Bread and cheese club

A literary salon organized in 1822 in New York City by novelist James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851). The purpose was to reinforce mutual dedication to democratic principles and to celebrating the beauty of the landscape through writing, painting and promoting of patronage of authors and artists whose work was in accord with their goals. The Club remained active until Cooper left for Europe in 1826. Among members were William Cullen Bryant, a writer; Samuel F.B. Morse, an historical genre painter; and James Kent, a Federalist judge. Sources: Andrew Wilton and Tim Barringer, "American Sublime: Landscape Painting in the United States 1820-1880"; http://secure.britannica.com/eb/article-1525?