Brotherhood of the Linked Ring

Association of photographers that flourished in Britain between 1892 and 1909. The association was founded by a group of artistic photographers (mainly Pictorialist) who were disenchanted with the attitudes and activities of the council members of the Photographic Society of Great Britain, the majority of whom were photographic scientists and technologists (see PICTORIAL PHOTOGRAPHY). The lecture and exhibition programmes were directed to their interests. Alfred Maskell and George Davison were instrumental in bringing together on 27 May 1892 the 15 British photographers who were the founders of the Linked Ring: Bernard Alfieri, Tom Bright, Arthur Burchett (1875-1913), Henry Hay Cameron (1856-1911, son of Julia Margaret Cameron), Lyonel Clark, Francis Cobb, Henry E. Davis, Alfred Horsley Hinton (1863-1906), Henry Peach Robinson and his son Ralph W. Robinson (1862-1942), Francis Seyton Scott, Henry Van der Weyde and William Willis (1841-1923). All were either distinguished photographers or closely involved in the medium. The name was chosen to symbolize the unity of the members linked together in a spiritual and aesthetic band of brothers. The association was constituted 'as a means of bringing together those who are interested in the development of the highest form of Art of which Photography is capable' and those only were eligible who admitted the artistic capabilities in photography.

See the Abbreviations for further details.

Founded in April 1892 by photographers who had resigned from the Photographic Society of Great Britain in 1891-2, it was intended to further the prosecution of art photography in general, and pictorialism especially. Its records note that the first and second meetings occurred on 9 and 27 May 1892, initiating the first ‘Links’, including Bernard Alfieri, Arthur Burchett, Henry Hay Cameron, Lyonel Clark, Henry E. Davis, George Davison, Alfred Horsley Hinton, Alfred Maskell, Henry Peach Robinson, Ralph W. Robinson, Francis Seyton Scott, Henry Van der Weyde, Tom Bright, Francis Cobb, and W. Willis. Formed under the symbol of three linked rings, the society quickly established itself as a powerful force in the development of a photographic aesthetic worldwide. Influential photographers—including women after 1900—from Britain, Europe, and the American Photo-Secession were admitted by invitation only. The Linked Ring Papers, first published 11 February 1896, were circulated annually to members from 1893 to 1909, promoting and discussing the aesthetics and practice of pictorialism. A Photographic Salon was held annually in which members' work was exhibited, and later published in the journal Photograms.

— Kelley E. Wilder

Bibliography

• Harker, M., The Linked Ring (1979)