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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 85

Annual General Meeting

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Annual General Meeting.

The Annual General Meeting of the Members of the Art-Union of Glasgow was Held in the Fine Arts Institute, Sauchiehall Street, on Friday, 10th April, 1885,

The Hon. William M'Onie, Lord Provost, presiding.

Mr. Maclean Brodie, Secretary, read the Report of the Committee of Management for the year 1883-4, and Abstract Statement of the Cash Account,

The Lord Provost regretted that the Report was not of such a satisfactory character as could have been expected The income had, on account of dull trade and other causes, fallen about §600 under that of last year, but he hoped that the coming your would he a more prosperous one for the society. He moved the adoption of the Report.

Mr. David S. Cargill, in seconding the adoption of the Report regretted that the past year's operations had been so unsuccessful compared with former years. The extreme depression in all branches of business had operated against the society, but it had also suffered seriously through what might be called tho opposition of another Art-Union instituted in connection with the Fine-Art Galleries. Probably the promoters of the new Art-Union did not intend that such should be the case, but it was the fact that, owing to the similarity between the names, subscriptions intended fur the old Glasgow Art-Union had gone to the newly founded society. In the circular issued by the new society it was stated that the subscriptions received would he entirely spent in the purchase of pictures from the galleries of the Institute of the Fine Arts. The Glasgow Art-Union had over and over again brought under the notice of the public that it had always managed, through its prize-winning subscribers, to spend a very large percentage of its funds in the purchase of pictures from these galleries. It was found that out of nine drawings for prizes §4557 had been spent In these rooms out of a total of §4633. (Applause.) Many subscribers, on getting a prize, spent more upon a picture than the amount allocated to them by the society, so that page 6 the galleries benefited by its operations more than was actually known. Last year, for instance, there was §100 spent more than the amount gained as prizes. He regretted that the society bad only §160 to spend this year on prizes, but he hoped that with improved time? they would have an extended subscription list.

The Report was unanimously adopted.

Sir James Watson referred to the good work the institution had done in the past in forwarding the cause of art, as it had, during the 40 years of its existence, spent §117,000 in prizes and presentation engravings, All the plates issued by the society had been of a high class, and were to he found distributed all over the land. It was to be regretted that the society had fallen behind in the way of obtaining the support it deserved, but it was to be hoped that it would still be enabled to continue its work of refining and encouraging the artistic tastes of the public. (Applause.)

Mr. James Salmon moved that Mr. James Sellars, jun., I.A., Mr. G. W. Clark, Mr, D. E. Outram, Mr. A. G. Macdonald, and Mr. R. G. Ross he re-elected members of the Committee of Management.

Mr. Walter E. Wingate seconded the motion, which was adopted

Thereafter the Secretary read a certificate of the accuracy of the tickets placed in the balloting wheels, representing the tickets of the Subscribers, and the prizes to be balloted for, and also a statement of the mode in which the drawing was to take place, when two ladies from the body of the nice ting were requested to draw the tickets from the wheels. The result will be found at pages 10, 11. The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the Lord Provost and the ladies who had given their services at the ballot-boxes.

Maclean Brodie, Secretary.