The Glasgow School of Art
Other names: Glasgow Government School of Design
Foundation date: 1840
Active: 1840 -
Function: Art school
Policy: Glasgow's art school, specialises in providing a fine art, design or architecture education.
Rules: Day School sessions; Drawing & Painting; Architecture; Modelling & Sculpture; Design and Decorative Art.
Courses organised similar to the chief Academies and Schools of Art in Britain and abroad.
Diplomas granted in each section.
Centre for the education of Art teachers.
Joint Diplomas in Architecture and for textile art manufacturers in conjunction with the Royal Technical College.
Evening School. - Classes organised similar to those in Day School.
Classes connected to the training of Sculpture include; Metal Work (Repousse and Wrought; Wood and Stone Carving, Modelling Ornament, Modelling from the Antique and Life and Modelling Design. Men and Women in separate classes.Architects also received training in modelling from ornament and life.
Sculpture and Modelling Clases:
Submissions for a Diploma in Modelling & Sculpture supported by the following works:
1) A bust form the life
2) A Figure Modelled in the round from life.
3) A Modelled Study of drapery on the human figure.
4)A sketch composition in relief, containing not less than 3 figures.
5)A figure composition in the round, with or without an Architectural setting
6)A modelled design for some of the smaller crafts: the figure to be employed.
7) Folio of Sketches of historical ornament and Architectural details: lecture notes; museum studies; drawings of ornament and from the Antique and Life
Craft Classes:
Stone Carving, Wood Carving, Plaster work, Metal Casting, Pottery, and Museum Work.
Drawing and painting, design and craft students were also able to receive instruction in modelling and sculpture.
Bursaries in Modelling and Sculpture requirements included;
1) Studies from the Life
2) Not less than 3 monthly sketch compositions done during the session
3) not less than 75% attendance.
Conditions of Bursary;
Candidates must visit London, or one of the art centres in the continent. Sketches and notes of the visit must be submitted to the Director.
Travelling Scholarship;
Conditions for Modelling students;
1) A study in light and shade of a complete figure from the cast.
2)A study in black and white from the living model.
3) A figure modelled in the round from life . Life size.
4) A Modelled study of drapery applied to the human figure, not less than 18" high.
5) A sketch composition in relief, containing not less than three figures, designed to a given subject.
6) Anatomical study executed fro the life, or a sheet of anatomical sketches.
c.1943 Sculpture Department includes ceramics
History or description: Previously known as the Glasgow Government School of Design by the Board of Trade in 1842. It was transferred to the Science and Art Department of the Committee of council on Education in 1852.
In 1869, the school removed to the Corporation Buildings, Sauchiehall Street, and the Trustees of 'Haldane Academy' were added to the Glasgow School of Art. Then established by the Scotch Education Department as the Central Institution for Higher Education in Art, for Glasgow and the West of Scotland.
In 1877 a Branch Art School was established in the Buchanan Institute Greenhead and carried on there until 1887. Managed only by a self elected body and possessing no endowment the school could not be recognised under the Educational Endowment Commissions Act 1882.
In 1892 the Governing Board was made representative of the Public Bodies of the City, and the School was registered under the Companies Act, with the words 'Haldane Academy' omitted.
The memorial stone of the first portion of the new building at 167 Renfrew Street was laid in 1898 and completed in 1899 when that part of the new school was formally opened.
In 1901 the school was recognised by the Scottish Education Department as the Central Institution for Higher Education in Art for the West of Scotland. In 1909, the new portion of the building was completed. In 1916, the Governors extended the school by purchasing the property situated at 164-172 Renfrew Street. These extension buildings were formally opened in 1929.
The School has a collection of casts of ornament and figure from the Antique and later styles.
Bursaries and Studentships open to any student from the Glasgow area.
Travelling Scholarships also offered by the Governors of the Haldane Trust.
Other Scholarships offered funds to study at a London Academy or if an Artisan student to study at the South Kensington School for one month.
Affiliated with numerous secondary schools , which either sent talented students to study at GSA or received freshly qualified art teachers to teach.
Activities: art classes, circulating portfolio, circulation of competition details, classes, classes in brasswork, classes in drawing, classes in landscape painting, classes in life drawing , classes in modeling, classes in modeling from the life, classes in painting, classes in painting from the life, classes in watercolour painting, classes in woodcarving, criticism of works, discussions, discussions on art, exhibitions (members only), lectures, lectures on art, meetings, musical entertainments, musical evenings, news, photographic excursions, professional advice, sketching excursions, social events, social meetings
Publications: annual reports, books, reports
Benefits: advice from fellow members, criticism of work by fellow members, eligible for awards, eligible for exhibition, grants and prizes, guaranteed inclusion in exhibitions, medals, participation in all events, prizes, use of library, use of studio, use of society's premises, use of club premises, hardship fund
Composition: amateur artists, amateur painters, architects, men and women members, professional artists, professional engravers, professional painters, professional portrait painters, professional sculptors, professional writers
Funding types: bequests, entrance fees, fees, public funding
Grants
Purpose: traveling scholarships
Beneficiaries: students
Purpose: education of children
Purpose: prize
Purpose: scholarship
Purpose: relief
Employees, Students & Members
Locations
Address The Glasgow School of Art 167 Renfrew Street Glasgow | View on map
1899 (Circa)
School located at 12 Ingram Street Glasgow | View on map
1845 - 1869
School located at Corporation Buildings 264 Sauchiehall Street Glasgow | View on map
1869 - 1898
Used premises 162 Bath Street Glasgow | View on map
1893 (Circa)
£65
Extension premises for Life and Modelling Classes
Used rooms at Corporation Galleries Sauchiehall Street Glasgow | View on map
1888
Location of annual meeting and distribution of prizes
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Adjudicated The Glasgow School of Art: Modelling Classes
1898
In this year 3 bronze medals, 3 national books, 2 prizes for sets of works and 6 free studentships were awarded.
Functions included The Glasgow School of Art: Modelling Classes
1845 (Circa)
Functions included The Glasgow School of Art: Metal Work, Silver, Brass, Copper and Iron Course, 1845-1913
Functions included The Glasgow School of Art: Wood and Stone Carving Course, 1845-1913
Institutional and Business Connections
Affiliated with The Glasgow School of Art Club
p. 21
Affiliated with Haldane Academy of the Fine Arts
1869 - 1892
p. 5
Affiliated with West of Scotland Technical College
1888
A mutual agreement by the two institutions that certain classes taught by the GSA are recognised by the authorities of the Technical college.
Affiliated with The Glasgow Provincial Commmitte
1907 (Circa)
Affiliated with The Royal Technical College, Glasgow
1907 (Circa)
Affiliated with The Glasgow and West of Scotland College of Domestic Science
1907 (Circa)
p. 5
Affiliated with The Glasgow School of Art Association
1926
Affiliated with The Incorporated Institute of British Decorators
1933 (Circa)
Affiliated with The Scottish Furniture Manufacturers Association
1933 (Circa)
Affiliated with The North-West Engineering Trades Employers Association
1933 (Circa)
Affiliated with The Glasgow and West of Scotland Commercial College
1933 (Circa)
Associated with The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts
1898 (Circa)
Associated with The Royal Scottish Academy
1898 (Circa) - 1948 (Circa)
Associated with The School of the Board of Manufacturers
1898 (Circa)
Associated with Royal College of Art (including National Art Training School)
1898 (Circa)
1775 works, executed by 343 students, were forwarded to South Kensington for Examination.
Associated with Cochran & Fleming
1898 (Circa)
Managed The Glasgow School of Art: Lending Museum Scheme
1923 (Circa)
p. 26
Received membership subscription from Walter Macfarlane & Co.
1868 - 1878
£5
Also on the Committee of Management 1878
Worked with The Edinburgh College of Art
1924 (Circa)
p. 16.
Exchange visits of staff.
Associated People
Adjudicators on panel included John Henderson
1905 - 1906
Judge for Modelling Diploma
Adjudicators on panel included John Keppie
1905 - 1906
Judge for Modelling Diploma
Adjudicators on panel included Johan Keller
1905 - 1906
Judge for Modelling Diploma
Adjudicators on panel included Francis Henry Newbery
1905 - 1906
Judge for Modelling Diploma
Adjudicators on panel included W. Forrest Salmon
1905 - 1908
assessor on Modelling committee
Adjudicators on panel included Johan Keller
1908
assessor on Modelling committee
Adjudicators on panel included John Henderson
1913 - 1914
Served on the Committess of Assessment for Diplomas, Travelling and Maintenance Scholarships and Bursaries, for Modelling and Sculpture section
Adjudicators on panel included Archibald C. Dawson
1928
Assessor
Adjudicators on panel included Maurice Greiffenhagen
1928
Head of painting department and assessor for Modelling and Sculpture Department at Glasgow School of Art
Adjudicators on panel included Andrew Houston
1928
Assessor for Modelling and Sculpture Department
Adjudicators on panel included William McMillan
1928
Assessor
Adjudicators on panel included Alex M. MacKintosh
1928
Assessor
Adjudicators on panel included Walter Nelson
1928
Assessor for Modelling and Sculpture Department
Adjudicators on panel included William Reid Dick
1938
Assessor for Sculpture Dep
Adjudicators on panel included Gilbert Ledward
1948 - 1949
External Assessor for Modelling and Sculpture
Assistant teachers of modeling included James H. McKinnon
1888 (Circa)
Assistant teachers of sculpture included Alexander Proudfoot
1912 - 1913
Assistant Professor in Antique and Life
Assistant teachers of woodcarving included Colin Kenmure
1905 - 1906
Wood carving Instructor. Listed as part of the Design and Decorative Arts Course.
Awarded diploma to John Knox
1928
Awarded diploma to Renie Kilpatrick
1928
Awarded diploma to Joan O Lodge
1928
Chaired by John Keppie
1930
Commendation for diploma in sculpture to Francis C. Dorman
1928
Post-Diploma study
Commendation for diploma in sculpture to James Barr
1933 - 1934
Commendation for diploma in sculpture to Douglas Robertson Bisset
1933 - 1934
p. 60
Directors included Francis Henry Newbery
1885 - 1918
Directors included John Henderson
1918 - 1925
Directors included John D Revel
1928 (Circa)
Directors included William Oliphant Hutchison
1933
Directors included Allan Walton
1943 (Circa)
Directors included Douglas Percy Bliss
1950 (Circa)
Employed Robert T Whiteman
1898
Appointed from industry
Gave award to Archibald C. Dawson
1911 - 1913
Haldane Trust Award
Gave award to Tom Macnair
1948
£6
awarded by the RSA panel
Gave bursary to Amedeo Giuliani
£10
Recipiant of Modelling and Sculpture Bursary
Gave bursary to Phyllis Muriel Cowan Archibald Clay
1905 - 1906
Bursaries for Modelling.
Gave bursary to Walter D Davidson
1912 - 1813
£50
Only student of modelling to receive maintenance bursary
Gave bursary to Arthur Wm. Davidson
1912 - 1913
Recipiant of Modelling and Sculpture Bursary
Gave bursary to Archibald C. Dawson
1912 - 1913
£25
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, day class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave bursary to Dorothea M Kirkwood
1912 - 1913
£7 10s.
Recipiant of Modelling and Sculpture Bursary
Gave bursary to John Kench
1912 - 1913
£2
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, evening class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave bursary to John McNaught
1912 - 1913
£1
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, evening class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave bursary to Ernest K Smyllie
1912 - 1913
£2
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, evening class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave bursary to Peter Ramage
1912 - 1913
£1
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, evening class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave bursary to John Shirlaw
1912 - 1913
£1
Recipiant of Haldane Trust, evening class Bursary for Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave prize to John McLean
£1
Prize for best Model from Ornament
Gave prize to Francis Leslie
£2
Prize for best model of the Figure
Gave prize to John McCulloch
1851
£1
Prize for best model from ornament
Gave prize to William Shirreffs
1871
Awarded the Queen's Prize and a free studentship the following year.
Gave prize to Richard Ferris
1888
Modelling figure from Casts
Also for Best Full Length Figure from the Antique
Gave prize to William Gray
1888
National Queens Prize for Model of Head from the Cast.
Also Haldane Medal for best set of Figure Details - £1
Gave prize to James H. McKinnon
1888
National Queens Prize for Ornamnet Modelled from the Cast
Gave prize to Peter Russell McCrossan
1888
For Modelling the Figure from Casts
Gave prize to John W Sothern
1888
For Modelling the Figure from Casts
Gave prize to John Tweed
1888
For Modelling the Figure from Casts (Elementary)
Also for best Studies of Heads - 10s
Gave prize to Margaret Thompson
1888
For Best Study of Drapery suspended on an Antique figure (Commended)
Gave prize to James Milne Sherriff
1888
£1
Received Bronze medal for best ornament modelled from cast. Also won The Haldane medal.
Gave prize to Marion H. Wilson
1893 - 1894
Recieved Bronze medal for a Model of a figure from the Antique, in relief.
Gave prize to Colin Kenmure
1898
Bronze medal for Modelling study of Drapery on a figure
Gave prize to John Moffat
1898
Ist Prize for Modelling from the Life
Gave prize to Peter Ramage
1912 - 1913
Recipiant of Silver Medal for evening class in Modelling and Sculpture.
Gave prize to Douglas Robertson Bisset
1933 - 1934
recipiant of the Newbery Medal for the highest distinctionin Diploma Examination.
Gave scholarship to Joan O Lodge
1928
£100
John Keppie Scholarship
Gave scholarship to John Knox
1928
for maintenance
Gave scholarship to Douglas Robertson Bisset
1933 - 1934
£100
Recipiant of the John Keppie Studentship prize
Gave scholarship to R. A Millar
1948
John Keppie Scholarship for Sculpture
Gave travel scholarship to George Bradley Innes
1933 - 1934
£10
Gave travel scholarship to Winifred McGoorty
1948
£140
Instructors of stone carving included George Gregory
1905 - 1913
Instructor in Stone Carving and Pointing, etc. Listed as part of the Design and Decorative Arts Course.
Lecturers included Benno Schotz
1943 (Circa)
p. 8
Lecturers included Benno Schotz
1948
Members of committee included Alexander Proudfoot
Representing the Royal Scottish Academy on the Board of Governors.
Members of committee included John Mossman
1888 (Circa)
Served on the Committee of Management
Members of committee included Archibald Macfarlane Shannan
1898
Examination panel for Modelling
Members of committee included Archibald Macfarlane Shannan
1908
Assessment committee
Members of committee included John James Burnet
1912 - 1913
Served on the Committee of Assessment for Diplomas, travelling and maintenance Scholarships and Bursaries.
Members of committee included Paul Wayland Bartlett
1912
Committee for Assessments
Members of committee included Charles Rennie Mackintosh
1912 - 1913
Served on the Committee of Assessment for Diplomas, travelling and maintenance Scholarships and Bursaries, for Modelling and Sculpture and the School of Design and Decorative Art.
Members of committee included Alex N Paterson
1912 - 1913
Served on the Committee of Assessment for Diplomas, travelling and maintenance Scholarships and Bursaries, for Modelling and Sculpture.
Members of committee included J.B. Wilson
1912 - 1913
Served on the Committee of Assessment for Diplomas, travelling and maintenance Scholarships and Bursaries.
Panel members included William Goscombe John
1898
Examination Panel for 'Modelling Designs'
Panel members included Henry Hugh Armstead
1898
Examination Panel for Modelling
Panel members included Edward Onslow Ford
1898
Examination Panel for 'Modelling Designs'
Professors of modeling included Francis Derwent Wood
1898 - 1900
Visiting Director for Modelling
Professors of modeling included Johan Keller
1900 (Circa) - 1910 (Circa)
Director of Antique, Life and Figure Design.
Professor of Life and Composition (1908)
Professors of modeling included James Gray
1905 - 1924
Assistant Professor in Antique and Life & Ornament.
Professors of modeling included Archibald C. Dawson
1929 - 1938
Head of Department for Modelling and Sculpture
Professors of sculpture included Paul Artot
1905 - 1906
Prof. of Antique (Animal Course from Life)
Professors of sculpture included Paul Wayland Bartlett
1912
Director of Studies for the Modeling and Sculpture section.
Professors of sculpture included Alexander Proudfoot
1918 (Circa) - 1924 (Circa)
Professors of sculpture included Benno Schotz
1938 (Circa) - 1951 (Circa)
Head of Sculpture
Received membership subscription from John Mossman
1888
£1 1s.
By annual subscription
Also made a special donation to the school for £5
Students included Phyllis Muriel Cowan Archibald Clay
Received a Free Studentship
Students included James Gray
Students included Thomas John Clapperton
Students included Kathleen Evelyn Crosbie McNeil
Students included George Bradley Innes
Said to have been expelled due to the avant-garde nature of his work
Students included Leonard Jennings
Probably in the late 1890s
Students included William Kellock Brown
1867
Students included William Shirreffs
1871 - 1872
Students included James Milne Sherriff
1881 (Circa) - 1888 (Circa)
Students included Marion H. Wilson
1884 - 1896
Students included William Reid Dick
1906 - 1907
Archival Papers
Held at: Glasgow School of Art Archives
Document reference: DIR 5
Students included Robert McKean
1909 - 1910
Listed under Associates of the School as ' Sculptor'
Students included Alexander Proudfoot
1909 - 1910
Won the Haldane travelling scholarship in 1908
Students included John Sharp
1909 - 1910
Students included Archibald C. Dawson
1911 - 1913
Students included Walter D Davidson
1911 - 1912
Students included Benno Schotz
1915 (Circa) - 1917 (Circa)
Attended evening classes
Students included Loris Rey
1923 - 1926
In 1926 he completed his diploma and won the Keppie and Haldane Travelling Scholarship
Students included Hannah Frank
1925 (Circa) - 1930 (Circa)
Attended evening classes in modelling
Students included Belle M. D. A. Kilgour
1925 (Circa)
Students included Richard Ross Robertson
1933 - 1934
p. 478
Students included Margaret Kennedy Mackenzie (Priest)
1939
Students included Ingeborg (Inge) Neufeld
1941 - 1943
Students included Alison E.F. Watson
1942 (Circa)
Students included Paul Zunterstein
1946 - 1950
Teachers included Paul Zunterstein
Joined the teaching staff, probably during the 1950s
Teachers of design included Archibald C. Dawson
1929 - 1938
Taught design, decorative art and figure pottery at the School of Architecture.
Teachers of modeling included Gertrude E Isaacs
1863 (Circa)
p. 5
Teachers of modeling included William Mossman Jnr
1869 - 1871
Teachers of modeling included John Mossman
1878 (Circa) - 1888
Visiting Master
Teachers of modeling included Francis Leslie
1888 (Circa)
Teachers of modeling included Johan Keller
1898
Master of Modelling
Teachers of modeling included Archibald C. Dawson
1920 - 1938
Teacher of stone carving and colleagues of Alexander Proudfoot and James Gray.
Evening Class Moniter, 1912-13
Teachers of sculpture included Jas. Crawford
1933 (Circa)
Taught Pottery in the Sculpture and Modelling School.
Teachers of sculpture included James Barr
1951 (Circa)
Teachers of sculpture included John T Crawford
1951 (Circa)
p. 6
Teachers of stone carving included John C. Porter
1863 (Circa)
p. 20
Teachers of stone carving included William Vickers
1898 (Circa) - 1920
He also taught design and decorative art
Teachers of stone carving included Archibald C. Dawson
1923 (Circa)
p. 4
Teachers of stone carving included Andrew Willison
1933 - 1934
p. 8
Teachers of woodcarving included John C. Porter
1863 (Circa)
p. 20
Teachers of woodcarving included John Crawford
1898 (Circa)
In Decorative Art Dept
Teachers of woodcarving included James Gray
1898 (Circa)
In Decorative Art Dept
Teachers of woodcarving included William McIntosh
1923 - 1934
Sources
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1868
1868
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1898
January 1898
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1908-9
1908
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1918-19
1918
slim report due to the War
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1928-29
1928
74 Sculpture students
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1938-39
1938
Due to the war and in the need for economy, the report by the Director was incorporated into the the Annual Report (for the Governors) and is reduced in length.
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art 1948-49
14 October 1949
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy. 1878
December 1878
Annual Report of The Glasgow School of Art and Haldane Academy. 1888
January 1888
Noted a significant decrease in student attendance, caused by a widespread increase of art classes over the city.
GSA resoved to set the standard of instruction to the advanced stages of Art Education.
1888 was the first year students (2) were admitted to the Royal Academy, London.
Catalogue of the Special Loan Collection of Selected Modern Pictures, July 1923
July 1923
Biography of Thomas J. Clapperton
Glasgow Government School of Design: Annual Report, 1851
1851
Occupations of students; majority listed a school boys, clerks, Engineers, Pattern-drawers, Carvers (wood and stone). Majority of students aged between 12 to 15 years.
Female students trained for employment as teachers, Governesses, Designers.
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1893-94
1893
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1905-06
1905
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1913-14
1913
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1923-24
1923
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1933-34
1933
Prospectus of The Glasgow School of Art, Session 1943-44: War Issue
1943
Due to the War, the Scottish Education Department reduced the period of study from 4 -5 years to 3 years. Male students who qualify for Military or National Service call up, are not able to apply for Diploma Course, though can apply for general course. Travelling scholarships suspended during war.
Citing this record
'The Glasgow 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=msib6_1205768197, accessed 04 Jul 2022]
