New-York tribune., 1874-04-27

Ono half of tho pupils attending tho school are
women. of the pupils vary from IA TO 40
years To gain admission to the antique school, draw
ing from the round" proof OF sufficient prepara-
tory training may be submitted by any person, from
any part OF the country, to the Council and, II 1t be
found satisfactory the person applying for admission Is
received These admissions may occur at any time
during tho year. All the advantages of the school are
enjoyed gratuitousy.
The system Of drawing taught in the school is that
pursued by the French Its characteristic distinction
from other methods that the student is instructed to
look upon any object as a picture bounded, modelled,
and relieved by slightly varying tones Of light and shade
This is essentially the in which the painter sees
nature. Sooner later, according to prevalent be-
lief among certain good judges, every painter must fall
into IT, whether he has been trained IN this system or
not The sculptor, from the very nature of his ma
terial Is independent of light aud shade, and conse
quently learns to regard nature derenty-which mode
he does not depart from when he attempts to draw
Prof Wllmarth in conversation with reporter of THE
TRIBUNE on this subject said;
Before the student is taught the system in practice
here lie is impressed with the principle That ne nnst
learn and render the whole OF an object at nrst
and then proceed TO particulars the most decate OI
which reserved to the last This idea Is carried out
through entire instruction OF the school, For exam
ple instead OF teaching pupil 10 Deeh lhe "
head at the eyes and n9se bid nun draw tne whoe h
relative positions. In drawing each lne ne Is t9iu 20
seize, m the first place, the general direction, and add
the notifications afterward.
10 illustrate this, let suppose the space from one
pont 10 another to be- made up Of number OF irregular
undulatons arranged as whole on a line then the
pupil Is taught to draw straight line, being very care
u to get its exact direction II attend to nstruc
tons After he has properly ad out his work he intro.
duces the unduations without losing tne Character
the whole As soon as the general outline is obtained
the same principle is applied the light and shade
The drawing at this stage Is divided between tnose p0r
tons which receive direct light and those where the
direct light is cut off the shapes OF these surfaces and
their proportion each other being carefully preserved
These are at first laid perfectly at tones to repre-
sent their common value and during the progress OF the
drawing varied by adding dark or ght portions tlI,
at completion, the most delicate modulatons OF tone
are rendered. always however, without DISTURBING their
relation to the whole.
The facilities Of the life class are not such as 10 ena
BILE them to study disappointing The room they occupy
is nearly feet in length but much too narrow and
is incumbered by number of large fulllength casts
The crowded state Of the antique classroom prevents
the removal Of these. large window at one end snts
it by day. At night it is lighted up by row OF gas
lets extending across entire side. just opposite
this line OF light stands the model upon raised plat
FORM around which the pupils are arranged In some
what rregar semi circle, with their easels before the
After the model posed rough outline OF the figure Is
quickly sketched The real OF tho evening is then
begun.
The room devoted TO antique drawing contains large
number Of casts, many wel-known groups ana ngures
having places assigned them. Many improvements
however, might be made in this studio as IL ls oy no
means complete The itself, though large one
10 feet long or So and 30 wide-Is hardly capacous
enough $50 pupils now occupying u during the
day and evening One side partitoned on into four
alcoyes The first alcOye contains nothing but simple
subjects chiefly buss, used by pupils upon entering tue
Academy. When students have made some progress
there they are permitted to study in the other acoves
where drawings from the full length figure are begun.
carefully finished drawing from any OF the full length
casts after it approval by the council OF six or seven
artists who have the direction OF the school, will qualify
them 10 enter life class pupil Is not required to
pass any stated time in any OF the departments belong
ing To III school Prof. Wmarth, the sole teacher OF
drawing employed by the Academy is in constant at
tendance three times week. the school being in session
on Mondays, Wednesdays. aud Fridays