Belfast School of Art
Other names: Normal School of Design (1849-1855), Government school of Art (1870-1900), Municipal Technical Institute (1907-1930) Municipal College of Technology (1931-70) College of Art (1931)
Foundation date: 1849
Function: Art school
Policy: Aims of the School of Design:
'To extend to the knowledge of the arts and the principals of design as applicable to manufacturers.' (Ulster Folklife, p .20)
Rules: For the School year 1914-1915 Students were required to study a general art course and 'a student who has passed through the normal courses may follow up one or more of the specialist courses, each course leading to some branch of professional art-work, or to the Diploma Examination of the Board of Education.' (1914-1915 Prospectus, p. 333)
History or description: First exhibition for the Belfast Association of artists in 1836 called for the setting up of 'A Normal School of Artistic Education, at which lectures on the principals of designing and colouring will be an essential part.' (Art and Design Matters, p. 32)
Normal School of Design in Belfast established 1849, it housed in 2 rooms of the north wing of the Royal Belfast Academical institution and opened to the public 1850 with headmaster Mr Claude Lorraine Nursey.
The school closed in 1855 after government funding ceased in 1853 and a general lack of interest from local industry and manufacturers in Belfast.
1870 the Government school of Art Belfast opened, with Mr Thomas Mitchner Lindsay as headmaster and increased training geared towards local industry, particularly architecture and textiles.
George Trobridge, headmaster and teacher 1880-1900 introduced nude drawing classes (for students over 17, 'students too young drew silhouettes thrown onto a hung sheet by light placed beyond the model' - William Scott, 1928.) Life Model Wage first appears on balance sheet in 1881.
In 1884 annual report Trobridge claimed 'Four years ago, we had no students in Modelling; now some ten or twelve are working diligently occupying nearly all available space.' Materials for Modelling class (£1 18s 6) first appear on 1884 balance sheet. Advanced exam in Modelling from Antique and Design first appear in 1898.
1900 school merged with Belfast College of Technology and in 1901 the new Municipal School of Belfast opened With Mr R. A. Dawson as headmaster
College of Art transferred to the top floor of the Municipal Technical Institute building in 1907, remaining until 1970 – the new premises had sculpture and modelling rooms (The Art College occupied 30 rooms in all).
1921, as a result of the Ireland Act and establishment of N.I. Ministry of Education, allowing the school to award its own diplomas.
The Municipal Technical Institute changed its name to the Municipal College of Technology in 1930 and so the school of art became known as the College of Art.
A collection of plaster casts formed a vital part of teaching and learning at the Belfast School of Art (unfortunately destroyed when the school moved premises in 1971), illustrating the treatment of figures and ornament in sculpture and applied art.
'Casts of the following figures form part of the equipment of the antique room; Venus of Milo, Venus de Medici, Fighting (or Borghese) Gladiator, Apollino (de Medici), Dancing Faun, Diana Robing, Throwing Discobolus, Jason, Antinous, Torso Belvedere, Discobolus, Germanicus, Boy extracting Thorn (or the Spinario), Relief or a 'Victory', Apollo (Statuette), Slave, four portions of the Panathenaic Frieze of the Parthenon Athens, Torso of Venus, 'The Athlete', 'The Teucer', Lorenzo di Medici, Boy with a Goose, the Ilissus, David by Donatello etc., etc.' (1914-1915 Prospectus, p. 338)
Activities: art classes, art union, classes in drawing, classes in life drawing , classes in modeling, classes in painting, classes in woodcarving, exhibitions (members only), lectures on art, social events
Publications: annual reports
Benefits: eligible for awards, medals, prizes, use of library, use of society's premises
Composition: amateur artists, amateurs, men and women members, lay members, working artists
Funding types: fees
Employees (sample figures)
Headmaster
Wages: £332 41s. 9d.
Notes: for the year 1870-71
Second Master
Wages: £117 7s. 1d.
Notes: for the year 1870-71
Headmaster
Wages: £603 2d.
Notes: for the year 1872 (15 months wages)
Second Master
Wages: £183 4s. 11d.
Notes: for the year 1872
Art Pupil Teacher
Wages: £40
Notes: for the year 1873
Life Model
Wages: £3 10s. 6d.
Notes: for the year 1881
Employees, Students & Members
Numbers: 441
Period Start: 1870
Period End: 1871
Numbers: 431
Period Start: 1871
Period End: 1872
Numbers: 416
Period Start: 1873
Period End: 1874
Numbers: 416
Period Start: 1874
Period End: 1875
Numbers: 492
Period Start: 1875
Period End: 1876
Numbers: 462
Period Start: 1876
Period End: 1877
Numbers: 438
Period Start: 1877
Period End: 1878
Numbers: 471
Period Start: 1878
Period End: 1879
Numbers: 584
Period Start: 1879
Period End: 1880
Numbers: 455
Period Start: 1880
Period End: 1881
Numbers: 492
Period Start: 1881
Period End: 1882
Numbers: 528
Period Start: 1882
Period End: 1883
Numbers: 547
Period Start: 1883
Period End: 1884
Numbers: 565
Period Start: 1884
Period End: 1885
Numbers: 497
Period Start: 1886
Period End: 1887
Numbers: 568
Period Start: 1891
Period End: 1892
Numbers: 521
Period Start: 1896
Period End: 1897
Numbers: 374
Period Start: 1900
Period End: 1901
Locations
Located at College Square East Belfast | View on map
1849 - 1900
North Wing of the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. 1849 The Belfast School of Design occupied 2 rooms, by 1853 it occupied 8.
Located at 170 Upper North Street Belfast | View on map
1901 - 1907
Temporary rented accommodation while Municipal Technical Institute being built
Located at College Square North Belfast | View on map
1907 - 1970
Occupied the top floor of the Municipal College of Technology building.
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Classes offered included Stone Carving (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
1913
Classes offered included Enamelling on Metal (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1902-1915
1902 - 1915
Classes offered included Artistic Metal Work (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
1902 - 1915
Classes offered included Wood Carving for Furniture, Decorative Objects, and Architectural Decoration (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast)
1902 - 1915
Courses offered Specialised Modelling Course (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
1898
Includes Modelling from Antique and Modelling from Design
Classes offered included Trade Modelling Class (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast)
1884 (Circa)
Courses offered included Hand and Wrist, Foot and Head, From Life (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Preliminary Practice in Handicrafts (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Modelling from Casts (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914
Classes offered included Modelling from Natural Forms (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Modelling from Life (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Modelling Ornament and Drapery (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included History and Methods of Engraving and other Processes of Artistic Reproduction
Classes offered included Practical Crafts Bearing on Artistic Reproduction (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Courses offered included Specialised Industrial Design and Handicrafts Courses (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Drawing or Modelling from Historic Ornament
Classes offered included History and Styles of Ornament
Classes offered included Figure Composition (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Classes offered included Jeweller's and Silversmith's Work (Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast), 1914-1915
Organized Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast. Exhibition of Art Work, 1914
1914
Institutional and Business Connections
Donation received from Fitzpatrick Brothers
1872
£5
Contributed to local prize fund
Associated People
Assistant principals included D.W. Raimbach
1849 - 1854
Second Master
Assistant principals included John Teesdale
1870 - 1879
Assistant principals included Sumner
1879 - 1 November 1890
Resigned 1890
Assistant principals included Alfred R. Baker
1890 - 1934
Assistant teachers included Gracey
1873 - 1876
pupil teacher of elementary evening class
Assistant teachers included James Coulon
1876 - 1877
pupil teacher of elementary evening class
Assistant teachers included M. Kidd
1878 - 1879
Taught evening classes for both sexes.
Assistant teachers included Donaldson
1879 - 1891
Assistant teachers included M. R. Minshull
1879 - 1892
Assistant teachers included Carew-Smyth
1881 - 1884
Assistant teachers of design included F. M. Bonnaud
1917 (Presumed)
Also teacher of Enamelling, Metalwork, Jeweller's work, Tile & Pottery Making.
Donation received from Michael Fitzpatrick
£500
Gave prize to Richard Quiller Lane
1873
£1
1st prize awarded for Wood or Stone Carving, Panel
Gave prize to William McLean
1884
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to J. Barry Cox
1884
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling from Drawing, or from Nature or Design
Gave prize to Samuel Duffin
1884
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Samuel Duffin
1885
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling from Drawing, or from Nature, or from Design
Gave prize to Edmund T. Thompson
1885
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Thomas Kelly
1885
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Edmund T. Thompson
1886
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Robert Hamilton
1891
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to S. McDonnell
1900
5s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Samuel Ferres Lynn
Prize for modelling.
Gave prize to John Malcolm
1886
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Gave prize to Samuel Dawson
1872
10s.
2nd place prize awarded for Ornament or Figure from the Cast
Gave prize to George Holland
1872
10s.
2nd place prize awarded for Ornament or Figure from the Cast
Gave prize to Richard Quiller Lane
1872
£1
1st prize awarded for Carved Wood Panel
Gave prize to J. Da Vinci Louch
1872
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Carved Wood Panel
Gave prize to George Holland
1872
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Design For Circular Panel (Plaster Model)
Gave prize to Samuel Dawson
1872
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Design For Circular Panel (Plaster Model)
Gave prize to Thomas Darragh
1873
£1
1st prize awarded for modelling in clay - Ornament or Figure from the Cast
Gave prize to Thomas Darragh
1873
£1
1st prize awarded for modelling - Design for Plaster Capital
Gave prize to George Holland
1873
10s.
2nd prize awarded for modelling - Design for Plaster Capital
Gave prize to Thomas McClure Johnston
1873
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Wood or Stone Carving, Panel.
Gave prize to Sydney M. Thompson
1876
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Design for Architectural Decoration - An Ornamental Wrought Iron Railing
Gave prize to James McMillen
1876
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Design for Architectural Decoration - An Ornamental Wrought Iron Railing
Gave prize to Robert May
1877
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast, or Original Design
Gave prize to John May
1877
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast, or Original Design
Gave prize to Finlayson Thornburn
1878
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast or Original Design
Gave prize to John May
1878
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast or Original Design
Gave prize to John May
1879
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Original Work
Gave prize to William McLean
1881
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast or Original Design
Gave prize to William Roy
1882
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast
Gave prize to J. Barry Cox
1882
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from the Cast
Gave prize to William McLean
1882
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Original Work, Modelled from Drawing or Design
Gave prize to J. Barry Cox
1883
£1
1st prize awarded for Modelling - Original Work, Modelled from Drawing or Design
Gave prize to William McLean
1883
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Original Work, Modelled from Drawing or Design
Gave scholarship to Francis (Frank) Wiles
1909
W. H. Patterson Scholarship
Gave scholarship to (James) Seamus Stoupe
1896 (Circa) - 1900 (Presumed)
Free Studentship for years 1896-1900
Gave scholarship to W. R. Gordon
1898 - 1900
Free Studentship
Headmasters included Claude Lorraine Richard Wilson Nursey
1849 - 1854
Lecturers included George Galway MacCann
1938
Members of committee included Michael Fitzpatrick
1850 (Circa)
Members of committee included Thomas Fitzpatrick
1870
Board of Managers
Members of committee included Richard Quiller Lane
1894
Member of Science & Art Committee for May exams
Principals included J. D. Croome
February 1856 - July 1858
Principals included Thomas Michener Lindsay
1870 - April 1880
Principals included George Trobridge
1880 - 1900
Principals included Robert Arthur Dawson
1901 - 1919
Principals included Ivor Beaumont
1919 - 1951
Longest serving Headmaster in the school's history.
Professors of modeling included (James) Seamus Stoupe
1904 - 1938
Taught Stone Carving and Plaster Casting
Students funded by Board of Education local scholarship included Richard Quiller Lane
1875
Students funded by Board of Education local scholarship included Thomas F. Bell
1875
Students included George MacD. Kane
Students included Ian Friers
Students included Henry P. Haslett
Students included John Langtry Lynas
Students included Arthur Windrim
1891
10s.
2nd prize awarded for Modelling - Copy from Cast
Students included Thomas Fitzpatrick
1850 (Circa)
Students included Samuel Ferres Lynn
1850 (Circa)
Students included Samuel Dawson
1872 - 1873
Students included George Holland
1872 - 1873
Students included Richard Quiller Lane
1872 - 1875
Students included J. Da Vinci Louch
1872
Students included Gracey
1873
Students included Thomas Darragh
1873
Students included Thomas McClure Johnston
1873
Students included Thomas F. Bell
1875
Students included James Coulon
1875 (Presumed) - 1877
Students included Sydney M. Thompson
1876
Students included James McMillen
1876
Students included Robert May
1877
Students included John May
1877 - 1879
Students included M. Kidd
1877 (Circa) - 1878
Students included Finlayson Thornburn
1878 (Circa)
Students included Donaldson
1879 (Circa)
Students included M. R. Minshull
1879 (Circa)
Students included William McLean
1880 (Circa) - 1884
Students included Carew-Smyth
1881 (Circa) - 1884
Passed Art Masters certificate in Belfast School of Art 1884
Students included Sophia Rosamond Praeger
1882
Studied under George Trobridge, ARCA
Students included William Roy
1882 (Circa) - 1883
Students included J. Barry Cox
1882 (Circa) - 1884
Students included Samuel Duffin
1883 (Circa) - 1885
Students included Edmund T. Thompson
1884 (Circa) - 1886
Students included Thomas Kelly
1884 (Circa) - 1885 (Circa)
Students included John Malcolm
1885 (Circa) - 1886 (Circa)
Students included Robert Hamilton
1890 (Circa) - 1891 (Circa)
Students included Arthur Windrim
1890 (Circa) - 1895
Students included W. R. Gordon
1895 (Circa) - 1900 (Presumed)
Students included (James) Seamus Stoupe
1896 (Circa) - 1900 (Presumed)
Students included S. McDonnell
1899 (Circa) - 1901 (Circa)
Students included Anne Crawford Acheson
1904 (Circa) - 1906
Dates of study from Llewellyn (2010).
Students included Francis (Frank) Wiles
1905 - 1909
Students included Ethel Marguerite Walker
1910 (Circa) - 1914 (Presumed)
Students included Dorothy B. Scott
1914
Students included John Luke
1923 - 1926
Enrolled in evening classes, before enrolling full-time in 1925.
Students included George Galway MacCann
1926
Students included Frederick Edward McWilliam
1926 - 1928
Students included William George Scott
1928 - 1931
Students included William Easson Tocher
1930 (Circa) - 1932 (Circa)
Whilst studying at the art school Tocher won a number of prizes:
- ‘Royal Dublin Society Irish National Art Competition’
Class 27 – A set of three time studies in any Medium of the nude figure from life: Prize awarded to Crawford Mitchell, Belfast School of Art, Commended William Easson Tocher, Belfast College of Art (Irish Times, 5th July, 1930, p.5).
- In 1931
Class 17: 1st prize awarded to William E. Tocher, College of Art , Belfast
Class 21: 1st prize awarded to William E. Tocher (Irish Times, 13th June, 1931, p.13).
- ‘Royal Dublin Society Awards’
Class 4, optional medium: Prize of £5 to painter of no.8, landscape, William Easson Tocher.
‘Irish national Art Competition’
Class 13, students attending schools of art under the age of 25: Prize awarded to William E. Tocher.
Class 16, sheet of 3 drawings in any medium: Prize awarded to William E. Tocher.
Class 17, Sheet of 3 time studies: Prize of £2 awarded to William E. Tocher.
Class 26, Figure composition, suitable for decoration of a school or library: Prize awarded to William E. Tocher. (Irish Times, 7th July, 1932 p.4)
Teachers included John Luke
Taught part-time during 1930s.
Teachers included Robertson
1874
Taught machine construction and mechanical drawing
Teachers included G. W, Rushworth
1885 - 1887
Teacher of Applied Textile Design
Teachers included W. J. Kilpatrick
1885 - 1887
Teacher of Applied Textile Design
Teachers included Henry C. Morrow
1889 - 1899
Teacher of Design and Decorative Painting
Teachers included W. R. Gordon
1896 - 1899
Student teacher
Teachers included Robert Hamilton
1899
Teachers included Albert J. H. Clarke
1899
Teachers included A. H. Trobridge
1899
Teachers included E. M. Stewart
1899 - 1917 (Presumed)
First full time female art teacher from 1905, after working part time for 4 years previously.
Teachers included W. C. Maxwell
1899
Teachers included George Trobridge
1901 - 1906
Teachers included Newton Herbert Penprase
1 October 1911 - 1953
Assistant Art Master. Initially Employed at £120 per annum. Taught in several areas including Drawing, Architecture and on Building Trades courses. Remained until retirement.
Teachers included Alice Brittain
1914 (Presumed)
Taught Enamelling
Teachers included Alexander Pender Crichton
1929 - 1931
Resigned after 18 months
Teachers included William Murray
1929 - 1969
Teachers included James Dibble
1932
Taught Lettering & Calligraphy, as well as pottery and silversmithing.
Teachers of drawing included David Gould
1892 - 1915
Began as student assistant teacher
Teachers of modeling included Joseph Else
Dates to be confirmed, also taught Anatomy at Belfast
Teachers of painting included S.C. Taylor
1917 (Presumed)
Master of Painting and Still Life.
Teachers of sculpture included George Galway MacCann
1938 - 1939
Teachers of woodcarving included James Edgar Winter
1917 (Presumed)
Also taught inlaying.
Teachers of woodcarving included Charles Edward Millard Purdy
1914 (Presumed)
Taught Woodcarving and Inlaying
Publications
Advertised in The Arts and Crafts Society of Ireland and Guild of Irish Art Workers Catalogue of The Fifth Exhibition, 1917
1917
p. 89
Sources
'The Belfast College of Art: A Brief History and Memoir', Ulster Folklife, 2004
2004
pp. 19-31
A School of Design for Belfast 1849-1960, 2009
2009
Art and Design Matters
1994
pp.31-51
Belfast Government School of Art Prospectus and Prize Scheme for Session 1899-1900, 1899
1899
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1870-1871, 1871
1871
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1872, 1873
1873
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1873, 1874
1874
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1874, 1875
1875
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1875, 1876
1876
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1879, 1880
1880
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1880, 1881
1881
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1881, 1882
1882
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1882, 1883
1883
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1883, 1884
1884
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1884, 1885
1885
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1885, 1886
1886
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1886, 1887
1887
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1891, 1892
1892
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1896, 1897
1897
Belfast Government School of Art Report of The Board of Managers for The Year 1900-1901
1901
Belfast Government School of Art, Prospectus, Constitution and Rules, 1870
1870
Belfast Government School of Art, Prospectus, Constitution and Rules, 1871
1871
Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast, session 1914-1915, Exhibition of Art Work, 1914
1914
The Arts and Crafts Movement in Ireland, 1992
1992
pp. 97-102
The Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast, Prospectus 1914-1915
1914
Citing this record
'Belfast School of Art', 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/organization.php?id=ann_1232658851, accessed 23 Mar 2023]
