The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-11


"RichmOnd, Virginia, has nm active
Hrt club, which In conducting an up-to-
date md excellent school, with life
cIasscs both for men aud for women
cinsses In elementary drawing, stili
life, sculpture and iIIustrnfion.,
The above news items appears In the
January number OF art and Progress"
the official magazine of the American
Federation OF Arts. TO u number or
Richmond people this will be n rcvcl-
alton First, because that natural hu-
man tendency to overlook what is close
at hand has interfcrcd with realiza-
ton Of the steady growth and advance
ment OF the art school within the Dor
ders OF Richmond: second, because
modern Richmonds enormous CONNER
cial growth has overshadowed the
aesthetic development OF her citizens:
third. because the Art Club itself has
just arrived at that stage when it can
mike known to the public what 1t has
been so busily occupied In doing in the
past-laying the foundation on which
It's present efficiency rests.
The art instruction given in the Art
Clubs school and in the various schools.
colleges and institutes OF Richmond is
nm essential feature of the general art
movement Following the present re-
view of the Art Club School will appear
reviews of the art classes in the schools
The Free Class In the Art Club.
Throughout the eighteen years Of its
existence the Art Club OF Richmond has
made a feature Of its weekly free
classes for members, now held on Fri
day and Saturday afternoons. The
present attendance averages seventy
five week. Prior to the establish
mcnt OF the club in its present home.
the free class was held In tho valen-
drawings from the exceptionally limo
casts OF antique statuary To tie found
there. Al present the students make
most Of their drawings from life and
sim life visiting the Valentine Muse
um TO study the history of art.
Additional Cinsses.
In addition TO the weekly free classes.
regular morning. afternoon and night
classes arc supported by tuition fees.
No professional achievement in draw
ing or painting may be made without
the students working in a life class
The difficulties OF obtaining profess
sional life models In Richmond have
been met BY tho clubs importing a
professional model once or twice a
year. An earnes; body Of students re-
spond to this effort on the part of the
Art Club. their work giving evidence
OF serious study and material advance
During November and December of this
session q life class has been held here.
The high rank which Richmond Art
Club students have taken in the New
York and Philadelphia art schools is
a tribute to tho work OF the determined
men and women composing the Art
Club.
Portrait Glass.
Next in educational Importance 10 tho
life class stands the portrait class. AS
anatomy and construction are studied
in the former so character is studied
IN the latter class. The portrait class
in the Art Club is peculiarly interest
ing: for, while Richmond may lack
for professional models, IL abounds in
valuable portrait material. The Sol
oiers' Home has furnished many an in
spiring model-silvcr-gray hair shin
Ing against soft gray coat Ladies with
bit OF embroidery In their hands
willing TO pose while completing their
stitching. have aided the students to
put home atmosphere into their pic
lures Here and there an old negro
Nanny or Uncle, or a young tur-
bancd maidscrvant have added a
local touch. During Lant a wholly
different type is usually represented
for tho society girls and the debu
,antes wishing to fill mite boxes, as
we'll dull mornings, come to the
club and have portrait studies painted
Sculpture Glass.
one OF the students in the sculpture
class has developed an cNccptionally
interesting type of work She has
modelled several statuettes-one Il
dainty girl another comfortable
Mammy-and made relief studies. figure
and landscape Her statucttcs. while
rot resembling II, remind the observer
OF the work Of Bessie Potter Nonnoh.
illustration Class.
Richmond has been the constant
theme of the Illustration class. Books
and stories about Richmond. scenes in
and around Richmond. incidents char
acteristic OF Richmond, have furnished
the material for illustration. This
class last year published a calendar.
each page Of which showed an illus
tration OF a quotation from a book
located In Richmond IN the present
of Richmond post cards.
Design Class.
The principles of design form a
necessary element in all art work.
Therefore. the Importance OF the work
OF the design class is readily under
Club begins work by using the sim
plcst elements To create designs for
borders. circles and an-over patterns.
These exercises ;,, are. in the main done
plicity the students cevelop in their
work skilled elaboration. Color de-
The students here are, learning basic
truths in design, which will fit them
for work in any phase of the decora
tive arts.
Composition Class.
In the composition CLASS Il very dis
tinctive kind of work has grown up.
Working on the theory that the mas
tcrs in art have Invariably painted
their own people, their own countries,
their own ideals. and reflected their
own times, the students have been en-
couraged to paint subjects dear to
them, regardless Of precedent III sub
ject matter. In place of the usual
nymphs. allegorical figures, sheep. for
eign peasants and fancy costumes
which abound in many art school COM
position classes, we find In the clubs
composition classes, senior and junior
the people and scenes from Richmond
and from Virginia. And il is clear
that the Virginia farmer proves as in
terestng as the French peasant-the
Southern COW and calf, chickens or
mules as picturesque as French cattle
and Dutch sheep.
Elba Station. Broad Street and Will
| liam Byrd Park look wonderfully we'll
| in pictures. One of the boys brought
In a statuette of two boys wrestling
fully as thrilling, ana. In spite of its
crudencss, much more vital than Il
copy of the Greek Wrestlers." Imagi-
i'm n,.lr ,-tn Sc, NOT