fiat Arts.
In adopting photography as one of their means of education, the Department of Science and Art have entered upon a new and most pro- ductive source of instruction. Not that the photographs differ from those that can be procured elsewhere, except in the important quality of cheapness, and this is only, in our opinion, a fair advantage offered to the public in return for the large expenditure upon the department. It is at the same time line very properly taken up in furtherance of the great objects which have been deliberately placed under the especial care and direction of the Science and Art Department by the Council on Education. That the sale of these perfect copies of works of art at a
price which literally brings the finest examples into familiar acquaint- ance and common use, should be complained of by "the trade," is only
what was to be expected ; it has called forth the old cry against Govern- ment trading as repressive of private enterprise and the employment of talents and capital. But the public benefit conferred is so universal, the
motive is so good, and the private interests concerned are really so in- significant, that there is no room for hesitation as to this being as legiti- mate an employment of the public service as that of Government school- masters and art-teachers.
In a former notice of the admirable collection in the South Kensington Museum, we mentioned especially the photographs of the Raphael Cartoons at Hampton Court as a remarkable instance of the value of photography as a cheap means of instruction in art. The only copies of these immor- tal works of Raphael available till now were the set of beautiful engrav- ings got up by Mr. Holloway, which cost originally about 40 guineas, and as many thousands in engraving. These prints the present proprie- tors will be very happy to furnish complete for one guinea; while the Department supplies five different sizes, varying from 48 by 30 inches to 8 by 5 inches, at a charge of from 4s. for the smallest set of seven, to not quite 51. for the largest; the photograph conveying the character and style of the original with far greater truth than the engraving. The tariff established for " positive " impressions of all- copies from works of art in foreign museums, and in other collections difficult of access to the public, is arranged according to size-60 square inches for 74, and 21; for every 20 square inches up to 500. The objects in the South Ken- sington Museum are reproduced and "negatives" supplied, so that an infinity of examples can be thus distributed at this small cost. The principle has been extended also to the objects in the British Museum, of which formerly the photographs were charged at 3s. 6d. each at the Museum. An arrangement has now been entered into by which the
public will be able to obtain copies of the objects in the British Museum upon the same cheap terms; the "negatives," which are the property
of the Trustees, having been transferred to Kensington. Photographs of the sculptures found at Budrum, the supposed remains of the tomb of Mausolus, and the Cologne charter with the seals, have already been prepared. The rationale of this cheap production is, that a class of instruction in photography having been formed of men belonging to the Royal Engi- neers, a regular printing staff has been selected from the corps. All photographs are subjected to examination, and none passed for issue to the public except such as are satisfactory specimens and good average proofs of the subjects they represent. In August last year, the copies of the cartoons, of the Raphael drawings in the Louvre and many other rare drawings were shown, and the result was that a demand came from all parts of the country, so large, that it was impossible to meet it. The total required by the public and the schools connected with the depart- ment was 15,770 copies up to March 1860. And it has been found necessary to open a register from which the " printing " is now going on according to priority of application. A separate exhibition-room and superintendent have been established in consequence of the great success which has attended the production of these cheap photographs. The National Portrait Gallery is now freely open to the public without any ticket. The pictures have been rearranged during the recess, and a portrait of Cecil isbury, the "little beagle" of James the First, and a full length Wish Solomon" in the robes of the garter, are new additions. t,
A proposal is made`tO establish a new dictrict school of art., into which the present "Finsbury School" will be merged, under the direction of the Government Council on Education. A museum, with a gallery of sculpture and pictures is a necessary part of the plan, to carry out which, some 50001. 28 to be raised by subscription. This project only shows the evil of having placed the South Kensington Museum so far out of the reach of those who are disposed to avail themselves of the school of art- manufacture.
A statue of Wren at the vacant corner of St. Paul's Churchyard, has been proposed as a suitable gift to inaugurate the accession of Lord Mayor Cubitt. The statue of Sir John Franklin at Spilsby, for which it was expected Government would grant the bronze, is not being proceeded with in consequence of the refusal to give the metal. A vacancy occurs in the Royal Academy by the death of Mr. E. A. Chalon, R. A., the well-known portrait painter in water-colours, an- nounced last week.
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