Writers in the Academy: History and ‘Culture of Art’ in the teaching of the Academy of Naples (1802-1878)

This essay analyzes the transformations of the teaching of theoretical subjects in the Academy of Naples, following the thread of the various institutional changes that took place during the nineteenth century. In the first half of the century the Neapolitan theoretical teaching is substantially intended as iconographic support, functional to the ‘correct’ choice of subjects in the field of history painting. The broader demands linked to the intellectual, cultural and literary needs of the artists instead mark the romantic period at the turn of 1848 but find a consideration rather than in the contents of the theoretical teaching, in the creation of new teaching facilities (library, chair
of Artistic Literature). Finally, in the context of a more general reconfiguration of knowledge and reorganization of public education in the unified Kingdom of Italy, under the direction of Cesare Dalbono (1861-1878) the academic cultural teaching is fully affirmed and a dialogue with the nascent historical-artistic discipline opens up.