Tracing Xuying – The National Beiping Art Academy 国立北平艺专（1）

The history of the National Beiping Art Academy was complicated and Li Xuying, from a student to teacher, spent a major part of her life with the school. There will be two posts devoted to this topic, with the first one outlines the history of the school, while the second one focused on Xuying’s experience there.

Part one: The Evolution of the School

The National Beiping Art Academy was the first national institution of higher learning for arts in modern China, founded in April 1918 by the renowned educator Cai Yuanpei (1868-1940). The fine-brush painter and art educator Zheng Jin (1883-1959) served as the first president. Initially named the National School of Fine Arts in Beijing, it consisted of a secondary department (including painting and design) and a teacher training class (including Chinese painting and design). The faculty was primarily composed of traditional Chinese painters and artists trained in Japan. This was the first national fine arts educational institution in Chinese history and was under the jurisdiction of the Education Department of the then Beiyang Government.

Following its establishment, the school underwent several name changes due to educational reforms and the tumultuous political situation:

• In 1922, the school was renamed the National School of Fine Art Specialties in Beijing, with three undergraduate classes in Chinese painting, Western painting, and design. It suspended the secondary and teacher training programs.
• In August 1925, it was renamed the National School of Art Specialties, adding drama and music departments. Lin Fengmian and others served as presidents.
• In 1927, it became the Art Department of National Capital Normal University, suspending the drama and music departments in the autumn.
• In 1928, it was renamed the Art College of National Peking University, with departments in Chinese painting, Western painting, applied arts, music, drama, and architecture. Xu Beihong served as the dean, under the Nanjing Nationalist Government.
• In 1934, it was renamed the National School of Art in Beiping, with departments for painting (divided into Chinese and Western painting groups), sculpture (divided into sculpture and modeling groups), graphic arts (divided into design and crafts groups), and art education. Yan Zhikai and others served as presidents.
• In 1937, with the outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War, parts of the school relocated to Jiangxi.
• In 1938, part of the school merged with Hangzhou School of Art, and was renamed the National School of Art, moving to Hunan.
• From 1938 to 1945, the part of the school that remained in Beiping was known as the National School of Art in Beiping, with Wang Shizhi serving as president, under the puppet Chinese government established by the Japanese invaders.

After several relocations and the dispersal of faculty and students, the National School of Art in Beiping was re-established in August 1946 following the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, with Xu Beihong (1895-1953) as the president, returning under the Nanjing Nationalist Government. It offered majors in painting, sculpture, design, ceramics, and music. In 1949, the music department merged with the newly established Central Conservatory of Music. In early 1950, the school merged with the Art Department of North China United University to form the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA).

Over the course of more than 30 years, the school persevered through numerous challenges to maintain its educational mission. Several famous artists served as presidents or faculty members, such as Lin Fengmian (1900-1991), Qi Baishi (1864-1957), Lu Fengzi (1886-1959), and Pan Tianshou (1897-1971), contributing to the cultivation of many art talents in society.

一、沿革：

国立北平艺术专科学校是中国现代第一所国立高等艺术学院，于1918年4月由著名教育家蔡元培创立。工笔画家、美术教育家郑锦担任第一任校长。成立之初校名为国立北京美术学校，设中等部（包括绘画科、图案科）和师范班（包括中画科、图案科）。教师以中国画画家、留日学生为主。这是中国历史上第一所国立美术教育学府，隶属当时的北洋政府教育部。

学校成立之后因教育改革及时局动荡曾数次更名：

·      1922年学校改名国立北京美术专门学校。设中国画系、西洋画系以及图案系3个本科班，停办中等部和师范班。

·      1925年8月改为国立艺术专门学校，增设戏剧和音乐两个系。林风眠等任校长。

·      1927年更名为国立京师大学校美术专门部，年秋音乐、戏剧科停办。

·      1928年改称国立北平大学艺术学院，设中国画、西画、实用美术、音乐、戏剧、建筑六系。徐悲鸿任院长。隶属南京国民政府。

·      1934年改称国立北平艺术专科学校，设绘画（分国画、西画组）、雕塑（分雕塑、塑造组）、图工（分图案、工艺组）、艺术师范四科。严智开等任校长。

·      1937年抗战爆发后部分迁往江西。

·      1938年部分与杭州艺术专科学校合并，改名国立艺术专科学校，迁往湖南。

·      1938-1945年留守北平的学校部分称国立北京艺术专科学校。由王石之任校长。隶属（伪）中华民国临时政府。

此后学校数度迁徙，教员学员分散各地。直至抗战胜利之后，1946年8月，国立北平艺术专科学校重建，回归南京国民政府，由徐悲鸿任校长，设绘画、雕塑、图案、陶瓷、音乐5个专业。1949年，北平艺专音乐系并入在天津成立的中央音乐学院。1950年初，北平艺专与华北联合大学文艺学院美术系合并，并在此基础上建立了中央美术学院。

学校历时30余年，数遇变故而坚持办学，前后有多位著名艺术家出任校长或执教，例如林风眠，齐白石，吕凤子，潘天寿等，为社会培养了许多美术人才。