William Rimmer: Conflict at Cooper Union

"Evening, the Fall of Day" by William Rimmer

"Dr. William Rimmer remained in charge of the art department at Cooper Union until the close of the term ending June 1, 1870. For the first two years matters went on well, and the school assumed an importance perceptibly felt in the community, but during the last year or two it became evident to the trustees that still greater progress was necessary, and that the school must be re-organized.

There were two elements in Dr. Rimmer's system which must inevitably prove irreconcilable. These were the single personal government, as represented by its director, and the impossibility of his properly attending to the necessities of each pupil. It was also felt that he did not follow with sufficient care the original intention of the school, which was to instruct in industrial, rather than fine art. The young women were required to execute large and elaborate compositions in painting and sculpture, more from knowledge than from an intimate and constant reference to nature.

On Rimmer's return to the school in the autumn, to resume, as he thought, his old position, he found the re-organization of the school to be an accomplished fact. A lady had been appointed to take charge of the business portion of Dr. Rimmer's former duties, he being invited to the position of lecturer on anatomy and the principles of art. His work was to occupy two hours of each day, and his salary to be two thousand dollars a year. For this sum the doctor could not think of remaining in New York, and the offer was finally increased to three thousand dollars for three hours of daily work.

He tried to overlook what he considered a humiliation, and to consider favorably the offer of three thousand dollars. He also made an effort to secure pupils for a private class, that his income might be sufficient for the needs of his family. This last was, however, not practicable, and the first was impossible. His sensitive nature and his artistic pride had received too severe a shock. He declined the offer, and returned to Boston, where he began preparations for opening a private school."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "The Art Life of William Rimmer: Sculptor, Painter, and Physician" by Truman Howe Bartlett.)