§ 86. Mr. STANTONasked the President of the Board of Education whether Mr. William Rothenstein has been appointed principal of the Royal College of Art; whether, seeing that the Royal College of Art was founded for the development of industrial art and for the training of art teachers, he will say what are Mr. Rothenstein's qualifications for either purpose; whether he is purely a painter; what experience of art school management or organisation he has; and what was the number of students attending his lectures during the last session of his professorship of civic art in the University of Sheffield?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of EDUCATION (Mr. Fisher)With my hon. Friend's permission, I propose to circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
The following is the reply referred to:
I have appointed Professor William Rothenstein to be Principal of the Royal 2161 College of Art. In his lectures and published writings he has urged a fuller use of the services of British craftsmen, whether in artistic industry, or in public decorative work, and he has long been known as interested in the teaching of art: he has worked as an artist in other crafts than painting, for example, in lithography, etching and medallion design; he was for some years a member of the Advisory Committee for the London County Council Bolt Court School of Photo-Engraving and Lithography, and was for a year a teacher in the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts. During the last session of his professorship of civic art at Sheffield, his lectures, which were public, were largely attended, especially by teachers, including teachers of art; but civic art is not a specific subject of university study with a regular body of students. I consider myself fortunate in having secured Professor Rothenstein's services, and am satisfied that he is the best man available to secure the development of the College on lines which will increase the influence of art on craft and industry.