¿There are no half-measures of condemnation at Kensington; no making believe that a crooked line is standing straight, or that figures, drawn upon the inimitable Dutch-doll system, are perfect copies of flesh and blood anatomies. But, with iron gentleness, if we may so speak, every fault, however minute, is pointed out, and marked with the fatal black sign. Be sure, that when praise is awarded, it is most richly earned and deserved, or it would not have been received.
The Rubicon of “ornament” once passed, the student enters upon a course of model drawing, and the “figure from the flat” for which his previous studies have fully prepared him; geometry and perspective having been studied, hand-in-hand with “ornament.” Models consisting of cones, cubes, vases, &c., are gracefully grouped in the class-rooms for the purposes of study, whilst once a week a lecture is given by one of the masters on the same subject (model drawing); when both schools, male and female, assemble in the lecture-room for a morning’s hard work, the teacher stands raised above his pupils, and having ‘‘set up” a model in such a position that all may obtain a good view of it, executes a correct copy of the same, from his point of view, on the large black slate which occupies one end of the room, explaining at the same time to the attentive students the best method of measuring and drawing each line; after which, one hour is allowed for the completion of the lesson, by the expiry of which time every one is expected to produce a pretty correct copy of the model. No cheating at model drawing by forbidden measurements, or looking for assistance at our neighbour. For as no two persons can possibly obtain the same view of the cube, or whatever it may be, from the different dispositions of their seats, every student is thrown entirely upon his or her own resources for the completion of the task. Once or twice during the lecture the master examines carefully each individual copy, and then returns to his stand to await the termination of their labour. It is a highly amusing sight to watch a large number of students engaged in this branch of their studies. Suddenly, and as if moved by some spontaneous and irresistible impulse, thirty or forty right arms, with pencils in hand, firmly clutched between their fingers, are rigidly extended towards the model, exhibiting an infinite variety of young ladies’ undersleeves, and gentlemen’s more sombre coat sleeves. The left eye of each student being tightly screwed up, and in stern silence they effect their measurements. In a few seconds they fall as swiftly as they rose, and every one appears to be engaged in amateur scrubbing—to judge by the vigorous movement of the right arm—up and down the drawing-board. When Mr. C speaks all the scrubbing ceases instantly, whilst all eyes are turned somewhat confusedly on the speaker’s amused countenance.
“Young ladies and gentlemen, I have been watching you for some time, and find that every one of you, without exception, have been rubbing out. I must beg you will think more before using your pencil, for it is great carelessness that causes such constant use of india-rubber, and I wish you would not use it at all.”
In silence, and with many darting out arms at the model, as if hurling imaginary javelins at it, and many furtive applications of india-rubber, the lesson continues till the clock strikes—at the first stroke of which the lecturer leaps from his stand, and, finished or unfinished, carries off all the drawings for private correction, and the scholars disperse to their several occupations. The lectures on geometry and perspective are conducted on precisely the same principle; the student following the master’s diagram on the slate, line by line on their paper. The female anatomical classes are held in the summer, those for males in the autumn session. Those students only who are drawing from the “round” figures, &c., are expected to attend them. Strangers to the department can also attend these lectures at the moderate charge of ten shillings the course; and, singular as it may seem to all who shrink with horror and dismay at the very thought of the picture of a skeleton hand or foot, the anatomical classes are the best attended and the least shirked of any in the schools—yes, positively shirked, as several of them actually are. For the old school distich, applied to Kensington studies, and written by one of its harassed students in the moment of vexation, would, most probably have run thus:—
Ornamentation is vexation,
All models are as bad;
Geometry perplexes me,
Perspective drives me mad.
These two last-mentioned studies are absolutely detested by the majority of the younger, and a great many of the elder students; and, if they can by any means avoid attending them, they will. And to confess the truth, there are easier tasks than obtaining clean, clear, correct geometrical and perspective diagrams, whether in pencil or in ink. And on examination days, woe be to those who are not “well up” in these absolute essentials of certificated merit. To model drawing succeeds the “figure from the flat,” “ornament from the cast,” and lastly, the “figure from the round.” Let it be remembered that each of these studies must be thoroughly mastered in its outline before the pupil is permitted to attempt its shading. And, to those unacquainted with the inexpressible beauty of correct outline, the drawings exhibited annually at South Kensington appear all but marvellous. Take for instance that awfully-wonderful anatomical marvel, “the Laocoon.” In the flat copy there is not one line of shading; yet we gaze at the “mere outline” completely fascinated by its terrible beauty. The straining eyeballs upturned in death’s intensest agony. The heaving chest with its quivering muscles, starting as from the torture-stricken frame, are all so truthfully, so terribly expressed in simple outline, that it is impossible to gaze for any length of time on the school copy without shuddering.
If “the grand old masters” did not consider their dignity at all lowered by severe studies of anatomy, surely the young masters of the new school would do well to follow their example. We might then hope that in a very few years the entire race of deformed quadrupeds and bipeds