A New Venture

Through The Classical Design Foundation, the academy is poised to begin an ambitious new venture called the Mural Guild. It will offer a unique resource for the patron, architect or designer to collaborate directly with classically trained painters in the creation of beautiful and meaningful public spaces.

The Classical Design Foundation is the nonprofit umbrella organization for the academy and its public programs. The foundation’s mission is to promote the return to traditional visual values in the fine arts and architecture. Its work over the past 15 years is re-establishing a standard of excellence nearly lost in modern times, for the training of artists in architectural decoration.

To learn more about the Mural Guild and how you can get involved please see our INFORMATION BROCHURE.

The images here illustrate the preparation involved to paint the vaulted ceiling of the academy’s Cast Hall.  Once the final layer of plaster had been applied and given time to cure, compartments corresponding to the overall design of the room were painted in lime wash. These compartments serve to frame the ornamental and figurative work. Cartoon drawings for each compartment are in progress.

Appropriate to a school of art, the theme of the ceiling reflects different historical approaches in the education of the painter. The program will place Imitation at one end and Imagination at the other, with the names of celebrated artists representing the spectrum between these two concepts, placed above each of the student easels. Both of the end lunettes will be executed in buon fresco. The allegorical figures depicted there will represent Drawing, Color, Composition and Invention, described by the 15th century theorist, Francesco Lancilotti in his Trattato di Pittura as the four elements of painting.