The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-29
RUSSIA'S SCHOOL
OF APPLIED ARTS
Five Million Dollars Its Endowment.
Every Branch Of Art Is Embraced
in It's Instruction.
Letter in New York Tribune.


st. Petersburg Letter in New York Tribune
! Although Russia is in some respects
going to school in America, she is able
through the generosity OF private citiz-
| ems, to give lessons in some matters
! An instance is afforded by the Baron
Stieglitz School OF Applied Arts in this
city. 1t could easily be taken as mod
ell by the patrons of the Industrial arts
in the United States who are trying
to remarry the beautiful and the use
full. Competent judges who have seen
the Kensngton schools and the EcOle
des Arts Decoratifs at Paris award the
palm of merit, completeness of equip
ment and excellence of design alone
considered, to the Baron Steiglit2
school, This school was established in
1879 with an endowment of 000
rubes, or more than S5.00O000. which
was given by the will of Baron Alex
ander Stiegitz. The ministry of FL
nance assumed the administration of
this fund. or. more exactly, the super
vision, the active management having
been entrusted to friends OF art and to
school and museum.
attendance and few classes in 1881. 1t
has been steadily growing and en-
larging it's field ever since. The
museum was opened in 1896. The
buildings. which cost over a million
rubles, are admira bly, adapted to the
purpose for which they were designed
The school and the museum are prac-
tically under the same roof. Students
have only to step out of the class room
to find themselves in the eXcellently
arranged special collections illustrating
the artistic taste of every age and
country. The buildings are in them
selves delight to artists, every hall
illustrating a different style of decOra-
ton.
PLAN OF INSTRUCTION.
The school has apparently reached
almost it's maximum development with
the present endowment. 1t has thirty
three teachers and 300 students. An an
nual exhibition of the work of the
school is given every January. The
plan of instruction is liberal. There
is a four years course in science and
languages including religious instruc-
ton, literature. elementary geometry,
Russian history, general history and
the history of the fine arts and applied
arts. elementary anatomy, chemistry
and technology, the methodics Of draw
ing. practical aesthetics and the French
and German languages.
Among the special art classes are
majolica and porcelain painting, glass
painting. wood carving, eng aving on
wood and metals. etching, compost
tion of patterns for wall paper, textiles,
etc, and decorative painting for thea
tres. The general art classes include
pencil and pen drawing, oil painting,
water color painting, the preparation
of architectural plans and of drawings
for furniture, modelling, etc. The
technical branches are under the SUI
pervison of the Ministry of Finance,
which, in the Russian system, direc $
all technical instruction, while the
Ministry of Public Instruction over
sees the general education of the pub
lie. The school is under the general
direction of M. KOtoff, and the museum
is under the charge Of NJ. Carbonier.
CO-EDUCATION THE RULE.
Pupils are of both sexes. They must
stand an entrance examination and
must be over fourteen years old. There
are regular pupils, who receive a di-
ploma as skilled draughtsmen" upon
the completion of their course and
pupils in elective branches. The fees
are moderate. and they are applied ex-
clusively to the uses OF the school
proper In addition to the museum. the
school is also equipped with an excell-
ent library. Everything is arranged
with reference to the demands Of the
classes. An instance of the thorough
ness with which the planners of the
school have gone to wo,s Is afforded by
the cabinet of natural objects. 1t in
cludes a collection of moths and but
tertiies from every country in the
world This collection has recen Iy
been purchased in Paris at an expense
of 5000 francs. Another recent acquisi-
tlon are four immense Gobelins which
cost 25O0O0 francs. There are perhaps
altogether twenty excellent specimens
though the school does not design in
Producing Gobelin weaving into Russia.
They We're desired merely as illustra-
tions of the artistic taste of different
periods.
Everything is at the disposal of the
pupils, and Is arranged most admirably
for their accommodation. The result
of this investment is that, instead of
procuring all their furniture and bric-
a-brac from France and England. as
was formerly the case, the wealthy
Russians are now patronizing home
talent to large extent. Side by side
In the shops with imported goods may
be found large ateliers for every sort
of decoration.