Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1876 [PAGE 91]

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their desire to pursue it in coming terms. It is perhaps too early to judge of its full value either as an industry adapted to our circumstances or as a branch of education. Miss James proposes also to add water color painting the coming term, as there is a demand for this, and as it is a regular and necessaay part of the instruction of the students of architecture. I submit whether some appropriation should not be made to promote this work as far at least as it is required by the students in regular courses now established.

T H E ART GALLERY.

You are already aware that during the past vacation I visited Europe at my own expense, to make the purchases wi th the Fine Art fund so generously contributed by citizens of Champaign and Urbana. I am happy to inform you that my mission was even more successful than I had dared to hope, and that we are now in possession of one of the best collections of casts of celebrated statuary, and other sculptures, to be found in this country. A large part of these casts are now mounted in the nave wnich you consented to set aside for this purpose, and others are in New York on their way from Europe, while others are being manufactured for us at the government atelier of the Louvre in Paris. The entire collection will embrace more than 400 casts of all descriptions, including 13 large figures and groups of statuary, 30 reductions by machine of celebrated statues, 6 celebrated colossal heads and busts, 75 other busts ancient and modern, and a large number of bas-reliefs, alto-relievos, columns, architraves, pannels, and medallions, exhibiting ancient, mediaeval and modern art by its greatest masters. Besides these casts we h&ve a large number of fine engravings, some of them very large, of celebrated paintings. Also nearly 100 large inalterable photographs from the noted establishment of Mr. Braun, of Dornach. These famous photographs are taken directly from the original paintings in the great national galleries, special permission having been given to Mr. Braun for this purpose. This gallery; though still incomplete, and not open fully to the students or public, is beginning to excite much interest, and showing its power to influence all the departments of our work in which drawing is taught. The cost of the Gallery thus far is over $2,000, and this sum will be increased to nearly $2,500, all of which is to be credited to the liberality of the citizens of these cities, and may be taken as affording no doubtful evidence of the earnest good-will of the people of this county to the University itself. The Board of Trustees have not been asked for one dollar towards these purchases, but, as was proper, you provided for the necessary expenses of fitting up the hall itself for their reception. There remains a bill for a border paper, to put on the walls which I trust will be allowed ; and, as I intimated to the Board at its spring meeting, we respectfully ask that the Board will meet the freights from New York, for which the donations by the citizens do not sufficiently provide. These freights thus far amount to $169 13. The freight of the boxes yet to come this winter will not exceed $50. If the donors give us $2,000 worth of art collections, delivered safe and free of charge in New York, it is not much for us to pay the freigh ts from that point.

T H E SCHOOL OF A R C H I T E C T U R E ,

Yet in its infancy, is attracting attention, and the number of students though still small is steadily increasing, and, if properly advertised, the school must ultimately become of great public yalue. The schools of this class in Europe have always in their course of instruction the modeling of architectural ornaments, etc., in clay. The exhibition of the modeling work of the polytechnic and art schools of Europe, at the World's Exposition, at Vienna, attracted a large amount of attention. The provision for instruction in this study can now be made without great difficulty in an experimental way, by a graduate of the Academy of Fine Arts, in Louvain, Belgium, now here, and ready to undertake this work on such terms as the trustees may propose. The importance of the work and the difficulty of obtaining at will a suitable teacher, render it extremely desirable that the qualifications of this gentleman be put to the test.

A SCHOOL O F D E S I G N I N G OR OF I N D U S T R I A L ART

Has been frequently mentioned in our reports and catalogues as one of the practical departments of our work, to be developed here at the earliest day practicable. The progress of our drawing classes, and the provisions already made for designing, in connection with other studies, as that of architecture and wood carving, and especially if this gentleman shall be employed, enable us at once to begin the work of this school. All that is required is the marking out a systematic course of study. In this connection, I mention that we have received applications from several young men who are already experienced carpenters and mechanics, who desire to come here and take a special course in architectural drawing, to fit them to become more intelligent master builders. Their long absence from school will in most cases be found to have disqualified them for passing the ordinary examination even in the common branches. It is submitted whether the trustees may not authorize the introduction of a short builder's course in the School of Architecture, similar to that of the secondary Schools of Architecture or Builder's Academies, of Germany, with a lower grade of qualifications for admission than that required for a full course in architecture. No additional expense would be incurred by the introduction of this school.

T H E SCHOOL O F A G R I C U L T U R E

Has been reinforced by your appointment of C. W. Silver, a graduate of this University and of the Agricultural School of Halle, to fill the chair of Agricultural Chemistry. I have to report that the •negotiations to secure the services of Dr. Miles for the chair of Agriculture again failed, though urgently pressed, and that chair is still left vacant. Mr. Silver, has, however, undertaken to give instruction also in the theory and practice of Agriculture, and thus to fill the gap for the time being, till a professor can be had. Two measures are in your power which will add something to the efficiency of this important and leading department of the University: 1. To give to the Agricultural Chemist some means to institute and carry forward, under special scientific conditions, a series of carefully prepared experiments in his department, especially with fertilizers. These experiments would require some small plats of ground to be placed under his especial charge, and an appropriation from the Experiment fund for the purchase of such natural and artificial fertilizers as he might require. These experiments are of more purely scientific scope and character than the experimentation already provided for on the Experimental Farm.