The Royal College of Art Engraving School
Goulding was entirely responsible for the conduct workmanship—Mr. Short has enlarged the artistic
of the class. Among the names of students noted scope of the school, developing true pictorial expres-
by Mr. Hardie during this period are those of T. B. sion in every direction, and encouraging indivi-
Kennington, G. Woolliscroft-Rhead, Malcolm Bell, duality of treatment, as far as it is consistent
Mortimer Menpes, R. Bryden, and F. V. Burridge. with the fine traditions of art. But he holds very
Frank Short signed in 1883, and in 1891, after strong views as to the obligations of pure and
being for a long time something more than "a thorough technique. "My aim with pupils," Mr.
right-hand man " to Goulding, succeeded him in Short will tell you, with his characteristically quiet
the direction of the class. emphasis, "is to make them craftsmen first and
In Goulding's time there were rarely more than foremost, and complete masters of their material,
five or six students, and their work was still confined so that they shall be able to do what they intend,
to the etching or engraving of Museum exhibits, and there shall be no room for accidents. The
bronzes, vases, and so on. But the genius and artist in them may develop—as God pleaseth, and
influence of Mr. Frank Short have revolutionised if it be there at all, it will develop; but my chief
the class, which has now become the most important business is to equip them with the means to express
school of engraving in the world, and a model the artist articulately." Mr. Short endeavours to
which art representatives from abroad are frequently discover some gift, some good, in every student,
coming here to study. Nowadays, the number of however dull he may seem, and as he says, " it is
students at any one time is officially limited to astounding what can be done with an apparently
twenty-five, but this number might easily be hopeless student if you lead rather than drive him."
quadrupled. Indeed, some of the most brilliant products of the
Although the Museum subject has not been school have been ineffectual muddlers, seemingly
altogether discarded—for each student is obliged incorrigible, until Mr. Short's patience has been
to etch one as an exercise in carefully elaborate rewarded, in each case, by recognising the long-
• AN OLD TOOT. FORGE, WESTMINSTER" BY MABEL C. ROBINSON, A.R.E.
28S
Goulding was entirely responsible for the conduct workmanship—Mr. Short has enlarged the artistic
of the class. Among the names of students noted scope of the school, developing true pictorial expres-
by Mr. Hardie during this period are those of T. B. sion in every direction, and encouraging indivi-
Kennington, G. Woolliscroft-Rhead, Malcolm Bell, duality of treatment, as far as it is consistent
Mortimer Menpes, R. Bryden, and F. V. Burridge. with the fine traditions of art. But he holds very
Frank Short signed in 1883, and in 1891, after strong views as to the obligations of pure and
being for a long time something more than "a thorough technique. "My aim with pupils," Mr.
right-hand man " to Goulding, succeeded him in Short will tell you, with his characteristically quiet
the direction of the class. emphasis, "is to make them craftsmen first and
In Goulding's time there were rarely more than foremost, and complete masters of their material,
five or six students, and their work was still confined so that they shall be able to do what they intend,
to the etching or engraving of Museum exhibits, and there shall be no room for accidents. The
bronzes, vases, and so on. But the genius and artist in them may develop—as God pleaseth, and
influence of Mr. Frank Short have revolutionised if it be there at all, it will develop; but my chief
the class, which has now become the most important business is to equip them with the means to express
school of engraving in the world, and a model the artist articulately." Mr. Short endeavours to
which art representatives from abroad are frequently discover some gift, some good, in every student,
coming here to study. Nowadays, the number of however dull he may seem, and as he says, " it is
students at any one time is officially limited to astounding what can be done with an apparently
twenty-five, but this number might easily be hopeless student if you lead rather than drive him."
quadrupled. Indeed, some of the most brilliant products of the
Although the Museum subject has not been school have been ineffectual muddlers, seemingly
altogether discarded—for each student is obliged incorrigible, until Mr. Short's patience has been
to etch one as an exercise in carefully elaborate rewarded, in each case, by recognising the long-
• AN OLD TOOT. FORGE, WESTMINSTER" BY MABEL C. ROBINSON, A.R.E.
28S