Artists, more than others, seem to need the comradeship of their fellows. It was to meet this need that, in 1894, Ernest Ehlers invited his "brothers of the brush" to spend a friendly evening in his studio to work and talk. At first, meetings were held in their private studios, then as their numbers grew, in rented premises. By 1904 this led to the official founding of the Bristol Savages and the holding ever since, of similar weekly meetings between October and May each year.

In 1905 the first exhibition of paintings was held at the premises of George Nichols & Co., an auctioneer in Broad Street. By this time, their weekly meetings were taking place at the Royal Hotel on College Green.

During the next 14 years exhibitions were held annually, either at Hannah More Hall or Newcombe's Gallery in Park Street. Their first permanent home was Brandon Cottage which was made available to them through the good offices of Brother Savage James Fuller Eberle. When the Red Lodge came on the market in 1919, it was purchased to create headquarters for the Tribe. A lease was drawn up for the Society, after which the building was formally handed over as a gift to the City of Bristol.

The "Wigwam" was designed by one of their members, based on the lines of an old tithe barn. The 1920 Annual Exhibition of Paintings was held in the premises before 'an impressive gathering of leading citizens' (to quote from the minute book) and it was officially taken over as the Bristol Savages home on 24th April 1920.

Annual exhibitions have continued since that date, apart from a break during World War II. The 2011 exhibition is the 101st.

There are three categories of membership: Artists, denoted by the wearing of a red lapel feather; entertainers (singers, instrumentalists, raconteurs etc.) who wear blue feathers; and lay members who wear green feathers.

The Bristol Savages are privileged to enter through the Red Lodge and to see and show their guests the noble 16th century oak-panelled rooms. The 'Wigwam', where the weekly meetings take place, is pronounced unique by visitors from home and overseas and it provides members with a home superior to any arts club in the country.

Each week the artists enjoy a two-hour sketching session on a subject chosen by the Chairman for the evening. The paintings are later displayed in the 'Wigwam' for inspection and informal discussion. Then the entertainments by the Blue Feather members go on to create an atmosphere found nowhere else in the city and in all but a few places elsewhere.

The paintings on show in the Annual Exhibition are the fruits of sketching excursions and many hours of arduous work during the year.

Want to know more?

Why not buy the book.