“Among the Most Promising…”

Looking over the shoulder of a researcher, looking at a drawing by Minnie Jane Hardman

Minnie Jane Hardman and the Late Victorian Royal Academy Schools

Minnie Jane Hardman (née Shubrook) (1862-1952) was a student at the Royal Academy Schools in 1883-1889. One of approximately twelve female students admitted yearly, she started at the Academy only twenty-three years after the first female student was accidentally accepted in 1860.

By the 1880s, women were still only permitted to attend the antique and painting schools, and Academy registers show that Hardman spent much of her time isolated from the men in classes dedicated to “Ladies Painting”.

The breadth and unrivalled coverage of the Minnie Jane Hardman Collection at the University of Reading provides a unique and in-depth insight into the education and practice of a female artist during this period. Works include sketches after the antique, anatomical and life drawings, and studies and examination papers in perspective. Many are complete with labels recording Hardman’s class number, surname, age, register number and stage and the collection includes a series of prize–winning works, underlining her accomplishment as a draughtswoman.

Gif made up of the cropped skeleton, ecorched figure and statue of the Discophorus. All by Minnie Jane Hardman

Discophoros (the discus-bearer) in three “anatomical” layers

1882-1883

Charcoal, ink and pencil on paper

UAC/10610 (Study of the Discophoros)

UAC/10609 (Écorché drawing modelled on the Discophorus)

UAC/10608 (Anatomical drawing of a skeleton, modelled on the Discophorus)

Study of the Wrestlers by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the Wrestlers, or Pancrastinae

c. 1883

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10652

Bust-length portrait of a young woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a young woman, head turned to the right

c.1884-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10633

Portrait head of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman, facing front

c.1884-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10590

Portrait head of a woman with patterned background by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman in front of patterned wallpaper

1886

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10630

Portrait head of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman, head turned to the right

c.1884-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10588

Cropped study of a standing female nude, seen from behind, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a standing female nude

c.1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10627

Cropped nude study of a young boy seated, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Nude study of a seated young boy

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10594

National Bronze Medal winning, Study of a hand by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a hand

c. 1883

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10593

Gif of cropped skeleton, ecorche figure and study of Heracles. All created by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of Heracles drawn in three “anatomical” layers

1882-1883

Charcoal, ink and pencil on paper

UAC/106oo (Study of Heracles)

UAC/10599 (Écorché drawing modelled on Heracles)

UAC/10598 (Anatomical drawing of a skeleton, modelled on Heracles)

Study of Heracles, viewed from behind, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of Heracles, viewed from behind

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10601

Half-length study of a semi-draped male by Minnie Jane Hardman

Half-length study of a semi-draped male carrying a pole

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10607

Study of a plaster cast of a foot by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a plaster cast of a foot

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10586

Portrait head of a man wearing a ruff by Minnie Jane Hardman

Portrait head of a man

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10591

Portrait head of a man by Minnie Jane Hardman

Portrait head of a man

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10597

Study of a bust of Homer by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a bust of Homer

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10584

Bust-length portrait of an old woman created in 2 hours by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of an old woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10587

Study of a classical bust, probably depicting Lucius Verus, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a classical bust, probably depicting Lucius Verus

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10592

Third Grade Prize winning, Portrait head of a bearded man by Minnie Jane Hardman.

Portrait head of a bearded man

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10604

Study of a bust of Hermes by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a bust of Hermes

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10605

Cropped Study of the Dancing Faun by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the Dancing Faun

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10612

Study of the head of a companion of Odysseus, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the head of a companion of Odysseus

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10606

Study of a bust of a classical goddess, probably Aphrodite, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a bust of a classical goddess, probably Aphrodite

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10613

Study of the head of a classical goddess, probably Hera, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the head of a classical goddess, probably Hera

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10621

Study of a plaster cast of a foot by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a plaster cast of a foot

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10615

Study of a plaster cast of a foot by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a plaster cast of a foot

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10614

Study of the head of a classical goddess by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the head of a classical goddess

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10647

Portrait head of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Portrait head of a woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10625

Bust-length portrait of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10634

Study of a portrait bust, possibly representing Emperor Titus Vespasianus Augustus, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a portrait bust, possibly representing Emperor Titus Vespasianus Augustus

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10632

Bust-length portrait of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10635

Bust-length portrait of a young woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a young woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10649

Study of the head of a companion of Odysseus, possibly, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of the head of a companion of Odysseus, possibly

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10620

Study of a bust of Augustus by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a bust of Augustus

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10622

Bust-length portrait of a woman by Minnie Jane Hardman

Bust-length portrait of a woman

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10589

Study of a draped classical figure, half length, by Minnie Jane Hardman

Study of a draped classical figure, half length

c. 1883-1889

Charcoal on paper

UAC/10650