Study of ornament from the cast
Chalk Drawing
1840 (drawn)
1840 (drawn)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This drawing was made by a student at the School of Design in Ornamental Art. Students were expected to learn the principles of good design by studying plaster casts of classical sculptures and architectural ornament, and by making careful detailed drawings of them. To encourage high standards, prizes were offered for the best student work.
Purpose
Drawing from casts of figure sculptures was a long-established part of the training for painters and sculptors. When the first schools of design were set up they adopted this feature of art school training, but used casts of architecture and ornament instead of figures. Drawing from casts encouraged students to look closely at the forms and helped them to understand how things were constructed. It also developed their ability to represent a thing accurately and to scale. All these skills were vital for designers who had to make drawings and diagrams to be followed by makers and manufacturers.
Historical Associations
The School of Design in Ornamental Art was established in 1837. The School put together a collection of casts and other works of art for the students to study and copy. In due course these were added to the exhibits at the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, and eventually they became part of the collections of the V&A.
This drawing was made by a student at the School of Design in Ornamental Art. Students were expected to learn the principles of good design by studying plaster casts of classical sculptures and architectural ornament, and by making careful detailed drawings of them. To encourage high standards, prizes were offered for the best student work.
Purpose
Drawing from casts of figure sculptures was a long-established part of the training for painters and sculptors. When the first schools of design were set up they adopted this feature of art school training, but used casts of architecture and ornament instead of figures. Drawing from casts encouraged students to look closely at the forms and helped them to understand how things were constructed. It also developed their ability to represent a thing accurately and to scale. All these skills were vital for designers who had to make drawings and diagrams to be followed by makers and manufacturers.
Historical Associations
The School of Design in Ornamental Art was established in 1837. The School put together a collection of casts and other works of art for the students to study and copy. In due course these were added to the exhibits at the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, and eventually they became part of the collections of the V&A.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Study of ornament from the cast |
| Materials and techniques | Black and white chalks on buff paper |
| Brief description | R. W. Herman, prize drawing for Government School of Design, study of a plaster cast of ornament, 1840 |
| Physical description | A drawing made in chalks |
| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed on the back in pencil 'This drawing obtained the first prize ever offered by the Government School of Design for drawing ornament from the cast.1840' |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
With this drawing, R.W. Herman won the first prize ever awarded by the Government School of Design in South Kensington for a drawing of a cast. Casts were used both as examples of ornament and models for three-dimensional drawing. Drawing from casts would have constituted a major element of the education for most students in schools of design.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Presented to the National Art Training Schools, South Kensington, by the artist |
| Production | Signed and dated 1840 |
| Summary | Object Type This drawing was made by a student at the School of Design in Ornamental Art. Students were expected to learn the principles of good design by studying plaster casts of classical sculptures and architectural ornament, and by making careful detailed drawings of them. To encourage high standards, prizes were offered for the best student work. Purpose Drawing from casts of figure sculptures was a long-established part of the training for painters and sculptors. When the first schools of design were set up they adopted this feature of art school training, but used casts of architecture and ornament instead of figures. Drawing from casts encouraged students to look closely at the forms and helped them to understand how things were constructed. It also developed their ability to represent a thing accurately and to scale. All these skills were vital for designers who had to make drawings and diagrams to be followed by makers and manufacturers. Historical Associations The School of Design in Ornamental Art was established in 1837. The School put together a collection of casts and other works of art for the students to study and copy. In due course these were added to the exhibits at the Museum of Ornamental Art at Marlborough House, and eventually they became part of the collections of the V&A. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.1967-1909 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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