The present Athens School of Fine Art evolved from an original nucleus founded in January 1837 and was referred to in official documents indefferently either as the Polytechnic or as the School for the Arts. According to the royal decree, the School was to cater for those wishing to become craftsmen in architecture and related arts, by imparting to them instruction during Sundays and holidays. In 1843 the School was reorganised into three separate branches under a single director general: first, a part – time school providing supplementary education to craftsmen; second, a full – time school for young people intending to engage in industrial crafts; and, third, a full – time higher school for the teaching of the fine arts.