The Edinburgh College of Art
Other names: ECA
Foundation date: 1907
Active: 1907 -
Function: Municipal college for the teaching of the practical arts
Policy: To educate and instruct in fine art, design and architecture and award students either a Diploma, a Special Certificate or a Qualifying certificate.
Rules: Day classes open to men and women students over the age of 16.
All students were to submit work and to undergo an entrance exam before admission. Evening Classes were open to men and women over the age of 15.
Meeting schedule: annual
History or description: Edinburgh College of Art was established to take over the responsibility of the whole of Higher Art Education in Edinburgh, and to serve as a Central Institution for the south-east of Scotland. Out of a total of 830 students admitted in the first year, 28 were sculptors, modellers, plasterers, potters and stone carvers.
The Classes were originally divided into four sections, Drawing and Painting, Design and Crafts, Architecture and Sculpture. In 1909 Edinburgh College of Art was authorised by the Scottish Education Department to award diplomas in all these areas. In 1935 a diploma for Town and Country Planning was introduced.
Special bursaries were awarded to Craftsmen (in 1907 approx. £50). Also awarded entrance bursaries for students who attended evening classes for at least a year and were over 17 years of age. Also available College Scholarships, Free Studentships, Travelling Scholarships and Bursaries for Architects.
In 1943 Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh Court agreed to a five year joint course leading to a MA (Hons) in Fine Art, which still runs today.
Activities: art classes, art union, auction, 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, congresses, conversazione, criticism of works, discussions, discussions on art, exhibitions (open to non-members), exhibitions (members only), illustration of quotations, lectures, lectures on art, meetings, musical entertainments, musical evenings, news, photographic excursions, professional advice, sketching excursions, social events, social meetings, Overseas exhibitions
Publications: annual reports, 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, hardship fund
Funding types: bequests, donations, fees, public funding
Employees, Students & Members
Numbers: 830
Period Start: 1908
Period End: 1909
Locations
Address Royal Institution Building The Mound Edinburgh | View on map
1907 - 1909
Address 74 Lauriston Place Edinburgh | View on map
1911
To present day
Exhibitions, Courses, Meetings and other Events
Courses offered included Royal Scottish Academy School of Painting, 1911-1951
1911 - 1951
Courses offered Edinburgh College of Art Sculpture Evening Class
1908
Classes offered included School of Sculpture Class (Edinburgh College of Art), 1908-1951
1907
Courses offered included The Royal Scottish Academy Life School
1907 (Circa) - 1911 (Circa)
Institutional and Business Connections
Affiliated with The Royal Scottish Academy
1907 (Circa)
5 elected (of which 2 were Associate) members of the RSA, to serve on Board for The ECA.
Affiliated with Dundee Technical College and School of Art
1915 (Circa)
p.11
Donation received from Stewart McGlashen & Son Ltd.
1921
Donated a gift of marble for the Marble Carving Class
Formed out of Watt Institution and School of Arts
Formed out of The School of Applied Art (Edinburgh)
1903 (Circa)
'Under the charge of the Board of Manufactures'
Formed out of Watt Institution and School of Arts
1906
Successor to The School of the Board of Manufacturers
Worked with The Glasgow School of Art
1924 (Circa)
p. 16.
Exchange visits of staff.
Associated People
Adjudicators on panel included Edward Arthur Walton
p. 6
Served on the adjudication committee for the Award of Diplomas (Sculpture Dept)
Adjudicators on panel included Frank Morley Fletcher
1908 (Circa) - 1921 (Circa)
p. 6
Served on the adjudication committee for the Award of Diplomas (Sculpture Dept)
Adjudicators on panel included George James Frampton
1909 - 1910
p. 6
Served as assessor on the adjudication committee for the Award of Diplomas (Sculpture Dept)
Adjudicators on panel included Percival (Percy) Herbert Portsmouth
1910 - 1926
p. 6
Served on the adjudication committee for the Award of Diplomas (Sculpture Dept)
Adjudicators on panel included William Birnie Rhind
1910
p. 6
Served on the adjudication committee for the Award of Diplomas (Sculpture Dept)
Adjudicators on panel included William Reid Dick
1921
p. 6
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included Henry (Harry) Snell Gamley
1921
p. 6
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included James Pittendrigh MacGillivray
1921
p. 6
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included James Harvey Clark
1946
For the award of Diplomas in ther Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included Alfred Frank Hardiman
1946
For the award of Diplomas in ther Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1946
For the award of Diplomas in the School of Design and Crafts
Adjudicators on panel included John Ross McKay
1946
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included Eric Clare Telford Schilsky
1946 - 1951
For the award of Diplomas in ther Sculpture Dept.
Adjudicators on panel included Arnold Machin
1950 - 1951
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture School
Adjudicators on panel included William Hardie Kininmonth
1950 - 1951
For the award of Diplomas in the Sculpture School
Advisors included Phyllis Mary Bone
1946
As consultant Sculptor on Adjudication Commitee for Student Competition.
Assistant teachers of modeling included David Alexander Francis
1914 - 1921
asistant teacher to Evening Class and Teacher of Modelling to students of Architecture.
Assistant teachers of sculpture included Joseph Hayes
1907
Assistant teachers of sculpture included Andrew Dods
1934 (Circa) - 1950 (Circa)
Assistant teachers of sculpture included Kathleen Horsman
1950 (Circa)
p. 21
Assistant teachers of woodcarving included Norman John Forrest
1934 (Circa) - 1941 (Circa)
Associates included Dorothy Brown
1946 (Presumed)
Not clear whether she was a student or teacher
Directors included Frank Morley Fletcher
1908 - 1923 (Circa)
Gave award to Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1910
p. 24
Awarded Diploma
Gave award to George Henry Paulin
1910
p. 24
Passed the Standard Diploma with Qualifying certificates in other sections still to complete
Gave award to Fanindra Nath Bose
1911
Awarded Diploma
Gave award to George William Salvesen
1921
Commended for Diploma in Sculpture
Gave bursary to Thomas W. Whalen
1929 - 1930
£20
Awarded the Clason-Harvie Bursary
Gave fellowship to Thomas W. Whalen
Gave scholarship to May Blakeman
1941
£120
post-diploma scholarship
Gave scholarship to Matgorzata Buhardt
1946
£120
Post-Diploma Scholarship
Gave scholarship to Andrew G. P Buchan
1951
£100
For Summer Vacation
Gave scholarship to Flora D Dyce-Sharp
1951
£200
Awarded Post-Diploma scholarship
Gave scholarship to Thomas W. Whalen
1928 - 1931
First holder of the Andrew Grant Fellowship during which he executed a bronze fountain group Mother and Child for Presonfield School, Edinburgh
Gave travel scholarship to Esme E.A Ross
1951
£300
Gave travel scholarship to Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1910
Gave travel scholarship to Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1910
p. 24
Awarded £100
Gave travel scholarship to Fanindra Nath Bose
1911
£100
Gave travel scholarship to Phyllis Mary Bone
1915 - 1916
£15
Studied under Nevallier
Gave travel scholarship to Kate Campbell Muirhead
1915
p. 26
Visited London and made studies in the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, Wallace Collection, St Pauls Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, Tate Gallery, and Hampton Court Palace. Percy Portsmouth reported her dawing of tombs and monuments were importantv fopr her development in Sculpture and the Scholarship provided her with considerable advantage.
Gave travel scholarship to Walter F Field
1921
£20
Gave travel scholarship to Ann Henderson
1946
£150
Gave travel scholarship to Ann Henderson
1947 - 1948
At the Ecole des Beaux Arts under Gimmond
Lecturers included Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1929 - 1930
Delivered an illustrated lecture on 'Flair' with particular reference to Modern Swedish Art.
Members included Norman John Forrest
1963 - 1968
Board of Governors
Members of committee included James Pittendrigh MacGillivray
1904 (Circa) - 1921 (Circa)
McGillivray was commissioned by the Scotch Office to prepare a report on the provision of Art Education in Britain and the Continent and it was he who drew up the first specification both for the curriculum of the college but also for the types of accommodation, especially for sculpture and the cast collection to contain. McGillivray went as far as to prepare a set of outline plans, these were never adopted. However, through his influence, the first school to be built was the School of Sculpture, and the transfer of all the antique casts from the Royal Institution at the Mound.
Members of committee included William Birnie Rhind
1907
Elected by The Royal Scottish Academy to serve on the Board of Management.
Members of committee included William Oliphant Hutchison
1945 (Circa)
Elected by the Royal Scottish Academy to serve on the Board of Management.
Principals included Gerald E. Moira
1923 - 1932
Professors of sculpture included Percival (Percy) Herbert Portsmouth
1907 - 1929 (Circa)
Head of Sculpture
Professors of sculpture included Alexander Carrick
1929 (Circa) - 1945 (Circa)
Carrick's title was Head of Sculpture
Professors of sculpture included Eric Clare Telford Schilsky
1946 - 1969
Head of School
Students included May Blakeman
1941
Only one to receive Diploma in that year. Her large two-figure group recieved praise for its rhythmic design.
Students included Matgorzata Buhardt
1946
Only one in this year to receive Diploma
Students included Andrew G. P Buchan
1951
Awarded Diploma
Students included Elizabeth Strachan Dempster
1930 (Circa)
Students included Andrew Dods
Students included Flora D Dyce-Sharp
1951
Awarded Diploma
Students included Norman John Forrest
Students included T. Alexander Sharp
1951
Awarded Diploma
Students included Esme E.A Ross
1951
Awarded Post-Diploma Endorsement.
Students included Alexander Handyside Ritchie
1823 (Circa)
Studied art, architecture and anatomy at Edinburgh School of Arts under Samuel Joseph.
Students included William Grant Stevenson
1903 (Circa) - 1905 (Circa)
Students included Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1906
Students included George Henry Paulin
1908 (Circa) - 1910 (Circa)
Students included Fanindra Nath Bose
1909 (Circa) - 1911 (Circa)
Students included Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson
1910 (Circa)
Students included Phyllis Mary Bone
1912 - 1918
Students included George William Salvesen
1916 (Circa) - 1922 (Circa)
p. 21
Students included Hazel Ruthven Armour
1918 - 1920
Students included Thomas W. Whalen
1928 - 1931
Students included Scott Sutherland
1929 - 1933
Students included Ann Henderson
1940 - 1945
Teachers included Thomas Beattie
1910 (Circa)
Instructor of Plaster Work (Craft Section)
Teachers included Alick Woffenden
1934 (Circa) - 1941 (Circa)
Teacher of pottery
Teachers of metal work included William McDonald
1914 (Circa) - 1921 (Circa)
instructor in bronze casting.
Teachers of modeling included Robert McDaid
1929 (Circa)
Teacher of Pottery (Sculpture School)
Teachers of sculpture included Edward Crompton
October 1908 - 1921
Teachers of sculpture included Alexander Carrick
1915 (Circa) - 1929 (Circa)
Afterwards Head of Sculpture
Teachers of sculpture included David Alexander Francis
1921
Teachers of sculpture included Percival (Percy) Herbert Portsmouth
1925 (Circa)
p. 4
Instuctor in Bronze Casting
Teachers of sculpture included Andrew Dods
1929 (Circa)
Teachers of sculpture included William Robertson
1929 (Circa)
Teacher of Stone-carving
Teachers of sculpture included Ann Henderson
1948 (Circa) - 1950 (Circa)
Introduced experimental courses
Teachers of woodcarving included Thomas Good
1920 (Circa) - 1930
p. 7
Vice-chaired by Robert Stodart Lorimer
1906 - 1929
Sources
Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society: Members and Craftsmen
1946 (Probable)
Constitution of The Edinburgh College of Art
25 February 1908
Gateway to Archives of Scottish Higher Education (GASHE)
2006
Reference code: GB 2028 ECA
http://www.gashe.ac.uk:443/cgi-bin/view_isad.pl?view=basic&id=GB-2028-ECA
Site accessed: 13 June 2008
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1908 - 1909
1908 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1914 - 1915
1914 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1920 - 1921
1921 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1927- 1928
1927 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1934- 1935
1934 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1940- 1941
1940 (Circa)
Prospectus of the Edinburgh College of Art, Session 1945- 1946
1945 (Circa)
The Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture
2004
p. 163
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1908 -1909
1909
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1908 -1909
1909
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1909 -1910
1910
31 Sculptors, Modellers, plasterers and Stonecarvers in attendance 9 Wood Carvers 27 Art Metal Workers
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1914 -1915
1915
12 - Sculptors, Plasterers and Stonecarvers.
19 - Art Metal Workers
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1920 -1921
1921
11 Sculptors and Modellers
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1925-1926
1926
10 Sculptors, Stone carvers and Masons enrolled.
The Edinburgh College of Art Report by the Board of Management for the session 1929-1930
1930
Citing this record
'The Edinburgh College 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_1206033789, accessed 18 Jan 2022]
