Lotos club

Established in New York City in 1870, it is one of the oldest literary clubs in the United States. Founded as a men's social club of prominent artists and business professionals including Mark Twain, it is noted in American art history for hosting the first exhibition of Tonalist painting in the United States. Club headquarters from 1892 to 1909 was at 556-558 Fifth Avenue, from 1910 to 1947, it was at 110 West Fifty-seventh Street, and today is at 5 East 65th Street. In February 1896, because of the dedication to Tonalist painting of committee member William T. Evans, the Lotos Club hosted the breakthrough Tonalist exhibition. Eight American Tonalist painters were represented: Albert Blakelock, George Bogert, George Inness, Homer Dodge Martin, Robert Minor, Albert Pinkham Ryder, Henry Ward Ranger, and Alexander Wyant. Sources: Peter Falk, "Who Was Who in American Art"; Ralph Sessions, 'Introduction', and Jack Becker, essay, 'Championing Tonal Painting' in "The Poetic Vision: American Tonalism", (Spanierman Galleries exhibition catalogue, 2005)