WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF PAINTER-STAINERS
The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers, this Livery Company of the City of London dates from 1283 and was originally formed for the benefit of metal and woodworkers. A similar organisation involved with the dyeing and painting of textiles existed in the early 1400's and in 1581 the two merged by a Royal Charter and became its present-day title. In the 19th century the Company’s energies turned to education and it claims to be amongst the first to inaugurate training in art and craftwork. In 1877 it supported technical education in presenting prizes and medals to the City of London School, the Freemen’s Orphan School, the Commercial Travellers’ School and the City and Spitafield School of Design. The fund for prizes was maintained by each member of the Court subscribing 1 guinea a year, the deficiency being made up from the Company’s Corporate Funds. In 1893 a conference of painters and decorators in Painters’ Hall resulted in the establishment of a technical class in the Carpenters premises in Great Titchfield Street and in 1899 the Incorporated Institute of British Decorators was formed in Painters’ Hall. Nowadays the Company is more of a charity concerned largely with the promotion and education of the fine and decorative arts and crafts. The Painters Company was a co-sponsors of the largest UK open art competitions namely, the Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize and in 2012 The Painters' Company Scholarship Scheme was created aimed at graduates in London art schools and colleges who are selected on merit alone, the winners receiving each year, an award of £5,000 from the beginning of their second year until the completion of their studies. Members of the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers include Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792), the founder and first President of the Royal Academy, Godfrey Kneller (1646–1723), Frederic, Lord Leighton (1830–1896), John Everett Millais (1829–1896) and Suffolk artists Francis Cufaude, Jules George, Phyllis May Morgans, Alfred Munnings and Heath Rosselli.
Website: https://painter-stainers.org