An Academy of Painters
Prints representing academy scenes became more common after the first official art academy was established in Florence in 1563. At the Rome venue depicted here, masters (with beards and hats) instruct young artists. The masters teach the principles of disegno, which entails both the ability to render a drawing and the intellectual capacity to conceive its design. One master displays a sheet of sketches to two students at left, while another gives a lesson on geometry in the center. In the background on the right, a group examines a cadaver to learn about anatomy. The paintings and pieces of sculpture that adorn the back wall served as additional aids for the students.
Artwork Details
- Title: An Academy of Painters
- Artist: Pierfrancesco Alberti (Italian, 1584–1638)
- Date: 1600–38
- Medium: Etching
- Dimensions: Sheet: 16 1/4 x 20 9/16 in. (41.2 x 52.2 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1949
- Object Number: 49.95.12
- Curatorial Department: Drawings and Prints
More Artwork
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.