École

1845 · 3220094 — <p><em>4to printed bifolio sheet 24 x 19.5 cm some marks and folds. Addressed to Joseph Hume M.P and signed by Richard Burchet R.W. Herman and W.D. Telfer. </em></p><p>In 1845 Richard Burchett became the ringleader of students protesting to the Board of Trade about the teaching methods at the Government School of Design: this was the first attempt to improve the instruction in the principles and practice of ornamental design. The complaint became so serious that eventually a Parliamentary Committee of Enquiry was instituted in 1846 at which he and others gave evidence. Oddly by that time Burchett had already become a master at the school and so was giving evidence against his own employees to the committee.</p><p>This copy was addressed to the radical Joseph Hume M.P who was a close friend of William Williams another radical M.P. who led the charge of incompetence by the School of Design in the House of Commons. After eight committee meetings it was agreed that the School was not in good shape 'the principles of Ornaments and the practice of original design as applicable to manufactures are not efficiently taught' and 'That a knowledge of manufacturing processes so as to enable the students to unite fitness and practicability in Ornament is not communicated.' Reforms were instituted but not in time for some woefully bad designs to appear at the Great Exhibition of 1851 for all the world to see.</p> [London], 17 Bond Street, Commercial Road. 10th July