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As members of PATRONATUS, we are dedicated to upholding the highest standards of classical fine art. Our exclusive membership program draws inspiration from the Renaissance Italian guilds, connecting distinguished painters and sculptors with a network of patrons, collectors and art professionals.
We offer rigorous evaluations to ensure that only the most accomplished artists are admitted and we provide ongoing support, including reputation management, appraisals and preservation of artistic value.
Our admission process is designed to maintain the integrity and authenticity of our society while fostering a collaborative and inspiring environment for our members.
Our exclusive two-week Painter Talent Demonstration, hosted in Florence, embodies the Renaissance spirit of artistic discipline and creativity. All travel, lodging and art supplies are fully sponsored by PATRONATUS, allowing you to focus solely on your craft. Our goal is to assess your artistic ability through a series of comprehensive exercises that emphasize both technical skill and conceptual mastery.
The evaluation process begins two days after your arrival.
Days 1-2: Preparatory Work and Acclimatization to the Art Studio Environment We begin by introducing you to the studio environment, a space specifically curated for artistic exploration and refinement. During this preparatory phase, you will familiarize yourself with the tools, materials and spatial dynamics of the studio. This stage includes preliminary sketches, maquettes and mock-ups that will serve as a foundation for your final works. Immersing yourself in the rhythm of the space will allow you to seamlessly transition into the creative process, where technical precision and conceptual clarity will be paramount.
Days 3-6: Completion of a Medium-Sized Oil Painting on an Assigned Subject Next, we challenge you to complete a medium-sized oil painting based on a thematic assignment, providing freedom in style and material selection. This stage emphasizes conceptual development, including compositional studies and color theory exploration. Whether employing classical techniques such as impasto and glazing or experimenting with contemporary methods, this task showcases your technical proficiency and ability to personalize an external brief through your own artistic expression.
Days 7-8: Production of Two Charcoal Drawings on Assigned Subjects Charcoal, with its versatility in rendering deep contrasts and expressive lines, offers a unique challenge. You will produce two charcoal drawings on assigned subjects, demonstrating your control over light, shadow and texture. This stage emphasizes both technical skill and creative interpretation, encouraging you to create cohesive visual narratives through expressive mark-making and compositional refinement.
Days 9-10: Creation of Two Silverpoint Drawings, Emulating Medieval Manuscript Techniques You will engage with the meticulous and historical method of silverpoint, a technique once favored by medieval and Renaissance masters. Using a silver stylus on gesso-coated paper, you will create two silverpoint drawings that emulate the precision and intricate detail of medieval manuscript techniques. This stage assesses your ability to command historical methods while interpreting assigned subjects with artistic sensitivity and discipline.
Days 11-13: Exploration of Different Oil Painting Styles We then invite you to reflect on various oil painting styles through short essays. This exploration involves an analytical review of movements ranging from the realism of the Old Masters to the experimental approaches of modern and contemporary art. By examining formal elements such as composition, color palette and texture, you will demonstrate a deep intellectual engagement with the medium while articulating the aesthetic and conceptual differences among various styles.
Day 14: Professional Inspection and Critique, Followed by a Closing Meeting The final day consists of a professional inspection and critique of your submitted works, conducted by a panel of esteemed art professionals. Your work will be examined for technical execution, compositional integrity and conceptual depth. The critique phase provides invaluable feedback, offering insights into both the strengths of your pieces and areas for further growth. This dialogue sets the stage for your continued artistic development and the closing meeting provides an opportunity to discuss the overall evaluation, receive final remarks and address any questions.
The evaluation process concludes on Day 14, with your departure scheduled for the following day.
We look forward to seeing how you meet these challenges and demonstrating your full artistic potential within the supportive and inspiring framework of PATRONATUS.
At PATRONATUS, we employ a rigorous and comprehensive evaluation system, overseen by four esteemed members of our Board of Directors. These board members are present throughout all 14 days of the assessment, ensuring a consistent and thorough review of each artist’s work.
For painters, our evaluation focuses on key artistic elements such as theme interpretation, creativity, use of color, composition and the overall aesthetic impact of the piece.
Sculptors are evaluated based on their mastery of proportion, anatomy, balance and texture, as well as their attention to crucial details like heads, hands and feet. These criteria ensure that we uphold the highest standards of classical artistry.
Following the evaluation, the decision process takes several months, with final announcements typically made within 3-4 months. A positive outcome results in an offer of membership to the artist, officially welcoming them into the PATRONATUS Fine Art Society.
Successful candidates are celebrated at a prestigious, high-profile membership welcome event, which honors their exceptional talent and dedication. This exclusive gathering marks the artist’s formal induction into the PATRONATUS Fine Art Society, recognizing their significant contributions to the classical fine arts and welcoming them into our distinguished community of artists.