The Washington herald., 1908-02-09
G. v. U. HAS NEW AIM
Establishes School of Arts
and Crafts in Capital.
HISTORY OF DEVELOPMENT
Excavations Bring 20 Light Articles
Manufactured Under Regime of
Kings of First Dynasty in Egypt.
Golden Age in Greece-Infiuence on
Byzantium and Rome In Early Days.

An event of no small significance 20
Washington locally is the establishment
of a School of Arts and Crafts at the
George Washington University.
The remarkable success of similar de-
partments at Columbia University, New
York City, at Chicago University, and
elsewhere gives every reason to anticipate
rapid development of this work in
Washington.
The great movement for the cultivation
of the art handicrafts, particularly the
arts of the home. which was started in
England 10y Ruskin and William Morris.
has spread TO nearly all the large cities
Of the country and found its way into our
public schools. The training Of teachers
capable of developing these branches and
the instruction of those who wish TO
learn these arts for their own sake. has
become a very important part of the
work Of educational institutions.
our museums display numerous pieces
Of work dating back 70 prehistoric times,
and SO it Is not known exactly when the
arts or mystic sciences, as they were
called in early times, began. The earliest
authentic date that can be fixed in this
connection is about 400 B. G.
Begins in Egypt.
Prof Flinders Petrle, of London. while
eXcavating at Abydos. in Lower Egypt.
discovered the tombs of the kings of the
First Dynasty, in which he found many
articles of personal adornmcnt and
domestic use. These discoveries show that
civilization, even in these early times,
was highly developed. Ii is probable that
from Egypt disseminated the knowledge
Of the crafts, and that until about $50
y. O. these were much more developed
in Assyria, China. Persia, and India than
in Europe.
Then came the golden age Of art in
Greece when the lesser arts were lust as
perfect as those of sculpture painting,
and architecture. After the Christian era
began, scholars on both sides of the great
religious strife which agitated Europe
made diligent search in old writings to
uphold their beliefs. which proved of
great value in opening up the gates of
the mystic sciences and arts, that had
previously been closed 10 all save a few
priests.
Influences Rome, Too.
The symbolic mysticism Of the Egyp-
tians Influenced the arts of Byzantium
and of Rome considerably. and early
Christian art is flooded with allegorical
representations. This art became so
abused that there was a stop put to it in
6y2 a. D. up to which time the decoration
OF churches had been magniicentt They
We're covered with mosaics, paintings. and
figured draperics fun OF splendor, the
most superb exponent of this class being
the Church OF st. Sophia, at CONSTANT
nople
Then came the Goths' invasion of Eu-
rope and the persecution of artists by the
Iconoclasts. which lasted until $50 A. D.
In S01 CharIemagne encouraged the arts
by passing law to decorate the entire
exterior of churches.
Tn Britain the arts introduced by the
Romans never ceased TO be practiced, and
fn the ninth century Illuminating and
metal work were developed i'm ireland to
Il greater extent than IN any other Eu-
ropean country. Alfred the Great encour-
aged greatly the bringing over of artists
and artisans from the Continent to assist
him iu building
About The ninth century Arabic art
reached its highest pinnacle in Spain
where the famous chemists got their
knowledge from the Greeks and Egyp-
tians. In the tenth century there were
nothing but upheavals throughout Eu-
rope.
Training of Old Craftsmen.
The beautiful work of the old crafts
man was the result Of the training he
got in the workshop. The reason that
workshop training does not produce such
workmen now seems to lie not in skill,
but in the knowledge of the craft and in
the love for it. The old craftsman knew
the process by which the comparatively
few materials he used were prepared, and
the Introduction Of a new process was a
great event.
II organized I'm the right way technical
education can hope TO revive the lost ira
ditiOus OF the crafts or. better still. can
hope To establish sound standards of work
and materials suited TO the altered con-
diuons Of the present day.
During the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries there was little craftsmanship
of the highest grade. owing TO the rise OF
the machine Toward the end of the
Victorian ueriod the furnishings of the
home became so hideousy ugly that
lovers of the beautiful could not help
crying out at these evils
G. w. L. Aided by Friends.
George Washington University has been
enabled 10 maugurate its school Of arts
and crafts through the generosity of
friends, who have provided the necessary
funds for the initial equipment Among
the stanch supporters are the National
Society of Fine Arts. Mrs Frank o. Low
den. Mr. and Mrs. LarZ Anderson. Mrs.
William A Clark Mrs. Henry @ Per
kins. Miss TuCkerman. Mrs w Murray
Crane, Mrs Hennen Jennings, and b. II.
Warner.
The school has been most fortunate in
securing as a director of instruction
Henry c. Niche. a pupil of Prof. Dow.
OF New York, and a craftsman of the
highest standing Mr. Michie was trained
in the best schools OF this country and
England, and is we'll known here as
teacher Of experience.
Associated with him will be Miss Marian
Lane. a pupil of Sangorsd and Sutcline.
of London. and Miss Frances Louise
Thompson. a pupH of Howard Helmick
also known I'm Washington. The courses
IN arts and crafts will include principles
of design, bookbinding metal work, en-
Rmeling. stenciling, wood block printing,
water-color and free-hand drawing.
PPfFOEaUm aud EaFthuUaIxas