98

ART  EDUCATION.

specified.  Drawing  in  the  schools  organized  after  tlie  pattem  of
the  “  ficole  Turgot”  (Colbert,  Lavoisier,  Auteuil)  ratlier  bears
the  character  of  the  Professional,  vvhich,  in  truth,  is  the  first  aimof
these  schools.  Coustructive  drawing  predominates.  Of  the  ‘ 1  flcoles
eommerciales  ”  (founded  by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce)  the  school
at  No.  23  Avenue  Trudaine  exhibited  drawings  by  its  pupils,
mostly  decorative  pieces,  and  designs  for  textile  fabrics,  which,
however,  offered  nothing  new  as  far  as  style  is  concerned.
In  the  girls’  schools  for  general  education,  drawing  is,  indeed,
praeticed  everywhere,  but  the  results  are  below  those  of  the  boys’
schools.  Flowers  and  landscapes  are  taken  up  before  outlines
have  been  sufflciently  praeticed,  which  self-evidently  must  lead  to
dilettantism.  In  the  “  ficoles  professionelles”  for  females,  drawing ­
  is  more  successful,  and  more  so  in  those  under  the  patronage
of  the  Archbishop  Mons.  Guilbert  than  in  those  called  into  life  by
Duruy.  Of  the  institutions  first  named,  twenty-one  have  been
organized  down  to  this  time  in  the  various  arrondissements  of
Paris,  according  to  the  necessities  of  the  different  localities  ;  and
drawing  is  cultivated  especially  with  a  view  to  female  industrial
pursuits.  The  “  ficole  professionelle”  of  the  Faubonrg  Poissoniere
  deserves  to  be  especially  mentioned  for  its  pretty  needlework
  and  tastefid  drawings.
It  may  be  gathered  from  what  has  been  said  so  far,  that  muck
is  still  left  to  be  desired  in  instruction  in  drawing  in  the  French
schools  for  general  education,  and  that,  above  all,  a  common  centre
is  still  wanting,  proceeding  from  which  well-defined  principles
might  be  enforced.  No  one,  however,  will  doubt  that  it  is  very
difficult  to  introduce  reforms  in  a  state  in  which  educational  matters
  are  still  in  so  many  different  hands,  and  are,  indeed,  in  great
part  left  to  private  enterprise.  The  efforts  made  in  this  direction
by  the  government  since  1870  deserve  full  recognition  ;  and  the
future  of  France  maj'  be  congratulated,  if  all  that  is  now  prescribed
  by  law  can  be  carried  out.  The  French  have  generally  introduced
  their  innovations  according  to  the  measure  of  their  wants  ;
and  the  year  1870,  therefore,  brought  to  their  educational  institutions, ­
  what  the  World’s  Fairs  brought  to  their  industry,  i.e.,  a  reform.
  Tlicy  demonsfrated  plainly  at  the  exhibition  in  the  Prater,
that  tkey  are  capable  of  holding  their  own  against  all  other  States