THE NATIONAL ART TRAINING SCHOOL,

AT SOUTH KENSINGTON.

THE NATIONAL ART TRAINING SCHOOL, when first instituted in 1837, as a Government School of Design, occupied rooms on the second floor of the Somerset House, once occupied by the Royal Academy. In 1852, when it became a Training School for Teachers in Art, accommodations were granted by the Queen in Marlborough House, which were occupied till 1856, when the school was removed to South Kensington to a temporary building, which was exchanged in October, 1863, for buildings specially erected for its accommodations-fire-proof, properly heated and ventilated, and admirably lighted by day and night, and having a distinct series of rooms for male and female students, with separate rooms in each series for drawing, painting, and modeling, with a lecture-room in common for the male and female classes.

The following announcement, taken from the Art Directory issued by the Department in 1869, explains the objects, course of instruction, and scheme of examination and scholarship of this admirable institution :

1. The National Art Training School at South Kensington is established for the purpose of training Art Masters and Mistresses for the United Kingdom, and for the instruction of students in drawing, designing, and modeling, to be applied to the requirements of trade and manufactures.

COURSE OF INSTRUCTION.

2. The course of instruction is as follows, although not progressive in the order in which the stages are mentioned:

Stage 1. Linear Drawing, by aid of Instruments.

a. Linear Geometry.

b. Mechanical and Machine Drawing, and details of Architecture from copies.

c. Linear Perspective.

Stage 2. Free-hand Outline Drawing of Rigid Forms from examples or copies. a. Objects.

b. Ornament.

Stage 6. Drawing the Human Figure, and Animal Forms, from copies.

a. In outline.

b. Shaded.

Stage 7. Drawing Flowers, Foliage and Objects of Natural History, from flat examples or copies. a. In outline.

b. Shaded.

Stage 8. Drawing the Human Figure, or Animal Forms, from the “round” or nature.

a. In outline from casts.

b. Shaded (details).

b. Shaded (whole figures).

c. Studies of the human figure from nude model.

d. Studies of the human figure, draped.

e. Time sketching and sketching from memory.

Stage 9. Anatomical Studies.

a. Of the human figure.

b. Of animal forms.

c. Of either, modeled.

Stage 10. Drawing Flowers, Foliage, Landscape Details, and Objects of Natural History, from nature.

a. In outline.

b. Shaded.

Stage 11. Painting Ornament from the "flat" or copies.

a. In monochrome, either in water-color, tempera, or oil.

b. In colors,

Stage 12. Painting Ornament from the cast, &c.

a. In monochrome, either in water-color, oil, or tempera.

Stage 13. Painting (general) from flat examples or copies, flowers, still-life, &c.

a. Flowers or natural objects, in water-color, in oil, or in tempera.

b. Landscapes.

Stage 14. Painting (general) direct from nature.

a. Flowers, or still-life, in water-color, oil, or tempera without backgrounds.
b. Landscapes.

Stage 15. Painting Groups as compositions of color.

a. In water-color, oil, or tempera.

Stage 16. Painting the Human Figure or Animals in monochrome from casts.

a. In oil, water color, or tempera.

Stage 17. Painting the Human Figure or Animals in color.

a. From the flat, or copies.

b. From nature, nude or draped.

c. Time sketches and compositions.

Stage 18. Modeling Ornament.

a. Elementary, from casts.

b. Advanced, from casts.

c. From drawings.

d. Time sketches from examples and from memory.

Stage 19. Modeling the Human Figure or Animals.

a. Elementary, from casts of hands, feet, masks, &c.

b. Advanced, from casts or solid examples.

c. From drawings.

d. From nature, nude or draped.

Stage 20. Modeling Fruits, Flowers, Foliage, and Objects of Natural History, from nature. Stage 21. Time-sketches in Clay of the Human Figure, or Animals, from nature.

Stage 22. Elementary Design.

a. Studies treating natural objects ornamentally.

b. Ornamental arrangements to fill given spaces in monochrome.

c. Ornamental arrangements to fill given spaces in color.

d. Studies of historic styles of ornament drawn or modeled.

Stage 23. Applied Designs, Technical or Miscellaneous Studies.

a. Machine and mechanical drawing, plan-drawing, mapping, and surveys done from actual

measurement.

b. Architectural design.

c. Surface design.

d. Plastic design.

3. Students who have paid fees for two consecutive sessions are entitled, on passing the whole of the Second Grade examinations, to an admission to their class for one year, at a remission of half the usual fee. They are entitled to a continuance of the same privilege for a second year only, if they have obtained a "pass" for merit of work, or a prize or medal in the annual National Competition.

Students who have paid fees as above are entitled, on passing satisfactory examinations in any three, or if females in two, of the subjects of the 1st certificate, to free admission, which will last for one year, and is renewable if the 1st certificate be fully taken within that time. After obtaining the 1st certificate, students will continue to be admitted free, provided a "pass" for merit of work, or a prize or medal in the annual National Competition be taken annually; or, in lieu of these, some more advanced studies of Drawing from the antique, or

Painting. Students who have obtained the 1st certificate are also eligible to compete for weekly allowances, according to their progress in the school and the certificates obtained, of 5s., 10s., or 15s., in return for which they have to perform certain duties as teachers, and must engage to accept the situations to which they are recommended.

A limited number only of students may compete with students of Local Schools of Art for maintenance allowances of 20s. or 25s. weekly. No student will be eligible to receive such higher payments who has not taken one Art certificate, or a Science certificate in Mechanical Drawing or Building Construction. Such allowances will be granted for one session only. They may be renewed at the discretion of the Department, according to the progress and conduct of the student, and the demand for certificated teachers. No student in training will be allowed to remain as such after he has obtained five certificates. Besides their studies in the Training School, students in training will be required to give instruction in parochial and district schools as a part of their training.

Application for admission to the Training Classes must be made the first Saturday in February or the first Saturday in September.

4. With a view to assist female students in obtaining the necessary qualifications to become Art teachers,* admission to the Training School for females is regulated by the rules stated above; they may then receive an allowance of from 5s. to 15s. a week, according to vacancies on the list, for a period not exceeding two years, to enable them to obtain the certificate of the 3d Grade. If their progress and promise justify it, they may (having obtained the 2d certificate within the two years) continue to receive an allowance for another year, while working for the 3d certificate.

ART CERTIFICATES-GROUPS OF SUBJECTS FOR EXAMINATIONS.

5. The twenty-three stages of instruction are divided into six groups. Certificates of competency to teach the subjects included in each group are given to candidates who pass the necessary examinations.

These are called Certificates of the 3d Grade.

The following are the Groups which form the subjects of Certificates:GROUP 1-ELEMENTARY DRAWING AND COLORING, Stages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, and 13.

GROUP 2.-PAINTING, with examination in Styles of Art, and in the elementary principles of ornament, Stages 11, 12, 14, 15, and 22.

GROUP 3.-THE FIGURE Drawn and Painted, with examination in the historic styles of ornament, Stages 8, 9, 16, and 17.

GROUP 4.-MODELING ORNAMENT, with examination in Styles of Art, and in the elementary principles of ornament, Stages 18, 20, 22.

GROUP 5.-MODELING THE FIGURE, with examination in the historic styles of ornament, Stages 8, 9, 19, 21.

GROUP 6.-TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION.

EXAMINATIONS.

6. The Examinations of the 3d Grade will take place annually at the offices of the Department, South Kensington, in the month of February.

Candidates who are desirous of passing such Examinations must forward their names, together with all the requisite works, to the Secretary of the Department, on the first Saturday in February. They must state the Group or Groups for which they seek to obtain Certificates. These works, if accepted, will be retained by the Department: works of unsuccessful Candidates, and Candidates not proposing to earn payments from the State, will be returned. They will be informed whether their drawings have been accepted and whether permission can be granted to them to present themselves for Examination.

Should opportunities offer for a female student in training to employ a portion of her time in teaching, she may accept engagements, with the concurrence of the head-master, and receive a reduced allowance, proportionate to the time remaining for studies connected with her certificate; it being understood that the duration of the allowances will in no case exceed three years. It must be distinctly understood that at the termination of the allowance, the Department in no degree undertakes to provide or obtain employment, as teachers, for the male or female students so trained.

These examinations will take place before the Inspector-General for Art, assisted by other Examiners who may be associated with him. They will be conducted partly by written exercises, and partly by studies made in a given time. Each Candidate may be required to teach a class in the presence of the Examiner.

Traveling expenses will be allowed to candidates from provincial schools who obtain certificates.

First Group.

Candidates for Certificates for the First Group

1. If they have attended the Training School of the Department at South Kensington, they must have obtained a recommendation for admission to examination from the Head-master. Candidates from the provincial or other schools will be required to execute an extra work in the presence of the Examiner.

2. They must be prepared to instruct a class in the presence of the Examiners, either in Free-hand Drawing, Geometrical Drawing, Perspective or Model Drawing.

3. To sketch, in a given time, a group of Models, placed by the Examiners for that purpose.

4. To solve, in writing, questions on Geometry, Perspective, Orthographic Projection, and the Rudiments of Constructive Architecture.*

For the First Group the following works are necessary, ten in number:

For the Second Group each Candidate

1. Must already have obtained a Certificate for the First Group.

2. Will be required to sketch, in color, in a given time, a Group placed by the Examiners for that purpose-using any medium or vehicle which the Examiners may propose.

3. Will be required to answer in writing a paper of questions on the elementary principles of Ornament and on the history and peculiarities of the Ornamentation of the class chosen for illustration in the Drawings sent up in Stage 22d.t

4. Will be required to answer, in writing, a paper of technical questions on art, and on the general principles and execution of the several historic schools; and a paper of questions on the nomenclature of structural botany.‡ For the Second Group the following works are required, six in number:

Stage 13 or 14. A landscape in oil from nature, or from some approved example.

12. A painting of ornament in monochrome from the cast, in oil or tempera.

14. A study of Flowers painted from nature in water-color.

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15. A study of a group as a Composition of Color, in oil.

22c. A sheet of at least two studies of Ornamental arrangements in color.

22a. A sheet of studies of some plant or plants botanically analyzed with a view to ornamental details.

22d. A set of studies executed during the period of training, from some one class of objects in the South Kensington Museum, sufficiently extensive to represent the history of the class selected.

Third Group.

For the Third Group each Candidate

1. Must already have obtained Certificates for the First and Second Groups. 2. Will be required to answer, in writing, a paper of questions on the anatomy of the Human Figure.

Female candidates are not examined in Mechanical or Architectural Drawing.

Redgrave on Design, and the Grammar of Ornament, by Owen Jones, may be read for elementary principles.

Based on Lindley's School Botany.

3. To answer, in writing, a paper on the History of Ornament of the various periods and styles, and a paper of questions on the elementary principles of Ornament and on the history and peculiarities of the Ornamentation of the class chosen for illustration in the Drawings sent up in Stage 22d.

4. To draw in a given time the bones or muscles, within the outline of an antique figure, from memory.

5. The living model will be posed for a time-study by each candidate. **From Candidates who are, or have been, Students of the Royal Academy, and have been there admitted to study from the living model, this last exercise will not be required.

For the Third Group the following works are necessary, seven in number:Stage 86. An Antique Figure shaded from the Cast, in chalk.

Sc. A study in Chalk from the Living Model.

9.

The bones and muscles placed within outlines of an Antique Figure.

16.

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A painting of the Human Figure from a picture in oil.

17a. A painting of the Nude or Draped Figure from the life, in oil.

#6 22d. Varied studies of Historic styles of Ornament, sufficiently extensive to represent the history of the classes selected, sketched from works in the Museum, the authority in each case being appended. If they are from colored ornament, the sketches are to be colored also.

Fourth Group.

For the Fourth Group each Candidate

1. Must already have obtained a Certificate for the First Group.

2. Will be required to answer in writing a paper of questions on the elementary principles of Ornament and on the history and peculiarities of the Ornamentation of the class chosen for illustration in the Drawings sent up in Stage 22d.

3. To sketch from memory Elementary details of Ornament, and in a given time to model a piece of ornament, in low relief, from a print or drawing. For the Fourth Group the following works are required, five in number:Stage 18a. A modeled study of Ornament from the Cast.

18b. A modeled study of Ornament from a Drawing.

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20. A modeled study of Flowers or Foliage from Nature.

22. A modeled study of any one of the sections of this stage.

224. A sheet of studies of some plant or plants, botanically analyzed with a view to display their ornamental details, drawn or modeled.

22d. A set of studies executed during the period of training, from some one class of objects in the South Kensington Museum, sufficiently extensive to represent the history of the class selected.

Fifth Group.

For the Fifth Group each Candidate

1. Must already have obtained a Certificate for the First Group.

2. Will be required to answer, in writing, a paper of questions on the anatomy of the Human Frame.

3. To answer, in writing, a paper on the History of Ornament of the various periods and styles.

4. To make, in a given time, a sketch in low relief, from a print or drawing of an antique figure; and to give the anatomical details from memory.

5. The living model will be posed for a time-study by each Candidate. ** From Candidates who are, or have been, Students of the Royal Academy, and there admitted to study from the living model, this last exercise will not be required.

For the Fifth Group the following works are required, six in number:

Stage 8. An Antique Figure shaded from the Cast.

66 9. An anatomical rendering of an Antique Figure, modeled.

9a. A drawing of the Skeleton placed within the outline of an Antique Figure.

19. A model of an Antique Figure in the round, rendered in relief.

" 20. A model of the Human Figure from Nature, nude or draped.

22d.* Varied studies of the relief ornament of Historic styles sketched from the casts, carvings, metal work, &c., in the Museum of the Department, with written authorities for each; and sufficiently extensive to represent the history of the various classes selected.

It is intended by these studies to test the knowledge of ornament possessed by the candidate; he should therefore send a sheet or sheets of the most characteristic details of the best periods of the various styles, and should give the source from whence the examples are derived. Candidates from provincial schools must use for the same purpose the works circulated by the Department, such as Casts, Electrotypes, Photographs, Books, Prints, &c.