196 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Paet II. 



art from the latter collection to that of South Kensington 

 have a strong argument in favour of their being left in their 

 present more accessible locality. It is true that the former 

 site was no longer available, and there may be a difficulty in 

 finding sufficient space for the increasing size of the collection 

 in the town itself, but it is also true that the distance entails 

 loss of time and expense on those most likely to profit by it, 

 who are seldom able to make such sacrifices. 



It is also to be regretted that the exterior of the building 

 at South Kensington should not present architectural features 

 more in unison with the objects it contains, and more in ac- 

 cordance with the advancement of modern taste. But though 

 this might be considered a necessary part of the instruction 

 to be conveyed by it, we may for the present rest satisfied 

 with the benefits to be derived from its varied collection, 

 together with the facilities afforded for study and for reference 

 to so many useful works ; and we may hope, when the country 

 is fully convinced of its importance, that the external aspect 

 of the building will be made worthy of its internal merits. 



1 6. [In mentioning " schools of drawing," I may be thought 

 to have used a strange obsolete expression, as custom has 

 called them " schools of design ;" but I can find no other 

 meaning in ecoles de clessin, or scuole di disegno ; and draw- 

 ing has no need of being ashamed of its name. Another and 

 a better title, " sdhools of art," has now been applied to them, 

 and it is satisfactory to know that the talents of those to 

 whom the management is committed are a guarantee for the 

 instruction they afford, and are calculated to allay the appre- 

 hensions of any one who might think the original title tended 

 to encourage the students in a belief that their particular 

 calling was to invent " designs." 



17. Hitherto drawing has in England been ill-fated ; though 

 of such importance to every artist, that none deserves the name 

 unless he excels in it; and the neglect it meets with at once 



