Mr. Paterson, an engraver, who has been a most successful teacher for fourteen years in both Edinburgh and London, holds a class for ladies every Monday and Thursday, from 2 to 3 o'clock, at 3, East Temple Chambers, Whitefriars Street. No pupil will be received for less than two quarters.
As his is a private class, he of course cannot compete in price with the one under the patronage of the City and Guilds of London Institute. His terms are:—
| Engraving | £2 | 2 | 0 per quarter. |
| Drawing on wood | 2 | 2 | 0 " |
| Both, inclusive | 3 | 3 | 0 " |
A small charge is also made for the wood used by the pupil; it never exceeds 7s. 6d. a quarter. The cost of the tools is 21s., but they are highly finished and ready for use. Many of Mr. Paterson's pupils are now earning considerable incomes. A knowledge of drawing, though very desirable, is not essential, especially as in all probability no one who was entirely devoid of the artistic faculty would care to attempt to become an engraver, as it is doubtless a long and arduous task, though the success which may be attained would, when it came, be, I think, a full recompense for all the time and trouble that had been expended.
China Painting.—Painting on china has been considerably overdone of late years, and now only really good work can be at all certain of finding a market. The best way for amateurs to dispose of their work is to send it to Messrs. Howell and James's annual exhibition, as they allow each exhibitor to send three small or two large pieces of work, and last season £3,000 worth of ladies' paintings on china were sold. Each piece of work should be marked the price at which it is to be disposed of, a commission of 15 per cent. being charged on the published price of all works sold, to defray the expenses of advertisement and exhibition. Only strictly original works are eligible for prizes, but adaptation and copies are not inadmissible for exhibition if approved by the judges, to whom all works are submitted. All works must be sent in by the end of March.
Before taking lessons in painting on china, it is essential that ladies should have a good knowledge of drawing. With that, a few months' lessons will make them proficient china painters; without it, they will never do anything worth buying. Classes for pottery painting are held at Messrs. Howell and James's, Regent Street, every day excepting Saturdays. Terms:—The course of ten lessons of two hours each, £3 3s.; six lessons, £2; three lessons, £1 1s.
Messrs. Doulton and Co., Lambeth, employ about 120 ladies permanently in painting on china. The work is paid by the piece, so the amount earned depends on the workers. A class for pottery painting is formed on Tuesday and Friday at the Lambeth School of Art, Miller's Lane, Upper Kennington Lane; fee, 10s. 6d. per month. I believe this class was formed at Messrs. Doulton's request principally to prepare ladies to execute their work, as they found teaching ladies who had no previous knowledge of the art took up too much of their time. The head master of the Lambeth School of Art told me he thought it useless for ladies to join the class who had not a considerable knowledge of drawing, such, for instance, as they might acquire by two years' study at some school of art.
Painting on Leather.—This branch of decorative art is well suited to women, but there is but a small demand for it. Some of the large upholsterers are willing to employ ladies, but they must have a good knowledge of drawing, and be willing to give two years to learn the technicalities of the art, and to gain experience of the different styles, especially Spanish and Italian, at the South Kensington Museum and other places. At the expiration of that time wages would begin at from 6s. to £1 a week, according to ability; and the probable eventual earnings would be from £2 to £3 weekly.
Mosaic.—Women have frequently been employed in manufacturing mosaic; but it is so little used in England that at present I can hear of no place where they would be likely to obtain work. But when the decoration of St. Paul's Cathedral in mosaic is commenced—if it is entrusted to an English firm, as I sincerely hope it will be—there will be employment for hundreds of women for some years. The usual pay mosaic workers obtain if they have no knowledge of drawing is about £40 a year; if they can undertake the more difficult parts, such as the human figure, their salaries are proportionately higher. The mere technical knowledge is easily acquired in a month.
Painting on Glass.—It is a great pity ladies are not more extensively employed in painting on glass. Messrs. Powell and Co., of the Whitefriars Glass Works Company, Whitefriars Street, employ a few. These ladies work in a separate room, six hours a day, and four on Saturdays; these are obviously very short hours, and Mr. Powell has no objection to increase them if he finds the ladies he employs are willing; of course their work is paid by time. He intends to increase his staff of lady workers as occasion arises. Only a very slight knowledge of drawing is required for the lower branches of this art, and it is necessary to give perhaps three months, certainly not more, to acquire it. The average earnings are from £60 to £70 a year; any one capable of copying figures and painting them on glass would obtain a higher salary, probably £100 a year.