Columbianum society of artists

DEFINITION

Founded in 1794 in Philadelphia, it was the first art organization in America. A cooperative society of thirty artists including William Rush, Charles Willson Peale, Joseph Cerrachi, and Johann Eckstein, they sponsored one exhibition, and then terminated their activities. Sources: Ralph Sessions, "William Rush and the American Figurehead"; Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art"