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despotic countries far more development has been given to genius, and greater encouragement to industry, by a more liberal diffusion of the enlightening influence of the Arts."

With particular reference to manufacturing industry, the Committee further state that the witnesses "frequently, if not uniformly, felt themselves compelled to Ibid. p. iv draw a comparison more favorable (in the matter of design) to our foreign rivals, and especially to the French, than could have been desired either by themselves or by the Committee."

In

After expressing their anxiety "to investigate the pervading cause which seemed to justify this conclusion," the Committee proceed: "It appears that the great advantage which foreign manufacturing-artists possess over those of Great Britain, consists in the greater extension of art throughout the mass of society abroad. Art is comparatively dear in England. France it is cheap, because it is generally diffused. In England a wealthy manufacturer has no difficulty in procuring superior designs. Our affluent silversmiths have called to their aid the genius of Flaxman and of Stothard; but the manufacturer of cheap plate and of inferior jewellery cannot procure designs equal to those of France, without incurring expense disproportioned to the value of the article on which his labour is employed."

In following the Committee into the more important of the details here given, with the view of exhibiting the general results of their enquiries, it will be expedient, for the sake of brevity and clearness, to depart somewhat from the arrangement adopted in their Report.

I think the subjects treated of may be naturally arranged under these three principal heads:

First, the means of elementary instruction in the principles of design, more especially with regard to the

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Ibid.

1. Of elementary instruction in

manufacturing population. Under this head will be comprised

1. The connexion of the elementary principles of
art with ORDINARY EDUCATION.

2. The formation of specific SCHOOLS OF DESIGN.
3. MECHANICS' INSTITUTIONS, and the like.
4. Elementary BOOKS ON ART.

Second, the means of extending the love of art, in its highest departments, and of cultivating and refining the public taste; and this will comprise,

1. The connexion of the plastic arts, or of the principles of taste in relation to them, with SUPERIOR EDUCATION,-as in the Universities and higher schools.

2. PUBLIC GALLERIES and MUSEUMS.

3. Voluntary AsSOCIATIONS for the encouragement

of Art.

Third, the legal protection of artistic property, and the rewards and distinctions of successful exertion in the Arts; comprising,

1. The bearing of certain FISCAL DUTIES on the

Fine Arts.

2. The protection of artistic COPYRIGHT.

3. The constitution of ACADEMIES.

4. Competitions for PUBLIC WORKS.

All these subjects receive more or less illustration in the Report we are considering. I proceed to state its substance, under each head, before making any comment on the specific measures recommended by the Committee.

"The want of instruction," proceeds the Report, "experienced by our workmen in the Arts is strongly the princi- adverted to by many witnesses. This deficiency is said to be particularly manifest in that branch of our industry

ples of Design;-its

with ordi

which is commonly called the fancy trade; more espe- connexion cially in the silk trade; and most of all, probably, in the nary educaribbon manufacture.

....

"This scanty supply of instruction is the more to be lamented, because it appears that there exists among the enterprising and laborious classes of our country an earnest desire for information in the Arts. To this fact, Mr. Howell, one of the factory inspectors, has borne ample testimony. Mr. Morrison, a member of the House of Commons, has given evidence to the same effect.

tion.

in the eleprinciples of Design should form part of any

mentary

"It appears to the Committee most desirable, with a Instruction view to extend a love and knowledge of art among the people, that the principles of design should form a portion of any permanent system of NATIONAL EDUCATION. Such elementary instruction should be based on an extension of the knowledge of form, by the adoption of a bold style of geometrical and outline- national drawing, such as is practised in the national schools of Bavaria.

permanent

system of

education.

France.

"Much importance has justly been attributed to the Schools of SCHOOLS OF DESIGN SO generally diffused throughout Design in France. These schools (in number about 80) are superintended by the Government.....

"According to the evidence of a distinguished foreigner, Dr. Waagen, the intelligent administration of Prussia has felt the necessity of paying great attention to the instruction of the Prussian manufacturers in art. ..... In Bavaria there are thirty-three schools of design. Outline-drawing, to a considerable extent, forms an element in the system of national education.

"His Majesty's Government has this year, for the first time, proposed a vote in the Estimates for the establishment of a Normal School of design.

"It appears to the Committee that, in the formation of such an institution, not mere theoretical instruction

England.

Books on
Art:-
Rep. p. vi.

Mechanics'

Institu

only, but the more direct application of the Arts to manufactures ought to be deemed an essential element.* In this respect local schools, where the Arts reside as it were with the manufacture to which they are devoted, appear to possess many practical advantages. In such situations it is probable the Arts will eventually strike root and vegetate with vigour. But if a mere central system be adopted, the inventive power of the artist ought equally to be brought to bear on the special manufacture, which he is destined thereafter to pursue.

Unless the Arts and Manufactures be practically combined, the unsuccessful aspirants after the higher branches of the Arts will be infinitely multiplied, and the deficiency of manufacturing artists will not be supplied.

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Perhaps the Government would most judiciously interpose, not only by creating a Normal School, but by applying to local institutions the species of assistance now extended to the building of School-houses.

"In our own country, manufacturing artists have been greatly indebted to such institutions as the Board of Trustees in Edinburgh and the Royal Society in Dublin. In England, the more matured MECHANICS' INSTITUTIONS have disseminated much valuable instruction in the Arts. The Reports of the Mechanics' Institutes of Glasgow, Manchester, and Coventry indicate, in the present year, the awakened attention of the inhabitants of those great towns to the importance of education in design.

"Among the advantages possessed by the manufactions, &c. turing artists of foreign countries, the attention of your

"This principle is judiciously adopted in the Gewerb Institute at Berlin; in which, after one year of general instruction in Art, the pupil selects a branch of manufacture as his trade, and passes two years in the practical application of art thereto."-Dr. Waagen's Evidence, Sess. 1835, pp. 4 & 55,

Committee has been directed to the BooKS ON ART, published by the Governments for the instruction of their workmen. Among these, the works issued by M. BEUTH, Director of the Gewerb Institut at Berlin, particularly deserve to be mentioned.

The chief excellence of these works seems to consist in their general correctness and classical purity of taste.

-

land.

Ib.

"It is gratifying to observe, that British capital and in Engintelligence, unaided by the Government, have been turned in the same direction. Cheap publications upon Art are studied with interest by our workmen.

"But though cheap publications are thus circulated by individual enterprise, there are works, such as those issued by the Government of Prussia, which probably require too great labour of design, and are too expensive of execution to be profitably undertaken by individuals."

We come now to our second division of the subjectmatter of the Report—the means of extending the love of art, and of cultivating and refining the public

taste.

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2. Means of extending the love of cultivating

Art, and of

and refining the public

taste: First, in

connexion with higher

As evidence that, even in superior education, the Fine Arts do not as yet receive their fair share of attention, the Committee "notice, with regret, the neglect of any general instruction, even in the history of Art, at our education. UNIVERSITIES and public schools; an omission noticed long ago by Mr. Burke, and obvious to every reflecting mind.

"In nothing have foreign countries possessed a greater advantage over Great Britain than in their numerous PUBLIC GALLERIES devoted to the Arts, and open gratuitously to the people. The larger towns of France are generally adorned by such institutions. In this country we can scarcely boast of any. Our

Public Gal-
Museums

leries and

of Art.

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