First "Onsett" of the. 1863
Feminine Craft. THE THE MEMBERS OF THE
ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

THE MEMORIAL OF THE UNDERSIGNED FEMALE STUDENTS OF THE SOUTH KENSINGTON,
AND OTHER ART SCHOOLS.
Sheweth,-

That it has long bee the custom of the Council of the Royal Academy to admit into their Schools new
students to supply any vacancies which may have occurred therein.
That the Students have been usually selected for admission by means of an examination of works
executed for the purpose by those seeking that privilege.
That for some years past and up to the year 1863, it was permitted to Female Students to compete
at those examinations, and the successful female competitors were admitted to study in the Schools
of the Royal Academy.
That in the Month of June, 1863, two Female Students of the South Kensington School of Art sent in
to the Royal Academy, drawings executed by them for the purpose of competition with a view to
obtain entrance to the Schools of the Academy as Students.
That by a resolution of the Council it was, however, determined that their works should not be
submitted to competition, and that no more Female Students should be admitted into the Schools of
the Academy.
That your memorialists complain of that resolution and seek to have it reversed.
That the current of opinion and feeling of late years, on the part of the educated public, has been
strongly in favour of
the introduction of women to such callings and pursuits as are, or seem to be, suitable to their sex,
capacities, and tastes, although the same may have been previously from the most part, or
altogether, monopolised by me.
That one channel which has in modern times been opened for the enterprize of women, is the
pursuit of the Arts of Sculpture and Painting; and that many women have availed themselves of that
opening and are at present earning their livelihood as Artists; and many other young women are
preparing themselves by study and practice to follow their example.
That your memorialists merely ask your attention to the fact, that many young women are now
devoting their lives to that profession; and since this is so, your memorialists trust it will be readily
conceded that it is desirable that they should become good artists rather than inferior artists, and
that they should, with that view, receive the best Art education compatible with their circumstances.
That it is well known that the schools of the Royal Academy are of a much higher standard than the
other Art Schools of the Kingdom, and are in every way more suitable for advanced Students; they
are also the only Free Art Schools in this country which is a consideration of moment to some of your
memorialists.
That the reason, and the only reason, alleged for that excluding resolution was, that the
accommodation for Student, at the disposal of the Council, is limited in extent.
That your memorialists have heard that there is an early prospect of increased space being placed at
the command of the Royal Academy by the removal of the National Gallery.
But even if that transfer does not happen, and in the meantime until it does happen, your
memorialists submit,
That the limited accommodation need not be made a ground for adhering to the excluding
resolution (if it be otherwise an undesirable one). - First, because the number of Female Students
likely to become competitors will (at least for many years to come) be very small indeed in
comparison with the number of male students, which the proportion of successful
female competitors is, your memorialists fear, likely to be still smaller.
And Secondly, because that inasmuch as your memorialists neither ask nor desire that any
preference or favor be extended towards the female competitors at the entrance examination, the
result will be that the entire number of Students will not be increased.
That in thus asking nothing more than "a fair field and no favour," your memorialists are very far
from intending to convey that they imagine that Female Art Students can, upon the whole, compare
favourably with an equal number of Male Students; on the contrary, your memorialists appeal to the
fact that in many exceptional instances female sculptors and painter have attained to a high degree
of excellence; and your memorialists submit that it is sufficient for the present application to shew
that such success is possible, however rare; because by how much it is unusual, by so much greater
need is there that female students should be deprived of none of the advantages
which the more favoured sex possesses.

Your memorialists there pray that liberty may be restored to Female Students to compete for
admission into the Schools of the Royal Academy, upon the same forms and conditions, in all
respect, as are granted to, or imposed upon, male students.

N.B. - The only Signatures appended to this Memorial are those of Students who purpose to become
Professional Artists.