The History of the Academy was the focus of a four month weekly lecture series, delivered by Jeffrey Mims in 2006. From the strange, singular productions of Pontormo to the grand orchestrations of Le Brun, this overview placed great emphasis on the development of the academie, or male figure drawing - a practice which remained a constant through the shifting evolutions of art.

Starting with transformation of the medieval Guild of Saint Luke in Florence, Italy into the Academia del Disegno during the late Renaissance, an illustrated history traced the development of this institution to Rome and eventually north to France. Whether under the protection of the Medici or royal recognition during the reign of Louis XIII, this idea provided standards of training and ultimately shaped the careers of artists who came to define European culture.

This series, in conjunction with our research on History of Ornament, culminated with a trip to Paris this spring where the variety and splendor of the French school is so well represented.