American Academy in Rome
Encyclopedia
The American Academy in Rome is a research and arts institution located on the Gianicolo (Janiculum Hill) in Rome
.
, painters
and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The group discussed the idea of forming an American school for artists in Europe as a place for American artists to study and further their skills. Led by Charles K. McKim
, they decided that Rome
- due to the city's being a veritable museum of masterpieces of painting, sculpture, and architecture throughout the ages - would be the best location for the school. The program began with institutions such as Columbia University
and University of Pennsylvania
, who would provide scholarships to artists to fund their travel to Rome. In October 1894 the American School of Architecture opened temporarily at the Palazzo Torlonia
; directed by Austin Lord, it had three fellows, one visiting student, and a library with one volume. In July 1895, the program moved into the larger Villa Aurora. Renting space out to the American School of Classical Studies and the British & American Archeological Society Library, and financial contributions from McKim, allowed for the school to remain open.
In 1895, the American School of Architecture in Rome was incorporated
in New York
state and 10 shares of capital stock were issued. Despite fund-raising efforts and the American School of Classical Studies pulling out of Villa Aurora, the organization struggled financially. McKim made up for the financial loss with his personal funds. These struggles would cause the American School of Architecture to restructure and base their program on the French Academy
. In June 1897, the institution dissolved itself and formed the American Academy in Rome.
The Academy introduced bills to the U.S. Congress
to make it a "national institution," which was successful. In 1904, the Academy moved into Villa Mirafiore, which was soon purchased and renovated. They formed an endowment
, which raised over a million dollars, designating those having donated over $100,000 as founders. These founders included: McKim, Harvard College
, The Carnegie Foundation, J.P. Morgan, J.P. Morgan, Jr., John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
, The Rockefeller Foundation, William K. Vanderbilt, Henry Walters
, and others.
In 1912, the American School of Classical Studies in Rome merged with the Academy, giving the Academy two wings: one that focuses on fine art
and one, classical studies. Women were a part of the School of Classical Studies, but were not permitted participation in the School of Fine Arts until after World War II
.
(which is distinct from other prizes of a similar name – see Prix de Rome (disambiguation)
). Currently, Rome Prizes are awarded in various fields:
In addition to Rome Prize Fellows (designated by the acronym FAAR), visiting scholars and artists live and/or work at the Academy for varying periods. Residents, in general, prominent scholars or artists themselves, also live at the Academy for three months. There are two to three Residents (RAAR) annually in each field.
The Academy hosts several summer programs, including the Classical Summer School, the National Endowment for the Humanities
Summer Seminar, the Summer Program in Roman Pottery, and the Summer Program in Archeology, which are open to various scholars, teachers, and students.
Also housed at the Academy is the Fototeca Unione, founded by Ernest Nash
.
and opened in 1914. Located under the floor of the basement of the main building lies a segment of the Aqua Traiana
that was discovered in 1912-1913.http://www.jstor.org/pss/4238499 The courtyard has a fountain designed by sculptor Paul Manship
. Architect Michael Graves
designed the rare books library in 1996.
The Academy also owns the Villa Aurelia, a country estate built for Cardinal Girolamo Farnese in 1650. The building served as Giuseppe Garibaldi
's headquarters during the French siege of Rome in 1849. The villa was heavily damaged during the assault, but it was restored. It was then purchased by Philadelphia heiress Clara Jessup Heyland. Heyland died in 1909, bequeathing the villa to the Academy in her will.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
.
History
In 1893, a group of American architectsArchitect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, painters
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and sculptors met regularly while planning the fine arts section of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. The group discussed the idea of forming an American school for artists in Europe as a place for American artists to study and further their skills. Led by Charles K. McKim
Charles Follen McKim
Charles Follen McKim FAIA was an American Beaux-Arts architect of the late 19th century. Along with Stanford White, he provided the architectural expertise as a member of the partnership McKim, Mead, and White....
, they decided that Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
- due to the city's being a veritable museum of masterpieces of painting, sculpture, and architecture throughout the ages - would be the best location for the school. The program began with institutions such as Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
and University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, who would provide scholarships to artists to fund their travel to Rome. In October 1894 the American School of Architecture opened temporarily at the Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia
Palazzo Torlonia is a 16th century Early Renaissance town house in Via della Conciliazione, Rome, central Italy...
; directed by Austin Lord, it had three fellows, one visiting student, and a library with one volume. In July 1895, the program moved into the larger Villa Aurora. Renting space out to the American School of Classical Studies and the British & American Archeological Society Library, and financial contributions from McKim, allowed for the school to remain open.
In 1895, the American School of Architecture in Rome was incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state and 10 shares of capital stock were issued. Despite fund-raising efforts and the American School of Classical Studies pulling out of Villa Aurora, the organization struggled financially. McKim made up for the financial loss with his personal funds. These struggles would cause the American School of Architecture to restructure and base their program on the French Academy
French Academy in Rome
The French Academy in Rome is an Academy located in the Villa Medici, within the Villa Borghese, on the Pincio in Rome, Italy.-History:...
. In June 1897, the institution dissolved itself and formed the American Academy in Rome.
The Academy introduced bills to the U.S. Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
to make it a "national institution," which was successful. In 1904, the Academy moved into Villa Mirafiore, which was soon purchased and renovated. They formed an endowment
Financial endowment
A financial endowment is a transfer of money or property donated to an institution. The total value of an institution's investments is often referred to as the institution's endowment and is typically organized as a public charity, private foundation, or trust....
, which raised over a million dollars, designating those having donated over $100,000 as founders. These founders included: McKim, Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, The Carnegie Foundation, J.P. Morgan, J.P. Morgan, Jr., John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
John Davison Rockefeller, Jr. was a major philanthropist and a pivotal member of the prominent Rockefeller family. He was the sole son among the five children of businessman and Standard Oil industrialist John D. Rockefeller and the father of the five famous Rockefeller brothers...
, The Rockefeller Foundation, William K. Vanderbilt, Henry Walters
Henry Walters
Henry Walters was president of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until he retired in 1902. He was founder of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.-Biography:...
, and others.
In 1912, the American School of Classical Studies in Rome merged with the Academy, giving the Academy two wings: one that focuses on fine art
Fine art
Fine art or the fine arts encompass art forms developed primarily for aesthetics and/or concept rather than practical application. Art is often a synonym for fine art, as employed in the term "art gallery"....
and one, classical studies. Women were a part of the School of Classical Studies, but were not permitted participation in the School of Fine Arts until after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Programs
The Academy is a temporary home to U.S. scholars, and artists having been awarded the prestigious Rome PrizeRome Prize
The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists and to 15 scholars The Rome Prize is an American award made annually by the American Academy in Rome, through a national competition, to 15 emerging artists...
(which is distinct from other prizes of a similar name – see Prix de Rome (disambiguation)
Prix de Rome (disambiguation)
"Prix de Rome" may refer to:* Prix de Rome of the French government* Prix de Rome * Prix de Rome http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_de_Rome* Rome Prize of the American Academy in Rome * Rome Scholarship of the British School at Rome...
). Currently, Rome Prizes are awarded in various fields:
- School of Classical Studies (12 Rome Prizes, of which 10 are for one year and 2, awarded by the Samuel H. KressSamuel H. KressSamuel Henry Kress was a businessman and philanthropist, founder of the S. H. Kress & Co. five and ten cent store chain. With his fortune, Kress amassed one of the most significant collections of Italian Renaissance and European artwork assembled in the 20th century...
Foundation, are for two years). These awards may be in history, literature, musicology, archaeology, art history, or other humanistic fields:- Ancient Studies
- Medieval StudiesMedievalismMedievalism is the system of belief and practice characteristic of the Middle Ages, or devotion to elements of that period, which has been expressed in areas such as architecture, literature, music, art, philosophy, scholarship, and various vehicles of popular culture.Since the 18th century, a...
- RenaissanceRenaissanceThe Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
and Early-Modern Studies - Modern Italian Studies
- School of Fine Arts (15 Rome Prizes, of which 11 are for one year and 4 are for six months)
- ArchitectureArchitectureArchitecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
- Design Arts
- Historic Preservation and Conservation
- Landscape ArchitectureLandscape architectureLandscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
- Musical CompositionMusical compositionMusical composition can refer to an original piece of music, the structure of a musical piece, or the process of creating a new piece of music. People who practice composition are called composers.- Musical compositions :...
- Visual ArtsVisual artsThe visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
- LiteratureLiteratureLiterature is the art of written works, and is not bound to published sources...
(the only field in which Rome Prizes are awarded by nomination through the American Academy of Arts and Letters, rather than by application)
- Architecture
In addition to Rome Prize Fellows (designated by the acronym FAAR), visiting scholars and artists live and/or work at the Academy for varying periods. Residents, in general, prominent scholars or artists themselves, also live at the Academy for three months. There are two to three Residents (RAAR) annually in each field.
The Academy hosts several summer programs, including the Classical Summer School, the National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities is an independent federal agency of the United States established by the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act of 1965 dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. The NEH is located at...
Summer Seminar, the Summer Program in Roman Pottery, and the Summer Program in Archeology, which are open to various scholars, teachers, and students.
Also housed at the Academy is the Fototeca Unione, founded by Ernest Nash
Ernest Nash
Ernest Nash was a student of Roman architecture and pioneer of archaeological photography. Nash was born as Ernst Nathan, but later changed his name to Nash when he was living in the United States between 1939 and 1952.He was a graduate of the University of Jena and had a law office in his native...
.
Site
The Academy is housed in several buildings. The main building was designed by the firm of McKim, Mead, and WhiteMcKim, Mead, and White
McKim, Mead & White was a prominent American architectural firm at the turn of the twentieth century and in the history of American architecture. The firm's founding partners were Charles Follen McKim , William Rutherford Mead and Stanford White...
and opened in 1914. Located under the floor of the basement of the main building lies a segment of the Aqua Traiana
Aqua Traiana
thumb|240px|Route of Aqua Traiana shown in red.thumb|240px|Route of Aqua Traiana within ancient Rome.The Aqua Traiana was a 1st-century Roman acqueduct built by Emperor Trajan and inaugurated on 24 June 109 AD...
that was discovered in 1912-1913.http://www.jstor.org/pss/4238499 The courtyard has a fountain designed by sculptor Paul Manship
Paul Manship
Paul Howard Manship was an American sculptor.-Life:Manship began his art studies at the St. Paul School of Art in Minnesota. From there he moved to Philadelphia and continued his education at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts...
. Architect Michael Graves
Michael Graves
Michael Graves is an American architect. Identified as one of The New York Five, Graves has become a household name with his designs for domestic products sold at Target stores in the United States....
designed the rare books library in 1996.
The Academy also owns the Villa Aurelia, a country estate built for Cardinal Girolamo Farnese in 1650. The building served as Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi
Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian military and political figure. In his twenties, he joined the Carbonari Italian patriot revolutionaries, and fled Italy after a failed insurrection. Garibaldi took part in the War of the Farrapos and the Uruguayan Civil War leading the Italian Legion, and...
's headquarters during the French siege of Rome in 1849. The villa was heavily damaged during the assault, but it was restored. It was then purchased by Philadelphia heiress Clara Jessup Heyland. Heyland died in 1909, bequeathing the villa to the Academy in her will.
See also
- American Academy in BerlinAmerican Academy in BerlinThe American Academy in Berlin is a research and cultural institution in Berlin whose stated mission is to foster a greater understanding and dialogue between the people of the United States and the people of Germany.The American Academy was founded in September 1994 by a group of prominent...
- American School of Classical Studies at AthensAmerican School of Classical Studies at AthensThe American School of Classical Studies at Athens is one of 17 foreign archaeological institutes in Athens, Greece.-General information:...
- American Schools of Oriental ResearchAmerican Schools of Oriental ResearchThe American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
- British School at RomeBritish School at RomeThe British School at Rome was established in 1901 and granted a Royal Charter in 1912 as an educational institute in the fields of archaeology, literature, music, and history of Rome and Italy of every period, and for the study of the fine arts and architecture...
- Académie de France RomeFrench Academy in RomeThe French Academy in Rome is an Academy located in the Villa Medici, within the Villa Borghese, on the Pincio in Rome, Italy.-History:...
- Deutsches Archäologisches Institut RomGerman Archaeological InstituteThe German Archaeological Institute is an institution of research within the field of archaeology , and a "scientific corporation", with parentage of the federal Foreign Office of Germany-Origin:...
- Villa MassimoVilla MassimoVilla Massimo, short for Deutsche Akademie Rom Villa Massimo , is a German art institute in Rome, established in 1910 and located in the Villa Massimo....
- John Russell PopeJohn Russell PopeJohn Russell Pope was an architect most known for his designs of the National Archives and Records Administration building , the Jefferson Memorial and the West Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.-Biography:Pope was born in New York in 1874, the son of a successful...