William Morris Hunt: Women's Class in Boston, Pt. 1

"Head of Woman" by William Morris Hunt

"While at work upon portraits and other subjects, Hunt had little idea that the time would come when he would summon to his studio a large class of women students. Scarcely had he become well established in Boston before he was earnestly besought to take a class of six or eight ladies who had pursued the study of art chiefly in Europe. 'Six or eight!' exclaimed Hunt. 'If I teach at all, I shall teach forty.' And the number forty was at once obtained.

In his generous enthusiasm he gave to the class his largest and favorite studio, taking, for himself, one that was darker and less attractive. The class proved an inspiration and a success. Charcoal was the medium used, and all were delighted with its easy and speedy results. Under Hunt's enthusiastic encouragement, drawing seemed, for the first week or two, a matter of possibility and delight. The class was taught that values were the all in all; that everything existed by its relative value of light and shade.

Models were introduced, and portraits and figure-studies were on nearly every easel. Perfect freedom of drawing and expression was encouraged, and soon the paint brush succeeded the charcoal stick. Here new difficulties arose, only to be successfully met by the master. No pupil knew such a word as fail. She was taught to have faith in her instructor, and in herself.

When perfect freedom had been attained, Hunt began to inculcate lessons of exactness and precision. Photographs from Albert Dürer, Mantegna, and Holbein were placed before the pupils, and they were told to trace them carefully, copy them exactly, and draw them from memory, making them a part of themselves. In this way he endeavored to make good, as far as possible, the lack of fine art in our country; to show how art is cumulative, every painter owing something to those who have worked before him."

To be continued

(Excerpts from Helen Mary Knowlton's "The Art-Life of William Morris Hunt.)