M R A Hollis
The Old Bluecoat School

Pencil drawing
56 x 77 cm

Professor Malcolm A Hollis was a chartered surveyor, arbitrator and professor of Building Pathology. He produced this architectural sketch while studying at the Liverpool College of Building. The study depicts a frontal view of the Bluecoat School, showcasing its grand 18th-century architecture and is characterised by clean lines and a strong sense of architectural perspective.

The Bluecoat School is the oldest building in both central Liverpool and the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was originally built in 1717 to house the Blue Coat School for Orphans. After almost 200 years, the school moved to a different premises in 1906 and in 1907 the Sandon Studios Society, a breakaway from University of Liverpool’s School of Applied Art, moved into the vacant building, establishing one of the first dedicated art centres in the world. It continues to serve this purpose today and celebrated its 300 year anniversary in 2017.