Grand-Ducal Saxon Art School, Weimar

The Grand-Ducal Saxon Art School, Weimar (German:Großherzoglich-Sächsische Kunstschule Weimar) was founded on 1 October 1860, in Weimar, Germany, by a decree of Charles Alexander, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach. It existed until 1910, when it merged with several other art schools to become the Großherzoglich Sächsische Hochschule für Bildende Kunst ("Grand-Ducal Saxon School for Fine Arts"). It should not be confused with the Weimar Princely Free Drawing School, which existed from 1776 to 1930 and, after 1860, served as a preparatory school.

History
From 1870 to 1900, the students and teachers of the school turned away from the academic tradition of idealized compositions. Inspired by the Barbizon School, they went directly to nature for their inspiration, in genre as well as landscape painting. This approach set the school apart and attracted attention throughout Europe.

Grand-Ducal Saxon School for Fine Arts, Weimar
In 1910, William Ernest, Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach, in cooperation with Hans Olde (Director of the Art School), Adolf Brütt (Director of the Sculpture School) and Henry van de Velde (Director of the School of Arts & Crafts), joined the three schools to create the Großherzoglich Sächsische Hochschule für Bildende Kunst ("Grand-Ducal Saxon School for Fine Arts"), headed by Fritz Mackensen.

Building
The Art Nouveau art school building, designed by Henry van de Velde, was built between 1904 and 1911. Of particular note in the building's interior are the Oberlichtsaal (skylight hall), the elliptical staircase and the statue of Eve by Auguste Rodin. From 1919 to 1925 this building, and the neighbouring former Grand-Ducal Saxon School of Arts and Crafts building (built 1905–1906), also designed by van de Velde, were used by the Bauhaus art school, which was founded by Walter Gropius.

In 1996 both van de Velde buildings on the site, which are now used by the Bauhaus University Weimar, were included as part of the Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau World Heritage site.

Directors and lecturers
By date of appointment.

Notable students

 * Carl Arp, Hans Arp, Paul Baum, Max Beckmann, Ella Bergmann-Michel, Hugo L. Braune, Ferdinand Brütt, Karl Buchholz, Julius Victor Carstens, Paul Eduard Crodel, Hans Delbrück, Mathilde Freiin von Freytag-Loringhoven, Ludwig von Gleichen-Rußwurm, Karl Gussow, August Haake, Wilhelm Hasemann, Ivo Hauptmann, Rudolf Höckner, Otto Illies, Leopold Graf von Kalckreuth, Otto von Kameke, Fritz Lattke, Max Liebermann, Alfred Lomnitz, Carl Malchin, Carlo Mense, Benedikt Momme Nissen, Eduard Morres, Alexander Olbricht, Otto Piltz, Leon Pohle, Harriet von Rathlef-Keilmann, Adolf Rettelbusch, Carl Rodeck, Christian Rohlfs, Paul Thumann, Minna Beckmann-Tube, Eduard Weichberger, Erich Windbichler, Adolf Ziegler, Irma Stern