Professional artists' models were employed at London Art Schools in the nineteenth century. Models of both sexes were used for life drawing classes although debate about the use of female models continued throughout the century. In 1847 Ford Madox Brown attended life classes run by his artist friend Charles Lucy (1814-73) and held in Lucy's studio at Tudor Lodge in Mornington Crescent, Camden Town, London. He also went to the Dickinson Brothers Drawing Academy at 18 1/2 Maddox Street, London. The exact date that the Academy opened is not known but it was advertised in the Illustrated London News on 15 January 1848 as "for the study of Painting and Sculpture, and Preparatory for the Royal Academy." As Virginia Surtees notes the Academy was open four evenings a week from 7pm to 10pm for life study. Lucy was employed at this academy as a drawing master and 'professional artists attended evening and early morning life classes at either end of the working day.' This drawing, dated 1847, and several others in Birmingham's collection are likely to have been drawn during one of the classes either at Tudor Lodge or Maddox Street. They show the range of poses set by the instructor to show off the muscular bodies of the models and liken the men to classical idols. Working class men were sought for these models as their strenuous jobs provided them with toned bodies resembling classical sculptures. Props were often used to aid poses and add interest. Here the model holds a chisel and hammer, feigning the pose of an ancient sculptor, a slightly witty pose as the man becomes both artist and model. The instruments he holds make a balanced composition. Holding the chisel shows off the model's arm muscles and the position of the hammer highlights the model's buttock.