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. ==Associated people==