Interieur met attributen van de beeldhouwkunst 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this drawing, "Interior with Attributes of Sculpture," using pen and grey ink and brush with grey wash around the turn of the 18th century. It depicts the tools of the sculptor's trade, arranged around a classical bust. The very nature of the image raises key questions about the role of the academy in the production of art. In countries like France, the academy provided artists with training, exhibition opportunities, and patronage networks, thus reinforcing certain aesthetic values and social hierarchies. This drawing, made in the Netherlands, signals the importance of classical sculpture, and therefore the importance of an artist's training in geometry, proportion and design. Through art historical study of images like these, we can better understand the social and institutional contexts that shape artistic production. By consulting archival sources, we can learn more about the patronage networks and social hierarchies in which artists like Picart operated.