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Can you imagine Damien Hirst, MarkWallinger and the Chapman brothers signing up for the Territorials? No, I think not, so ingained in our culture is t}e idea of-the avant-garde artist as part of a slobbv Bohemian demi-monde, conteinptuous of any whiff of patriotism or kowtowing to the
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volunteer regiment knovrm as the Artists Rifles. A new exhibition at Sout}ampton Art Gallery. running until June 28, reviews the history of this remarkable institution and the
achievements of itS members:

established order. But that wasn't the case in the laterVictorian era, when it was almost de rigueur for a young painter or sculptor to do his bit for Queen and country by joining the

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promises to be both inlbrmative and entertaining, as well as bringing to light some unfamiliar
names and pieces. The curation ofthis show has been a seven-year labour of love for Patrick Batv. himself a former cavalry and TA officer who now works in the artworld (primarily as an expert on the history of paint and colour). In what he hopes will serve as a taster for a larger exhibition in the future. he has assembled some 60 works bv those who wore the Artists Rift5s badge and mined the regiment's curi ous historv. The Artists Rifles was tistablished in 1860, in response to a perceived lhreat of French inv4sion. Dravr,n from musicians, architects, actors, authors and intellecfuals as well as z painters and sculptors, it had its o F headquarters in Burlington House, o behind the RovalAcademv. Here drill was held iriice daily, with additional manoeuwes and muskefy practice on Wimbledon e Common and Hampstead Heath. F q F Only gentlemen needed apply: E there was undoubtedly an element Paintbrush mightier than the sword? Men of the Artists Rifles in l9l4 - a new exhibition features 6O works of social snobbery involved - one was nominated for enhy as one mieht be for a Pall Mall club. and adi-r-ission to the exclusive ranks obviously gave careerists valuable opporhrnities to rub shoulders with the great in the mess. There was also a touch of Dad.'s Armg farce to the proceedings: Dante Gabriel Rossetti was cashiered for showing too much attihrde. William Morris marched with two left feet and Ford Madox Brorvn accidentally shot his dog on an exercise. Bume-Jones. Millais. manv galleries and museums names such as RC She,rriff, author commissions on the spot and Leighton and Watts all dutifirlly releite-d Patrick Bafy's proposal for effectively turned it into an officers' of Jwrneg's End.Hugh Lofting o[ signed up, however, and the the show on the gounds that its Dr Dolinle fame and the cadoonist training unit. surprisingly bellicose Ruskin was Fougasse. Yel., as lhe sceptical spirit subjectwas too white, male and proud to be an honorary member. Members went on to take oarl in middle-class - not least because of Bloomsbury prevailed. and the several major actions on theGradually, however, the tone of the art involved is so vigorous and cultured intelligentsia Western Front: among them Paul the ranks became more senerallv varied. Five past presidents of the demonstrated increasingly little professional, hs lanTrers,ioctors, Nash, painter of desolate Roval Academv belonged to the wish to play at soldiering, the stockbrokers and engineers proved battlefields, and Charles Jagger, regiment. and"tlrat is ihe obvious romance went out of the thing, so sculptor of the Royal Artillery more reliable and plentiful a venue for the larger retrospective of after the SecondWorldWar, the Memorial, as well as the poets source than the sfudios of Wilfred Owen and EdwardThomas. regimentwas incorporated into the which Baty dreams. Happily, after Kensinglon. The Artists Rilles sent several rebuffs, he has recently SAS and faded into the archives, Cavvoung Nol Coward was and lost men to the BoerWar and, been encouraged to hope that at though the title is still used by the cons"criptdd too. but his weak chest come 1914, itwas well prepared: some point the Artists Rifles can be 21st Special Air Service Regiment left him untrt for service. Field Marshal French was s<r (Artists) (Reserve). honoured on the premises which After the First World War, the imoressed bv its efficient once served as its parade ground. It's rather sickening to learn that regiment continued to attracJ moibilisatiorithat he gave out 5o

When artists fought for Qtreen and country