Figure 37.2 An illustration from the Boccacio manuscript showing the artist Thamar painting a Madonna while her apprentice mixes colours.
committee selected the work that they considered to be of a high enough standard to go on public display. It was difficult for an artist to get public or private commissions if their work was not exhibited in an Academy.
By the late 1800s, artists were breaking out of the Academic system and working together in groups, sharing ideas and inspiration. The Realists and Impressionists (see Unit 4) were among the first to organise independent exhibitions.
In the 20th century, art practice changed a lot as there was a move away from traditional methods,
Figure 37.3 Still Life with a Violin and a Pitcher, 1909–10, by Georges Braque, oil on canvas, 117 × 74 cm. The Cubist break with conventional perspective started artists questioning all aspects of traditional art.
Figure 37.4 A Private View at the Academy 1881, 1883, by William Powell Frith, oil on canvas, 103 × 196 cm. This image shows the dense hanging of paintings and the large numbers of wealthy clients attending an Academy exhibition.
