ACCADEMIA DI SAN LUCA, ROME

Founded inRomein 1593, the Accademia di San Luca was an association of artists dedicated toSt.Luke, who was believed to have painted the true portrait of theVirgin Mary. It replaced the medievalGuildof Painters, Miniaturists, and Embroiderers, which by now had become antiquated. Its establishment was inspired by the Accademia del Disegno, founded inFlorencein 1562 under the protection of Cosimo I de'Medici. In turn, the Accademia di San Luca inspired the establishment of theFrench Academyof Painting and Sculpture in 1648. The purpose of the Accademia was to provide artists with instruction and to regulate standards. The educational curriculum it offered included classes inperspective, fore-shortening, anatomy, and drawing from both the nude and plaster casts taken from ancient statuary. It also became a place for artists to gather and discuss art theory. It was here thatPietro da CortonaandAndrea Sacchidebated the proper depiction of history scenes in c. 1630.

See alsoCortona / Sacchi controversy.