At The Florence Academy of Art, drawing is considered the foundation for all artistic disciplines. This course strengthens the student’s ability to understand and draw three-dimensional form, focusing on accurate representation of the human figure while building the visual vocabulary necessary for further study. Designed specifically for affiliates of the Chicago-Midwest Chapter of  The Institute for Classical Art and Architecture, this workshop focuses on drawing the figure from life while engaging directly with Florence’s architectural heritage through on-site sketching of major historical monuments.

Students are introduced to the academic method of figure drawing used in the 19th-century French ateliers, including the sight-size approach, which trains the eye to observe with precision and translate forms successfully. These principles are applied both to the live model and to architectural subjects encountered in the city.

Students draw from the live model each morning and sketch architecture on location in the afternoon. During the workshop, they produce two sustained figure drawings in different media (one in charcoal on white paper and one on toned paper with charcoal and white chalk) while also developing a complementary body of architectural studies. Daily individual critiques support students in achieving accuracy, clarity, and a fully resolved drawing.

A series of guided visits to museums in Florence allows students to understand the value of the city as an extension of the classroom, while sketching on-site in some of the most suggestive and famous locations in the city. They gain an understanding of the role and meaning of disegno as a living characteristic of Florence and learn how to interact with historical works of art to guide and inspire their own practice.

Beginning – Intermediate – Advanced levels welcome.

This workshop is open to ICAA Affiliate members only. Maximum enrollment is 12 students.