Year: 1875

Now that the winter is drawing artists are re-
turning to the city and cleaning their we'll worn
brushes, while the students sharpen their pencils and
lay their paletes in preparation for season Of hard
work. Matters at the Academy OF Design consequently
become OF great interest to all Herewith and
tho subject OF what arrangements will be made for the
instruction of pupils during the coming of
vital Importance TO those concerned 1t is doubtful
whether the advantages for pupils will be as great as
formerly and is certain that many who studied in the
Academy last year will study there longer largo
number have determined to change their place and
means OF instruction for the sake OF remain
ing with their former instructor, who
has resigned his position teacher
In the academical schools Among the younger and
ambitious students who have been connected with
the Academy there has for time past been feel
ing of restlessness caused by certain restraints
drawbacks which has hindered their proper progress
1t has boen found difficult TO make satisfactory advance
ment, despite their own hard work, and since last
spring they have met with additional dscouragements
In the first place. Professor L. E. Wlmarth who had
charge of the classes, and whom 1t customary to
reengage for the coming upon the conclusion OF
each term, not re-engaged as usual and had not
been spoken to in regard to resumng his proessorshp
this winter nor had any arrangements apparently
been made to any to supersede him head
of the Academy classes.


Later in the summer we'll authenticated rumor got
afoat to the effect that at the last meeting of the Acad
emy Council it had been decided not to reopen the
schools before December instead OF in October as in
former years Also that II had been determined not to
employ any professor. There is old rule for the
government Of the classes which says that students
will be required each year to study from the antique
before being admitted to the important privileges
of the life school This rule being revived last year.
tha vha ad fin ed with tna
and had already been permitted study from life were
required to to a study from the antique thus
causing needless delay of ten weeks in their proper
work If therefore, the Academy schools not to
reopen till December next work in the life Bonool
would be delayed until the latter part of February,


leaving less than four months of study in this most
important branch.


1t clear the pupils that under such arrange
ment their progress would be almost hopelossly
tarded and If any headway was to be made it must be
through their own independent exertions A meeting
accordingly held and visit made to Mr. Wilmarths
studio in order to ascertain from the Professor himself
how the actually stood and what the prospects
were AS nothing had been said him about acting as
teacher this winter he supposed that instructor
would be engaged In fact he had heard much from
o member of the Council The students con-
sdered that, under the circumstances the best
course they could pursue would be to cut
loose from the Academy, and having secured proper
quarters, TO invite Mr.. Wlmarh to resume his position
as their instructor An organization being effected
under the name of the "Art Students League" with
about seventy members, ladies' and gentlemen Mr..
Wmarth consented to accept the position Of President
Of the society to take charge of the classes and


conduct them on the plan of the Parsian aeliers
studios For the time being his services will be grau


tous. Immediately upon organizing the League pub
lshed circular explaining their intentions and the
immediate causes of their determination. Their OBJ
jects as stated are 'the attainment of higher deve


opment In art studies; the encouragement
OF spirit of unselashness and true friend
ship among the members; the impartng OF valuable in
formation pertaining to art acquired by any of the
members such knowledge to be made the general prop
erty of the society; the accumulation OF works and
books Of art and such properties and material will
best advance the interests of the members mutual help


in study and practical assistance If need be- in time OF


The question OF dues is to be managed economically
possible in order TO make the privileges of member
ship available to all students, ladies and gentlemen,
whose characters approved and who thoroughly
In earnest in their work In its home at the
ner OF Fifth avenue and Sixteenth street, in the
formerly occupied as photograph gallery and directly
above Weber's piano warerooms the League intend
to establish classes for study from the nude and draped
model OF composition, perspective, &c The publica
tion Of the circular containing of the facts given
above elected letter from President Whttredge of the
National Academy Exception was taken TO the para
graph referring to the rumor which had operated
strongly on the minds OF tho already dis
satisfied students. Mr.. whittredgo stated that
in November instead Of in December, rumored Be-
sides the Council, which reported TO havo taken
the Objectionable step, nad no power 10 the
term Of the majority Of members then in session
would expire before the customary time for the fall
opening and at most the outgoing Council could only
recommend the to their successors, who would
take such action they pleased But the young art
lists had fully determined upon their course and had
no idea of changing their plans Their present nen-
ton to open the school about the 1st of October


When the Academy was established just fifty years
since the of its models and rooms allowed to
as many students as could be comfortably accommo-
dated No instruction was afforded them. For many
years the plan was as successful as might be- though
necessarily inadequate for the requirements OF beginners
in the study Of art. Whom, several years later the
building originally occupied was sold the casts &c,
used in the Academy were stored in building at the
Of Broadway and Thirteenth street. where they
lay until 1S63 being then transferred TO tho building
now occupied At the same time students were
stored to their former privileges But the plan which
had been comparatively successful forty years earlier
failed almost entirely, and no step tending toward
Improvement was made before 1870 Then for the


first time artist was employed to take charge of the
Academy classes, whose members were few and far
between to be almost lost among the statues, &C.,
from which they were studying. When found and
counted there proved to be scarcely more than dozen
in all But work was Immediately begun with this
little band It was determined that In order to obtain
admission to the privileges Of academical instruction.
applicants should In the future be required to submit
drawing from plaster cast OF some part of the human
body-head hand or foot The number of pupils In
creased, and at the commencement of the last term
twelve ladies and twenty gentlemen had Joined the
classes Before the season was over the
and instead of twelve ladies' there were fifteen
The term, beginning in October, ended in juno,
classes into which the schools divided met every
Monday, Wednesday Friday. One class OF gente-
received instruction for hours in the morning
while another worked from seven till nino in the even
Ing the class OF ladies meeting in the afternoon. This
latter class did not begin work last year until late In
February, instead of in November as customary but
this was owing to no fault Of the Academy.


Instead Of thrco times a week, the members OF the
newly organized League will meet every day the classes
being arranged as formerly, working, however three
hours at time. Having already acquired sufficient
proficiency in drawing from the antique, they will


fine themselves chiefly during the coming winter TO study
in the life school. Composition and perspecuve-two
necessary branches which never taught in the
be carefully studied, and tho new ar
rangement OF study hours will make gain OF over 100
hours of the work each term Mr.. Wilmarth, who has
undertaken the arduous and unremunerativo task Of
instrncting the classes of the League states explicitly
that he has desire intention OF opposing the |
work of the Academy On the contrary, he is acad-
emcian and considers the National Academy the proper
school for students in this country AS the disn-
gushed sculptor, Mr. j. O. A. Ward, remarked to |


UIt is difficult enough for art 10