A stew, an art club, and a dash of mystery. That’s the Salmagundi Club for you. The Salmagundi Club stands here at 47 Fifth Avenue. It is a beacon for artists and art lovers in Greenwich Village.
Founded in 1871, the Salmagundi Club started as the New York Sketch Club. Artists gathered in Jonathan Scott Hartley’s studio. They met every Saturday evening to sketch and share ideas. In 1877, the club changed its name to the Salmagundi Club. The reason remains a bit of a delicious mystery, like the stew itself. Some say it’s named after the popular Salmagundi stew. This dish has been a club staple since its early days. Others believe it references Washington Irving’s Salmagundi Papers.
The club moved several times before finding its permanent home here in 1917. This Italianate brownstone was built in 1853. The Salmagundi Club purchased it for $75,000. An additional $20,000 was spent on a two-story annex. This annex housed the main art gallery and a billiard room.
Inside, you’ll find three galleries. They host temporary exhibitions throughout the year. These include member exhibitions and the Coast Guard Art Program. The formal parlor displays selections from the club’s permanent collection. It holds around 1,500 works.
The Salmagundi Club has a rich history. It was once a male-only club for its first century. A sister club, the Pen and Brush Club, formed nearby in 1894 for women artists. Salmagundi finally began admitting women in 1973.
Many famous artists have been members. Names like Childe Hassam, William Merrit Chase, and Norman Rockwell grace its rolls. Today, the Salmagundi Club boasts approximately 850 artist members. They come from New York and around the globe.
In 1918, during World War I, the club played a unique role. It spearheaded a national effort. This effort produced range-finder paintings to train military gunners. The club provided canvas and materials for these special paintings.
Look around the Salmagundi Club’s library. You may notice a quirky collection of decorated ceramic mugs. These mugs originated in 1894. Artist members decorated them to raise money for the club’s library. Charles Volkmar, the club potter, fired them. The club hosted a dinner and auction for the finished mugs. The library also houses the largest collection of used artist palettes in America.
The Salmagundi Club is a New York City Landmark since 1969. It earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.
The Salmagundi Club continues to thrive as a fine arts center. It hosts art classes, exhibitions, and auctions. It remains a vibrant hub for artists and collectors alike. Its legacy proves that art and community can create something truly special. Something as unique and flavorful as a salmagundi stew.