Royal society of painter-etchers and engravers

DEFINITION

Known since 1991 as The Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers, it is a London-based institution established in 1880 and given a Royal Charter in 1888. Its original goal, established by persons emulating a similar organization in Paris, was promoting etching as an art form. Original fellows were Francis Haden, Heywood Hardy, Hubert von Herkomer, Alphonse Legros, Robert Macbeth and James Tissot. (James Whistler refused to join because of a fight with his brother-in-law, Francis Haden.) In 1920, artists of other printmaking media were accepted. Source, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Society_of_Painter-Printmakers; Free Online Dictionary