The Fine Arts Dirision comprises the Sheepshanks' collection of 234 modern oil paintings ; a small collection of drawings and sketches also presented to the nation by Mr. Sheepshanks; and a collection of 50 water-colour paintings, the gift of Mrs. Ellison of Sudbrooke, to which other drawings have been added by purchase : these collections are more particularly noticed under NATIONAL GALLERY.
The Sritnce Dirision consists of-1. An Educational Collection, in which are brought together, models of schools, school-fittings, school books (and a reading-room, in which to examine them) maps and diagrams, philosophical instruments, kc., in fact, as far as practicable, whatever may serve to guide or anslat those engaged in teaching. 2. Collection of Animal Product,. 3. Food Collections— in which are -- — shown the chemical compositions of the various substances used as foo(L 4. Structural Museum, in which are collected the materials 'employed in building, &c.
These form the Museum proper ; but to them are to be added other collections which are placed in the same building, though they do not belong to the Department of Science and Art. They consist of the British pictures belonging to the National Gallery, which are placed here temporarily [NATIONAL GALLERY] collections of architectural crude belonging to the Architectural Museum Association and the Royal Academy ; a small collection of modern sculpture, chiefly casts, and the Patent Museum belonging to the Commissioners of Patents. Certain rooms are also set apart for the reception for a limited time of choice collections of articles of ornamental art belonging to private individuals; and there are now usually five or six of these " Loan Collections" on view here at one time, containing commonly many specimens of great interest and value.
The total cost of the South Kensington Museum up to July 1860, was 167,0001., including everything except management, the annual
expenditure on which is about 7000/. Of the above sum the land cost 60,000/, the buildings 54,5361., the collections 53,269!. The value of the private gifts to the Museum, including the Sheepshanks and Ellison collections of paintings, is estimated by the director at upwards of 88,000/. The permanent buildings which have been erected ore intended to form part, of a spacious structure which is to cover an area of above ten acres, and to surly all the requirements of the Department at South Kensington. SCIENCE AND ART, DEPARTMENT or.] In its main features the bui ding is intended to consist of a centre and two great projecting wings, the fronts of which are to be connected by an open corridor. In the centre will be the Lecture Theatre, Art Training Schools, fie. The eastern wing will be appro priated to the Art-bollections; the western to the Educational col lections, Art-Library, offices, residences, &c. The extreme length (facing Cromwell Road) will exceed 700 feet ; the extreme depth (or western facade) 650 feet, but the site is very irregular. The design is by Captain Fowke, the official architect and engineer to the Museum ; the total cost is estimated at 214,000/, but at present only the eastern wing is in course of erection.
All the collections are open free to the public on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays in each week; on the other dayi (being "students' days") the public are admitted on payment of 6d. each person. The collections are also opened to the public free on the first two evenings of the week—an innovation which has proved exceedingly popular. To the Art Library—a very excellent one—though formed primarily for the students, any person is admitted on payment of a trifling fee.