The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-10 00:00:00

111. The practical application of such knowledge to the
improvement of manufactures.

I. ELEMENTARY INSTRUCTION IN DRAWING AND
MODELLING.

3. Put experience hu proved that without sound ele-
mentary instruction in drawing, whick is the education of
the aye and hand, all satisfactory progress in ornamental
art is difficult, if not impracticable ; and in all schools
oonnectcd with this department it has been found necessary
to establish a large class for elementary instruction.
4. But a certain amount of such elementary training may
usefully be given without necissuily creating a separate
institution for the purpose. Drawing is, in fact, on indis-
pensable branch of goad general education—mother lan-
guage for the accurate expression of ideas—and may be
beneficially connected with it. hence it should Is• toe aim
to give systematic and practical effect to the views which
have been frequently expressed by the board of Trade
upon the desirableness of extending elementary instruc-
tion in the knowledge of form to mechanics' institutes,
to schools in connexion with the Committee of the Privy
Council fur Education, and other educational institutions
F.:r various classes of the community.
5. It is not to he expected that by thus encouraging a
general power of drawing or otherwise representin4 form,
every one in to be made a professional artist or ornamental
designer, any more than that teaching reading and writing
is to make every one an author, or instruction in atith-
=tic every one an astronomer ; but it may safely be said
that every artisan will be a better muter of his craft, and
every purchaser will be not only a better judge of the
beauty and excellence of the articles ho uses, but be
better able to enjoy them, by possessing the Dower of
seeing and representing form correctly, than would be the
case without it.

G. We think that the qualification for admission to the
present schools of ornamental art should be the possession
at least of some power of drawing correctly; and that the
pupils should be subjected to examination before admis-
sion. The successful establishment of elementary schools
is the only sure basis in founding future schools of design,
or higher schools of ornamental art.
7. IVe believe that the extension of elementary schools
for instruction in drawing may become a very important
branch of this new department ; they will promote the
practical improvement of ornamental art applii el to manu-
factures, and in the most important degree tend to enable
the general public to appreciate such improvements when
attained. For it must be obvious that unless the public, as
consumers, are sufficiently educated to appreciate improved
art in manufactures, it will not be the interest of manufac-
turers to aim at its production ; and that the labours of this
department must be in some measure fruitless.
8. In promoting the extension of elementary instruction
in drawing, we apprehend that the expenses to be incurred
for each school or mechanics' institute will not be heavy ;
probably an average expense of 201. for examples, models
tic., per institution would be sufficient, at least in the be:
ginning. The aid to be Riven will be less by any direct
pecuniary assistance than by the recommendation of quali•
tied masters, the encouragement of normal classes of
teachers, by admitting them to study in existing schools of
design free of cost, the temporary loan of examples and
models, and communication with the managing authorities,
in order to invite their attention to the general advantages
resulting from the acquirement of a power of drawing.