The Wilmingtonian., 1885-01-03
Industrial Art Schools.

Industrial Art Schools.
There is probably some misconception in
regard to the statement by our morning
contemporary en- Dec. 81, that ''Chas. G.
Leland says there is no Industrial Art School
in London like that of Philadelphia"
All who know anything of art matters
either as professionals, as amateurs, or
critics, among the last of whom is Charles
q. Leland of Philadelphia, cannot fail to
know of S)uth Kensington Industrial Art
Schools, in London.
Sufficient to say that it is in its extended
scope the leading art school in the word. 1t
should not be necessary to make such an
explanation. Among its thousand of stu
dents, who are all free, are men and women
of all nationalit,es in the world, including
numbers of Americans, in the designing and
art departments. Its industrial and art
treasures stored away in gallery after gallery,
beyond all value, millions would not cover
what they are worth. To use the words of
Mrs. Lippincott Trimble who in her lecture
at Friends School here, month or so ago
in describing her visit to this school the
sight (of the countless art treasures) is alb
solutely bewildering, and reminds one of
our Centennial exposition. Costly laces
and textile fabrics, tapestries, velvets, beau
tiful carving and wood work, metal work
in bronze, silver brass and pottery and GER
annie ware of all ages, from the costliest
Wedgwood to blue delf. Silks and cOttons
and instances of designs in all textile work
collected from every country both ancient
and modern. AS depository of industrial
art examples it is not excelled. All this
gathering of industrial treasures is simply
to show the students what has already been
accomplished and to guide and direct them
in their future efforts.
The accumulations at South Kensington
are tine results of years of the most careful
and judicious collecting.
In the passage way at the rear of the cen
tral room at Memorial Hall in Philadelphia
may be seen (or were seen two years ago)
examples in designs of wallpaper, carpets
etc., sent by the pupils from South Ken
sington for exhibition at Philadelphia.
AS an American citizen the writer would
be glad to see results from any of the art
schools established under the aegs OF
Charles G. Leland in Philadelphia OF New
York that could approach them in beauty
of design and practical adaptability to the
manufactu rers' requirements, or indeed in
any other particular.
We should not deceive ourselves, or glib
ly accept the assertion banded around from
mouth to mouth.
The facts are that we are far behinC
Europe as designers. A candid reply from
New York manufacturers will answer tn,
question.
Very little of home talent is used in new
or original design by carpet or wall-pape
men. What is usually done is the adapta
) tion of that that already exists one to anoth
er.
Take the industrial magazines of New
York-the Decorator and Furnisher, for in
stance, its new designs in ceilings, floors ii
wall papers, in carving, in brass work etc.
are almost without exception from foreigl
sources-and published by permission.
At South Keusington a most thoroug
course in iudustial designing, and in fac
all braches of ant up to the highest, that
of painting the human figure in costume i
oil or water color from life is taught by Q
capable faculty of professors as Englan
can produce.
An American artist of very good stan,
ing, with whom the writer is acquainted /
at the present moment student at Sout
Kensington. 1t is thorough praetic
school where neither the painting of hes
nor the dranghting of steam engine in :
y its mechanical exactness is omitted.
II