Papers relating to the proposed closure of the Department for the Supply of Casts

1 file, 7 pieces

The Royal Academy was actively involved between 1920 and 1923 in the setting up of the Department for the Supply of Casts [initially known as the Department for the Sale of Casts] of ancient and modern sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Based on the business of Bruciani & Co, the Academy had intervened to ensure that the collection was presented to the nation. The Department supplied casts to schools, and was viewed by the Academy as an important element in the organisation of art training in the country. The possibility of closure arose in 1932 because the Department had begun to run at a slight loss.

The papers consist of a printed memorandum to the Prime Minister, Herbert Henry Asquith, from the President, Sir Edward Poynter and other senior figures in British art and architectural institutions stating their belief in the importance of preserving the collection of moulds belonging to Brucciani & Co in order to maintain an adequate supply of such casts as are required for the purposes of art education, by means of purchase by the Government, December 1915; notice from the Victoria and Albert Museum announcing that they had taken over the business of Brucciani & Co under the title of the 'Department for the Sale of Casts', October 1922; memorandum by the President, Sir William Llewellyn and W. Goscombe John expressing their grave concern at the possibility of the closure of the Department for the Supply of Casts, February 1933, with covering letter to Lord Irwin, Board of Education, 1 March 1933; memorandum on Brucciani & Co, undated, incomplete, 1p.; copy of letter from Lord Irwin to Sir William Llewellyn, in response to memorandum of February 1933, informing him that while it was desirable to consider changes to the running of the Department for the Supply of Casts, no definite scheme had yet been proposed, and there was no risk of immediate closure, 29 March 1933 and copy of letter from Sir Henry Pelham, Board of Education to the Secretary, Walter Lamb, 16 January 1933.