[Rarebooks] FS: 1892 Illinois Art School Prospectus by the Inventor of Air Brushes

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

 From our latest Recent Acquisitions Catalog
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog376.pdf>

1892 Prospectus for Rockford Illinois Art School Run by the Inventor of 
Air Brushes.

A prospectus for the Illinois Art School, located in Rockford, which was 
run by the wife of the man who invented air brushes. Well, sort of. The 
very first air-brush-type appliance was patented in 1876 by the Stanley 
brothers, of Stanley Steamer fame, and was used for coating photographic 
plates. An air-compressor brush for artists was invented a few years 
later by Abner Peeler "for the painting of watercolors and other 
artistic purposes" and was constructed with parts from a jeweler's 
workshop. Liberty Walkup of Mt. Morris, Illinois then refined the design 
for practical assembly and patented it with a name invented by his wife 
Mimi- ‘air-brush’. Mimi then founded the Illinois Art School, located in 
the Air Brush company building,and taught general artistic subjects as 
well as air-brushing to students from around the world, including 
American Impressionist Wilson Irvine.

At Mimi’s school you could buy individual lessons for 50 cents, a week’s 
worth for $5, a month for $16, and 4 months for $50. That might seem a 
trifle steep, but the brochure assures prospective students that- “The 
demand for artists and teachers is due to a growing appreciation of Art 
productions, and demand is sure to intensify with the growth of 
population and the development of culture. It is certain that few fields 
of effort are more promising to success than the one now rapidly opening 
to those possessing professional skill as artists. Our students are 
occupying positions from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from Canada to 
South America. The work they have been able to do has caused the demand 
for more help of the same class, so much so that we have not been able 
to fill one-fourth the demand. One stenographer and many others in the 
same field of office work have laid down their pen and taken up art work 
as they learn of the lucrative positions offered for competent help in 
the studio”. So there- the starving artist thing is a 20th century 
phenomenon.

Softcover. 4.5”x6”, 8 pages, 1 black & white illustration of the school 
building. Minor soil.  [43403]  $60

Pictures ->
<http://www.joslinhall.com/Catalog376.pdf>

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