In 1780 Britain’s Royal Academy of Arts moved into its new home at Somerset House. As part of a program to decorate the Academy’s new council chamber ceiling, founding member, Angelica Kauffman was commissioned to paint the four ‘Elements of Art’ – Design, Colour, Composition and Invention.
Surrounding a central theme of the Four Elements by Benjamin West, Kauffman’s four paintings were paired, representing practice (Design and Color) at one end of the room and theory (Composition and Invention) at the other.
This visual representation of the four ‘Elements of Art’ reflected the teaching of Joshua Reynolds, the Academy’s first president, who was likely aware of Francesco Lancilotti’s 1509 Treatise on Painting – in which disegno, colorito, compositione, and inventione had earlier been distinguished as the four elements of painting.
The designs currently underway for the decoration of our own Academy ceiling will present a reimagined adaptation of this traditional narrative. See preview images here.
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