to the President & Council
of the Royal Academy

Dec 12^th / 73

Sir Francis and Gentlemen
I am ordered by the
School Committee to urge
upon your notice the
advisability of adding to
the preliminary ^painting course
a short course of drawing
of heads from the Life, the
entire incompetence, in
this respect, of the majority

of students entering the
Upper Painting School
having forcibly struck both
the Keeper and the visiting
Members.
It is therefore proposed
that a model, for the head
only, sit daily for a couple
of hours _ for which purpose
the vacant Life School offers
great convenience; _ further
that these hours precede the opening
of the preliminary painting
class so that Mr Ballantyne
may without difficulty attend

both. It is however understood
that the ultimate authority
_ as in all schools not
specially attended by Visitors _
should rest with the Keeper.
I am Sir Francis
and Gentlemen
Your obedt Servant
Fred Leighton

Act. Secy. Vice F. Eaton Secy.
Roy. Acad^y