Artists and Amateurs 24 - 1832

John Partridge made this watercolour called *Artists and Amateurs*, showing art being made and appreciated in early 19th-century Europe. Here, we have a scene set in what seems to be Italy, given the classical architecture in the background. The central figure is a dandyish artist, posed in a languid contrapposto, surrounded by onlookers. To the right, another artist sketches the scene, while children copy artworks on the ground. But what are these people doing in the artwork? The title suggests these people are 'artists and amateurs'. The painting makes a statement about art as a social activity, showing us how artistic genius was cultivated through institutions like the academy, and how its display was performed in society. The artist is commenting on the social structures of his time. The very idea of the 'artist' was new then, with different ranks from master to amateur, and the watercolour hints at the social performance necessary to maintain the status of the professional artist. It suggests the role of art is to be performed for its bourgeois audience. We can deepen our understanding of this piece by researching art criticism of the time. By analyzing documents, we can explore art's social meaning and institutional context.