Opening Hours
Daily: 10 A.M.–5 P.M.
Closed on Tuesdays
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108
Visual Materials
Prang's Complete Course in Form Study and Drawing, Nos. 1-2, 4-10
1 of 2
- Description
- Twelve drawing books entitled Prang's Complete Course in Form Study and Drawing, by John S. Clark, Mary Dana Hicks, and Walter S. Perry, published by Prang Educational Company, Boston, New York and Chicago, 1889. Book No. 3 is lacking, and there are duplicate copies of Nos. 2, 4 and 5, although the previous owners (students) differ for each. All twelve books are 24 pages in length and contain drill exercises on the first 2 pages and numbered exercises on the remainder. The exercises in the earlier books emphasize correct use of lines, both curved and straight, through copying of sample (lithographed) images. The exercises in some of the later books are significantly more complex and focus more on perspective, representation and light and shade. Each exercise consists of 1 or more sample images, textual instruction, and space for copying. Several of the exercises call for the image to be cut from colored paper and pasted in, near the model image. Some of the exercises include: leaves, fruit, decorative designs, plants, geometric shapes and forms, architectural details, buildings and scenes. The exercises within each book progress in level of difficulty, and the series itself progresses in difficulty from very simple to very complex. The front covers are decorated with a small decorative element below the title; on the back cover is a brief list of the materials needed to complete this book. The insides of the front and back covers are blank. Most of the books have been at least partially, if not wholly, completed by previous owners. Some of the booklets also contain colored paper cutouts that have been mounted into the corresponding exercise. Some, but not all, of the booklets have previous owners' names written in ms. on the front covers: "Chester F. Robie" on Nos. 1,4, 5; "Ruth E. Lane" on Nos. 2, 4, 7, 8 and 9; "G. Vernon Talbot" on No. 5; and "Geo. H. Garcelon" on No. 10. "3-" (price) is written in ms., in pencil, in the upper right-hand corners of Nos. 2, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9. "Highland School, M.A. Paul" and "17.50" (price) are written in ms. in the upper right-hand corner of No. 10.
