Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-07-12

In the British house of commons, recently,
there was motion to suppress "studies from
life" that is to say, studies of naked female
figures in the national schools of art. This mo-
ton led to debate which is not unworthy OF
some attention. We extract the following
summary of it,
Lord Haddo, in bringing forward the mo-
ton of which he had given notice, expressed
his strong disapprobation Of any national sane
ton being given to the system of studying the
naked female figure He characterized it as
demoralizing to the one sex and degrading TO
the other, and said he had the authority of Mr..
Westmacott, the eminent royal academician,
for saying that the study OF art did not neces-
state the adoption of such course The prac-
tice was adopted by four of the twelve govern
ment schools of art which were distributed
over the kingdom, and he thought it ought to
be discountenanced by every possible means.
He begged to move " that the exhibition in
schools of art of females wholly unclothed
ought not to receive the sanction of public
grant of money to the schools in which such
practice is adopted"
Mr.. Spooner seconded the motion.
Sir G. c.. Lewis said he had no special
knowledge of the practice of the department
to which the motion of his honorable friend
referred but he believed the government, as
such, had never interered in the detailed reg
ulations OF any of those schools He was not
sure how far the practice TO which the noble
lord had referred still existed in the schools he
had alluded to, as the returns from which he
had made the statement were about eighteen
months out of date but he believed it could
not be said that TIE practice had been attended
by any such demoralizing effects as his noble
friend seemed to imagine. There could be no
doubt that in ancient times the study of the
human figure was adopted by artists. If mod
ern feelings and tastes were changed in that
respect, it might be important TO legislate
against the plan, but he was not prepared at
present to interfere with the arrangements at
the schools of art in reference to it.
Mr.. Adderley said the noble lord was mistak-
en- in supposing that four of the government
schools of art adopted the study OF the COM
plete nude female figure. That was the case
in only one school-the Manchester School of
Art-and no complaints or reports Of the prac-
tee being abused or leading to immoral results
had been made with respect to that institution
Mr.. Spooner twho rose amidst cries of obi
vide" and laughter) said he could tell hon
gentlemen that this was not a matter to laugh
az, lhenewed laughter) The practice tend
eaiso the degradation Of the female character,
w was contrary to the spirit of the Holy
Uoru OF God, and should no longer be sup
"divide.") s"'' WHO VI
El a.e Palmerston rose amidst laughter
anu G1e na. and said he thought the house
~ u'I h Ivy uee l. II advisable to adopt the mo.
uoii. because 1t was not a proper subject far
parliamentary interference (Hear 1''9 r. , ,oa
impossible to carry into effect the We've ~ ,ho
noble lord Hear, hear.) Ii the noSl VI , oiG
meant anything he should go further ' onJ
bring in bill TO make il penal for any sr ",,"
10 study the female form daughter IT, IT,,
should like his noble ftiend 70 be more precise
in his motion, and to npntipn what was thc
minimum Of clothing that would consist with
ms notion of prOpriety tLaughicr) For
there was a minimum and maximum, and
without insisting on crinoline and those vol
luminous dresses 81 laughter -it was clear that