Pioneer Woman Art Student.

Who was Miss Laura Herford? She was a pioneer in her particular sphere, according to “Everywoman's Encyclopedia,” Vol. VI., which states: “At length the doors of the Royal Academy were cautiously opened to admit women. Miss Herford, whose neice, Mrs. Ailingham, R.W.S., holds an honoured place among water-colour painters to-day, entered as a pioneer woman student.” Mrs. Allingham was before her marriage to William Allingham in 1874, Miss Helen Paterson. It appears certain from Mrs. Sheat's reminiscences that she was the model used by her aunt, Miss Herford, in painting “The Little Emigrant.”

From a book called “Happy England,” we read more about Mrs. Allingham and her aunt, Miss Herford, as follows: “Two influences greatly helped Helen Paterson in her artistic desires at this time. Her mother's sister, Laura Herford, had taken up art as a profession. Although her name does not appear in exhibition records the sisterhood of artists owe her a very enduring debt; for to her was due the opening of the Royal Academy Schools to women—which she obtained by another's slip of the tongue, aided by a successful subterfuge.”

The book describes how Lord Lyndhurst had claimed that the Royal Academy Schools offered free tuition to all Her Majesty's subjects. Miss Herford wrote, pointing out the inaccuracy —as only male, not female, students were taught. She appealed to Lord Lyndhurst to use his influence with the Government of the day (apparently 1857–58 or 59) to obtain the removal of this restriction.

Sir Charles Eastlake, President of the Royal Academy, was entirely in sympathy with the request. He said there was no written law against the admission of women. Now comes the “subterfuge.” After an interview with Miss Herford, Sir Charles connived at a drawing of hers being sent in as a test of her eligibility for admission as probationer—under her initials, not her full Christian name. A few days later came the notification that “he had passed the test and obtained admission.” It arrived at her home addressed to “A. L. Herford, Esq.”

“There was a demonstration when the lady presented herself in order to execute a drawing in the presence of the keeper,” we are told. “Her claim to do this was vehemently combated by the council (of the academy). The president demonstrated the absurdity of the situation and the untenability of the position. So the doors were opened to female students once and for all.

“Miss Herford, who had a strong character, constituted herself art-adviser-in-chief to her young niece, Helen Paterson (afterwards Mrs. Allingham).”