History

In 1859, a group of compassionate artists and business leaders gathered to help working artists and their families in cases of emergency and financial need. Originally formed as the "Helpful Society," the group organized formally as the "Artists' Mutual Aid Society," and in 1925 incorporated and changed its name to the Artists' Fellowship, Inc.

Through the conservative management of bequests and donations received, the Artists' Fellowship has steadily expanded its ability to help professional fine artists in times of emergency.

You can read more about our organization in this article written by our former Historian, Jonathan Harding, and published in Fine Art Connoisseur in 2018.

Click HERE to download the article.

first page of an article with painting by Willian Ranney of boys crabbing on a dock

Former Presidents

1882-1890 John George Brown

1890-1898 Thomas Waterman Wood

1898-1903 Hugh Bolton Jones

1903-1910 Joseph Lauber

1910-1917 Francis Coates Jones

1917-1930 Joseph Lauber

1930-1935 Charles L. Hinton

1935-1938 J. Redding Kelly

1938-1943 Silvio B. Valerio

1943-1950 Henry O'Connor

1950-1953 Francis V. Kughler

1953-1954 Henry O'Connor

1954-1955 Silvio B. Valerio

1956-1957 Carl Wuermer

1958-1961 Robert Barrett

1962-1964 Salvatore Indiviglia

1965-1967 Robert Barrett

1968-1970 Everett Raymond Kinstler

1971-1973 Ray G. Ellis

1974-1977 Furman J. Finck

1978-1980 Michael M. Engel II

1981-1983 Arthur Harrow

1984-1985 Alvin J. Pimsler

1986-1989 Fay Moore

1990-1998 Marc Richard Mellon

1999-2001 Robert Seyffert

2001-2003 Marc Richard Mellon

2004-2011 Babette Bloch

2012-2016 Wende Caporale

2017-2022 Charles Yoder

2023-present Jessica Daryl Winer

Work by Former Presidents

We invite you to look through this portfolio of art work by former (and a current) AF presidents. Like taking a stroll through American history, you will notice a range of aesthetic styles, methods, and subjects.

John George Brown, Only a Nickel, Joe, 1906 — John George Brown, *Only a Nickel, Joe,* 1906

Thomas Waterman Wood, A Bit of War History-The Recruit , 1866, Metropolitan Museum of Art — Thomas Waterman Wood, *A Bit of War History-The Recruit*, 1866, Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hugh Bolton Jones, On the Green River , 1900 — Hugh Bolton Jones, *On the Green River*, 1900

Joseph_Lauber, Untitled (Panning for Gold) , 1880s, National Gallery of Art — Joseph_Lauber, *Untitled (Panning for Gold)*, 1880s, National Gallery of Art

Francis Coates Jones, The Book , date unknown — Francis Coates Jones, *The Book*, date unknown

Charles Louis Hinton, Vanity , 1915 Bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum — Charles Louis Hinton, *Vanity*, 1915 Bronze, Smithsonian American Art Museum

J. Reading Kelly, Portrait of Abraham Lincoln , 1926 — J. Reading Kelly, *Portrait of Abraham Lincoln*, 1926

Silvio B. Valerio, Sanc Souci , oil on canvasboard — Silvio B. Valerio, *Sanc Souci*, oil on canvasboard

Henry O’Connor, WWII Ashcan School Battle Scene , 1940s — Henry O’Connor, *WWII Ashcan School Battle Scene*, 1940s

Francis V. Kughler, Pvt. Frances Depole , 1944 — Francis V. Kughler, *Pvt. Frances Depole*, 1944

Carl Wuermer, The Wintry River , date unknown — Carl Wuermer, *The Wintry River*, date unknown

Robert T Barrett, Early Missionaries , date unknown — Robert T Barrett, *Early Missionaries*, date unknown

Salvatore Indiviglia, Naval Academy Rifle Range , 1968 — Salvatore Indiviglia, *Naval Academy Rifle Range*, 1968

Everett Raymond Kinstler, Portrait of Jimmy Carter , 2008 — Everett Raymond Kinstler, *Portrait of Jimmy Carter*, 2008

Ray G. Ellis, Mutton Hollow Farm , 1987 — Ray G. Ellis, *Mutton Hollow Farm*, 1987

Furman J. Finck, Hunter’s Paradise , 1950s — Furman J. Finck, *Hunter’s Paradise*, 1950s

Michael M. Engel II, New York City 1 , date unknown — Michael M. Engel II, *New York City 1*, date unknown

Arthur Harrow, Abstract Figural Interior Scene Oil , 1974 — Arthur Harrow, *Abstract Figural Interior Scene Oil*, 1974

Alvin Pimsler, Fashion Illustration , date unknown — Alvin Pimsler, *Fashion Illustration*, date unknown

Fay Moore, Lady’s Secret Burst from the Pack , year unknown — Fay Moore, *Lady’s Secret Burst from the Pack*, year unknown

Marc Richard Mellon, Robinson-Shuba Commemorative Statue , 2021 — Marc Richard Mellon, *Robinson-Shuba Commemorative Statue*, 2021

Robert Seyffert, Model on East 10th Street , date unknown — Robert Seyffert, *Model on East 10th Street*, date unknown

Babette Bloch, Dancing Magnolias , stainless steel, 2013 — Babette Bloch, *Dancing Magnolias*, stainless steel, 2013

Wende Caporale Greene, Jaja Green Necklace , [year] — Wende Caporale Greene, *Jaja Green Necklace*, [year]

Charles Yoder, Blanket , 2025 — Charles Yoder, *Blanket*, 2025

Jessica Daryl Winer, Gothic Bridge , 2022 — Jessica Daryl Winer, *Gothic Bridge*, 2022