ECOLE DES BEAUX-ARTS, b6z-ar' (School of Fine Arts), the French gov ernment school at Paris, officially called the Ecole Nationale et Speciale des Beaux-Arts de Paris. In 1648 Mazarin, under the patronage of Louis XIV, founded the Academy of Paint ing and Sculpture, and in 1671 Colbert com pleted Mazarin's work by establishing the Acad emy of Architecture with its school. The two schools were united under their present title in 1793, although lessons in architecture had actu ally been given at the former school by Fran cois Blondel as early as 1671. Competition for the Grand Prix de Rome was instituted in 1666, and the same year witnessed the establishment of the College de France at Rome by Colbert and Charles Errard. In 1819, the school re ceived its charter, the administration being left in the hands of the Academie des Beaux-Arts. In 1863 it was taken from the control of the Institute and placed in the charge of a govern ment official, since when the management has remained practicajly the same.
The school is free to men and women from the ages of 15 to 30 and the courses extend over a period of 8 to 10 years, generally Courses are given in painting, sculpture, archi copper-plate engraving and engraving of medals and precious stones; and supple mentary classes are held in drawing (both from the antique and living model), building, architecture (theory and history), design, deco ration, history of art, esthetics, general his tory, geometry, perspective, science, etc. There are severe examinations for entrance and, like wise, competitive examinations which are held every six months. This competitive system governs the grading of all pupils. In addition to more or less regular attendance at these reg ular courses, the students work in the various ateliers, or studios, under different professors, to whom they are obliged to pay a small fee.
The location of the school is at the old con vent of Petit Augustin, between the rue Bona parte and the rue Saints-Peres. The present Palais was designed by Debret and enlarged and completed by Felix Duban, the construction being finished in 1863. Opportunities for study are found in the splendid collections, which in clude all the works which have been awarded the Grand Prix, numerous portraits of the pro fessors, classical copies and originals and valu able drawings by the old masters. The library, whose origin dates from the beginning of the school, is rich in valuable books, engravings and photographs. Statistics show some 2,000 students (1913) and 50 teachers (including those in the ateliers). The governing board and administrator are selected from among the best artists of France.
American students are predominant among the foreigners at the school and American architecture has been greatly enriched as a re sult of their training. The Congressional Li brary, Washington, D. C., the Tribune Building, the University Club and the new model tene ment dwellings in New York city, besides nu merous palatial residences throughout the country, testify to the practical knowledge and artistic skill of the French-trained American architects. (See INSTITUTE OF FRANCE). Con sult the "Beaux Arts Number') of the Archi tectural Record (New York, January 1901) ; Delaborde, Royal de Peinture et de Sculpture, Etude historique) (Paris 1861) ; Lenoir, des arts en France) (ib. 1895).