THE ROYAL DUBLIN SOCIETY 117 



had for so many years successfully conducted it. 

 Henry Aaron Baker was appointed to succeed him. 



As it is of interest to learn the titles of text-books 

 in use at this time, it may be noted that the following 

 were ordered to be purchased for the architectural 

 drawing school, viz. Gibb's Rules of Architecture, 

 Sir William Chambers' Treatise on Architecture, Pal- 

 ladio's Works, Richardson's Ceilings and Chimney- 

 Pieces. Two marble figures, a Venus de Medici and a 

 Dancing Faun, were presented by Joseph Henry, Esqr. 

 At this time, the Society was in possession of the 

 following statues and busts — The Listener, Boxers, 

 Venus aux belles Jesses, Alexander s Head, Apollo of 

 Belvedere, Antinous, Flora, Laocoons Head, River God's 

 Head, Commodus, and Ariadne, which were removed to 

 a more commodious apartment to give students a 

 better opportunity of copying them. 



When Mr. de Gree * died in 1789, Mr. Beranger 

 exhibited several of his drawings, which in Mr. West's 

 opinion were likely to be of great use in the schools, 

 and they were purchased for five guineas. In 

 November 1790, David La Touche, Esqr., presented 

 an excellent cast of the Laocoon, from the original 

 work at Rome, which was placed in the repository, 

 Hawkins street. In 1791, William Ashford's collec- 

 tion of statues, models, casts, &c. was sold to the 

 Society for £91. 



The Society having in the year 1796 removed to 

 premises in Poolbeg street, the drawing schools were 

 established there, and schools for the living figure 

 having been prepared, the Dublin artists were invited 

 to choose a committee, to act as directors, each to take 

 charge of the Living academy for four weeks. The 



1 Peter de Gree, a native of Antwerp, who came to Dublin about 

 1 78 1, and painted pictures for Mr. La Touche. 



