The Royal Scottish Academy Life School

Start Date: 24 February 1840

Type: Art school classes

Description: Life Drawing, Modelling and Painting classes. The Life School operated for eight months of the year, in two sessions: the winter session (November to February) met for two hours, five evenings a week; and the summer session (March to June) for two hours, five mornings a week.

From 1867, one morning class permitted.

Instruction was given in rotation by visiting academicians.

Orginally started in 1840 as the 'School of the Living Model'.

The Life School opened and closed through the time period, depending on availability of premises. The RSA closed its Life Class in 1853 to focus on the reference library and teaching collection, then re-opened on the 22 November 1859, when the new premises shared with the National Gallery of Scotland was established at The Mound.

Policy: 'The life School is no place for inexperienced draughtsmen [...] therefore [...] in addition to the ordinary Academy drawings submitted, each applicant should be required to submit the specimen drawings; one, from nature, of the skeleton; one, from the round, of a well known antique statue; all in pure outline, or with the faintest indication of shadow.'

Classes comprised of:
1. The Study of Life with reference to Anatomical Construction, and to Motion; and with reference to Essential Form and Character.
2. The Study of Life with reference to Colour and general Execution.

Students generally limited to 24 were maintained by stringent selection and regular attendance.

Competition Details: Keith Prize & Academy medal was awarded to the best historical picture, and medal for the best figure or group in sculpture and for the best architectural design executed by students of the Academy, which is then sent to the exhibition of the Academy

Citing this record

'The Royal Scottish Academy Life School', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib6_1208528427, accessed 24 Mar 2023]