Ridner (mahogany merchant)
• John L. Morton (merchant?)
• Augustus Greele (paper merchant)
• James W. Gerard (lawyer, philannthropist)
• William L. Morris (lawyer)
• William Kemble (merchant)
• T. N. Campbell (broker)
• Aaron R. Thompson (merchant)
• George Bruce (typefounder)
• Duncan C. Pell (auctioneer)
• Eleazar Parmly (dentist)
• F. W. Edmonds (Cashier of the L. M. Bank), Treasurer
• Benjamin Nathan (broker), Recording Secretary
• James Herring (gallery proprietor), Corresponding Secretary

From a patriarchal position, the Committee deemed itself best able to choose both the artists, select the art work that would be chosen as part of the AA-U's permanent collection and choose the pieces or pieces to be engraved and published. Further, as “merchant amateurs” they would be the best suited to manage and the Art-Union, “just like a good merchant”. Their goal, pointedly was “to establish a National School of Art,” one which was originally American—illustrative of American scenery and American manners”.

The Artists (in part): George Caleb Bingham Thomas Cole Jasper Francis Cropsey Francis D’Avignon Thomas Doney Asher Brown Durand Daniel Huntington John Frederick Kensett Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze William Sidney Mount James Smillie

Although there would be other art-unions in the US, “none would achieve the popularity or influence of the American Art-Union. The art-union concept fell out of favor however, it is curious, the number of reasons that have been attributed to the AAU's demise. The lottery and other managerial weaknesses, competition and pride have all been blamed.