THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY in 



Master Cox, son to the Archbishop of Cashel, by one 

 of Mr. Van Nost's apprentices ; " from which it is 

 evident how great a progress the Polite Arts are 

 making in this Kingdom, to the immortal honour 

 of that patriot body, the Dublin Society, who have 

 been their chief encouragers." 



Agreements were concluded with persons who 

 consented to act as models for the boys, and the 

 Madden premium for 1754 (£15) was bestowed on 

 Patrick Cunningham for a group in white marble, of 

 boys playing with a basket of flowers. Cranfield, of 

 Cope street, won the Madden prize of 1755, f° r two 

 basso relievos — a Sleeping Beauty and a small landscape 

 with beasts. In 1756, Mr. Mannin agreed, for £25 a 

 year, to teach the art of drawing foliage, &c, for two 

 years, to two boys who were to be recommended by 

 the Society. 



When the Society entered on their new premises 

 in Shaw's court (p. 88), in 1757, four rooms were 

 assigned to Mr. West, and one room to Mr. Mannin 

 (a Frenchman), the drawing masters, and the stable at 

 the back was fitted up in October 1758, so that the 

 boys might use it as a drawing academy. It was also 

 used for keeping the collection of plaster busts and 

 casts which was being formed by the Society. Lord 

 Duncannon, who was abroad, had interested himself in 

 procuring some of them that were required. A sum, 

 not to exceed ^20, was to be allowed for a living 

 model, who was to sit twice a week for a year. At this 

 period, Robert West had charge of the figure drawing. 

 Thomas Ivory, who was responsible for the design of 

 the Blue Coat Hospital, Dublin, 1 taught architectural 



1 His designs for it were of exceptional excellence, both from an 

 artistic and technical point of view, but it was found too costly to 

 carry them fully out. They are now in the British Museum. Another 



