This small pocket book dates from 1889, and is entitled: "Grammar School Manchester. Inventory of Casts, Models, Books etc in the Drawing Hall 1889 (Jany)".
The list of casts includes:
- Hercales Torso
- Dying Gaul
- Head of Diana
- Hermes
- Venus
- Apollo
- Young Augustus
- Frieze inside Parthenon
- Madonna and Child
- Perseus
Listed under Models
- Lion
- Goat
- Horse
- Small Octagonal Prism
- 9 Minton Vases
- 7 Wedgwood Vases
Under Books:
- Engineer and Machinists Assistant
- Architectural Photographs
- German Architecture
- Sparke's Artistic Anatomy
- Poynter's Classic and Italian Drawing
- Harvard's Dutch School of Drawing
- Church's English Earthenware
- L.F. Day's Anatomy of Pattern
Under sundries, the book lists:
- 30 Frames for Pictures
- 14 Easels
- 7 Donkeys
- 4 High Stools
- 10 Stools
- 6 Frames
- 1 Skeleton (imperfect)
- 1 Large Blackboard (in Frame)
- 1 Slate Board (in Frame)
- 1 Large Screen
Finally, an additional sections lists "Loans from Science and Art Dept South Kensington"
These include:
- Shell
- Bowl
- Egg
- Mug
- Green Glass vase
- Copper dish
- Velvet Garment
The inventory was updated in 1901, with pencil markings checking against the 1889 lists.
The main hall at the Long Millgate site was known as the Drawing Hall, though it was used for assemblies too. This image from around 1900 shows the boys sharing space with the models and casts during main assembly.
We have other photographs showing the size of many of the casts and models that are listed
A class sketching the skeleton
A wider shot of the drawing hall "in action". The female figure is unknown; the male figure is Frederick Garnett (Art 1894 - 1940)
Another shot of the Drawing Hall shows various casts and statues on display
It is notable that Art, and in particular, Drawing, were key parts of the MGS curriculum as early as 1860, with the form lists from Easter of that year recording a J. Evans as a visiting Drawing Master, sent from the School of Art. According to A. A. Mumford, this was initially an experiment partly funded by High Master Walker and Second Master, Richard Thompson, themselves. Evans would attend MGS for three hours a week to give drawing lessons to boys in the Upper School. This venture proved successful and more hours were allocated. Mumford states that at this point John Ruskin was friendly with a number of School Governors, and his influence would surely have furthered the cause of art education at the School. In 1865, Ruskin even visited the School and gave an address to the boys. In 1869, Zachariah Pritchard was appointed as the first permanent Drawing Master, and held the position until his death in 1884. At this stage Pritchard was allowed to give evening classes to supplement his income, and the art classes given at the School became recognised by the South Kensington School of Art as a Government Art School. Mumford also notes that the hand discipline inherent in Drawing was seen as particularly beneficial to boys who were aiming for a career in surgery. Zachariah Pritchard lives on at MGS with the Pritchard Prize for Art, which was established in 1886, still awarded today.
Drawing still forms a key part of the MGS Art syllabus, and the department does use casts and models in teaching. However, we don't believe any of the original casts and statues have survived but certainly some were moved from Long Millgate, and they can be seen in the background of photographs of Old Hall Lane from the 40s and 50s, as seen below:
Boys taking the entrance exam, 1950s
Ernest Hollowell teaching boys, 1944
Rachel Kneale
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