Smedley Collection

The White Dress - Portrait of a Young Woman in a Park, 1903 (oil on canvas)
985496 The White Dress - Portrait of a Young Woman in a Park, 1903 (oil on canvas) by Smedley, William Thomas (1858-1920); 127x66 cm; Private Collection; Photo eChristies Images; American

Cover design, Harry Coverdales Courtship
Part-work cover design, Harry Coverdales Courtship and all that came of it, by Frank E Smedley, illustrated by Phiz (Hablot Knight Browne), Part 1, Price one shilling. 1854

Frank rescues Colman, c1850. Creator: George Cruikshank
Frank rescues Colman, c1850. Frank rescues Coleman - ropes are used to drag two boys from the sea after their boat overturns

Premises of the Lyceum Club In An Historic House, c1935. Creator: Donald McLeish
Premises of the Lyceum Club In An Historic House, c1935. Building at number 138 Piccadilly, central London, built c1763 for William Douglas

The Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, 1886. Artist: WJ Smedley
The Carlton Gardens, Melbourne, 1886. The gardens are a part of the Royal Exhibition Building complex designed by Joseph Reed for Melbournes International Exhibition of 1880

Collins Street East on a Sunday morning, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1886. Artist: WJ Smedley
Collins Street East on a Sunday morning, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1886. Wood engraving from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, Vol I, by Andrew Garran

The Eureka Stockade, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1854, (1886). Artist: WJ Smedley
The Eureka Stockade, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia, 1854, (1886). The Eureka Stockade was a miners revolt in 1854. Wood engraving from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, Vol I, by Andrew Garran

Pleasure gardens, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1886. Artist: WJ Smedley
Pleasure gardens, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1886. Views of the Botanical Gardens and Hyde Park. Wood engraving from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, Vol I, by Andrew Garran

Saturday night in George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1886. Artist: WJ Smedley
Saturday night in George Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1886. Wood engraving from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, Vol I, by Andrew Garran

A Bushmans Home, Australia, 1886. Artist: William Thomas Smedley
A Bushmans Home, Australia, 1886. Wood engraving from Picturesque Atlas of Australasia, Vol II, by Andrew Garran, illustrated under the supervision of Frederic B Schell

Speculators On The Corner, Ballarat, Australia, 1886. Artist: William Thomas Smedley
Speculators On The Corner, Ballarat, Australia, 1886. The town of Ballarat was founded in 1852 after gold was discovered nearby

Advertisement for Smedleys preserved foods, dated 1950
smedleys preserved foods

Constance Smedley, founder of the Lyceum Club
Anne Constance Smedley, married name Constance Armfield, (20 June 1876 9 March 1941) British artist, playwright, author and founder of the International Lyceum Clubs. Date: 1903

John Smedley knitted swimsuits
Advertisement for John Smedley knitted swimwear. Good quality but no doubt rather itchy after a dip. 1938

Edward Smedley
EDWARD SMEDLEY churchman and writer Date: 1788 - 1836

SMEDLEY BUTLER (1881-1940). Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps. Butler (left) with writer Mary Roberts Rinehart and General Dion Williams, at a rally in Washington, D.C. 31 October 1925

SMEDLEY BUTLER (1881-1940). Major General in the U. S. Marine Corps. Butler (standing)
SMEDLEY BUTLER (1881-1940). Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps. Butler (standing), photographed with General John A. Lejeune in Washington, D.C. 28 December 1925

SALVATION ARMY WEDDING. A Salvation Army wedding at the barracks on Fourteenth Street, New York. Drawing by W.T. Smedley, 1891

SMEDLEY BUTLER (1881-1940). Major General in the U. S. Marine Corps. Photograph, c1910
SMEDLEY BUTLER (1881-1940). Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps. Photograph, c1910

THE VILLAGE BARBER, 1883. American wood engraving. Drawn by William Thomas Smedley

THE VILLAGE BARBER, 1883. Wood engraving, American, 1883, after a drawing by William Thomas Smedley

SPAS: SARATOGA, 1890. Taking the waters at Saratoga Springs, New York. Wood engraving after a drawing by William Thomas Smedley, 1890

Riber Castle, situated in the hamlet of Riber, on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire, England. It was built as a private home for John Smedley in 1862. Date: built 1862

WILLIAM MERRITT CHASE (1849-1916). American painter. Drawing, 1891, by William Thomas Smedley

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Constance Smedley, the remarkable founder of the Lyceum Club, left an indelible mark on the world of art and culture. Her passion for empowering women in the arts was evident in her tireless efforts to establish a space where female artists could thrive. One of Smedley's notable works is "The White Dress - Portrait of a Young Woman in a Park, " a captivating oil painting from 1903 that showcases her exceptional talent as an artist. The delicate brushstrokes and ethereal atmosphere transport viewers to another time and place. In addition to her artistic pursuits, it also had an eye for design, as seen in Harry Coverdales Courtship's cover design. This intricate artwork captures the essence of romance and intrigue, drawing readers into its enchanting narrative. Smedley's artistic endeavors were not limited to canvas; she also dabbled in illustration. One such illustration is "Frank rescues Colman" by George Cruikshank, which depicts a heroic act with great detail and emotion. The premises of the Lyceum Club itself were housed within an elegant historic house captured beautifully by Donald McLeish in his photograph from 1935. The grandeur and charm exuded by this building perfectly complemented the club's mission. As an accomplished artist herself, Smedley found inspiration in various landscapes across Australia. WJ Smedley's paintings like "The Carlton Gardens" showcase Melbourne's beauty while "Collins Street East on a Sunday morning" captures its vibrant energy. Smedley ventured beyond Melbourne too, capturing scenes like "The Eureka Stockade" in Ballarat with striking accuracy. Her attention to detail brings historical events alive on canvas. Exploring other cities' delights through art was also one of Smedley’s passions: WJ Smedly’s paintings depict Sydney’s pleasure gardens bustling with life or George Street on Saturday night, pulsating with energy.