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Original Papers: Exhibition of Works of Schools of Design. 
EXHIBITION OF THE WORKS OF THE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS OF DESIGN, 
MARLBOROUGH HOUSE, PALL MALL. 
THIS Exhibition, if it were ten times less satisfactory than it really is,
would afford a triumphant testimony to the soundness of the principles which
have been always consistently advocated in these pages as necessary to secure
efficient management to the Schools of Design. Among other reforms, we 
have always contended that the Schools of Design should be compelled to 
afford public evidence of their works: and that, like all other mundane institu-
tions, by their works they must be judged. We know full well the unpopularity
which our imperative tone on this point of principle of management has in-
curred from the idle and incompetent, but we have now our triumph. It has
always been said by those who would shirk this test, "See how great
the 
general influence of the Schools is,"-" See how the state of design
generally 
has been improved,"-" Look to its palpable influence on manufactures,"-and
suchlike vague platitudes, which might quite as fairly be contradicted as
asserted. When we contended that we wanted proofs of these assertions; 
that we disbelieved them without proofs; that we wanted to see the works
of the Schools, both of masters and pupils ; what a terrible outcry was 
raised! and we were always told that to demand "designs" from the
Schools was "a vulgar and pernicious       error," and that "
exhibitions of 
works were misleading," and so on. In spite of this balderdash, intoned
with a pompous official twang which has now lost its influence, the man-
agement of the Schools of Design has adopted " our erroneous and perni-
cious views ;" it haA been beguiled into establishing Exhibitions of
the Works 
of the students; and we have now the second of the series, which, with all
its 
deficiencies and all the obvious bolstering with which it has been produced
in 
certain quarters, will be, if we are not greatly mistaken, a most important
means of enlarging the basis of the Schools in public estimation. In last
year's 
Exhibition we had only the works of the Head School; this year we have 
those of the Provincial Schools besides. Next year, or the year after, we
ven- 
ture to prophesy that we shall have not merely drawings from the pupils,
but 
demonstrations of the ability of the masters themselves. We can imagine the
indignation and contempt that this prophecy will meet with from those mas-
ters who have made scarcely any sign that they are able even to draw decently,
much less model or "design."  But so sure as we have now obtained
pupils' 
works, so shall we have in time masters' works. And bitter as the draught
may be to some, we recommend the masters to prepare themselves to take it,
or cease to be masters at all. 
This Exhibition tends to strengthen the deep interest which, from the first
commencement of this JOURNAL, we have taken in these Schools, and gives one
of the best assurances that in time we may look to them for the improvement
of design as connected with manufacture, and the formation of a skilful body
of art-workmen capable of carrying good design into execution. It is well
known to our readers, that our efforts have been greatly instrumental in
for- 
warding those changes made in the constitution and management of these 
Schools, after the late inquiry by a committee of the House of Commons, and
it is to these changes they are now in an effective position to make this
public 
exhibition of their labours. It is, therefore, with pride that we contrast
the 
state of things, when masters and pupils were disputing to whom the merit
of 
some single insignificant work should belong, with the present appearance
of 
the Schools before the world offering designs applicable to manufactures
amounting to several hundred works. 
We may observe, that this is the first united exhibition of the works of
the 
Head and Branch Schools: the period is well-timed for it, since it will mark
the state of their teaching at the opening of that great Exhibition which
is to 
lay before us at one view the ornamental art of the world, and which we may
expect to give a vast stimulus to every species of decorative art, and to
make 
an impression on the next annual exposition of School labours. We think,
.[ournal of Design. No. 26, April, 1851.                      E