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
Teachers
Teachers included William Brodie
1867 - 1871
'Visitor to'
Teachers included John Hutchison
1873 - 1891
Correct term would be 'Visitors included'
Teachers included George Clark Stanton
1878 - 1879
'Visitor to'
Teachers included William Grant Stevenson
1887 - 1901
'Visitor to'
Locations
Address 33 Abercromby Place Edinburgh Scotland | View on map
November 1846 - January 1853
p. 36
Address The Mound Princes Street Edinburgh Scotland | View on map
1859 - 1910
Organizing Institution or Venue
Course offered by The Edinburgh College of Art
1907 (Circa) - 1911 (Circa)
Function of The Royal Scottish Academy
Organized by The Royal Scottish Academy
1840 - 1950 (Circa)
Participants
Attendees included Alexander Proudfoot
1843
Attendees included William Brodie
1867 - 1880
Attendees included Thomas Stuart Burnett
1876 - 1881
Attendees included William Birnie Rhind
1878 - 1882
Attendees included John Stevenson Rhind
1881 - 1887
Attendees included Edward W. Kennedy
1897 - 1901
Awarded prize to Thomas Stuart Burnett
1879 - 1880
Awarded Stewart Prize
Awarded prize to Edward W. Kennedy
1898 - 1899
Awarded Stuart Prize
Awarded prize to Edward W. Kennedy
1899 - 1900
Awarded Keith Prize
Curated by George Clark Stanton
1879 - 1893
Speaker Edward Onslow Ford
Gave the Presidential Address
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 22 Sep 2023]
