Exhibition of the Lincoln School of Art, 1864. ...the interior of the large room...occupied by the first public exhibition of paintings and drawings which are the work of the students...It is a fine room...and may be used on public occasions for exhibitions...The school was inspected...by Mr. S. Hart, R. A., the Professor of Painting at the Royal Academy, who expressed high approval of its progress...ninety-four students of the first grade passed a satisfactory examination in drawing...The number of students of the second or higher grade who passed their examination in free-hand drawing, object-drawing, geometry, perspective, and mechanical drawing was twenty-three...Among the students of the third or highest grade, no less than twenty-two medals were distributed for proficiency in the following departments: outline from copy; outline from cast; shading from cast; outline of human figure; outline of foliage; painting from cast; painting from nature; original designs; machines...we cannot but think that, in a place where there exist so many large establishments, in which a great amount of skilled labour is employed (one manufactory alone having more than 1000 men), it will be found to be of essential service to the working classes. From "Illustrated London News", 1864.