Our residency celebrates Cennino Cennini, an early Renaissance artist and author of Il Libro dell’Arte, a foundational text on painting techniques. More than a collection of recipes or formulas, the book serves as a practical “how-to” manual for creating realistic images. In it, Cennini codified the diverse methods practiced by artists of his time, providing a foundation for innovation and the creation of extraordinary masterpieces.
Based in Florence, Italy—one of the most important centers of the Italian Renaissance—our program is designed for emerging academics, art historians, and studio practitioners with a focused interest in historical painting techniques and the innovations that followed. This eight-day residency emphasizes learning through direct experience and close observation, fostering an understanding that cannot be achieved through study alone. Upon completion, participants will gain a deeper appreciation of why these techniques are historically significant and how they shape the appearance and materiality of a painting.
The residency consists of three core components. The first is a hands-on, individualized studio experience in which participants experiment with pure egg yolk tempera, egg-oil emulsion, and indirect painting methods. This studio work is complemented by daily museum visits, where we examine masterpieces by Renaissance painters firsthand. The residency concludes with an exploration of historical techniques and masterworks through the lens of contemporary scientific methods used in painting conservation.
The residency will begin on 23 May 2026 and continue through the 31st. The cost will be $7800 (a 10% discount is available to faculty and full time students) and includes accommodations in a 4 star hotel, two group dinners, museum visits, materials and workshop space, as well as instruction. Airfare, other meals, and incidental expenses are not included.
Bill Drew and Richard Gann are Professors at the Rhode Island School of Design and recognized experts in Renaissance painting techniques. For more than thirty years, they have led travel courses in Italy focused on the study and practice of Renaissance painting methods.
Elizabeth Wicks, an internationally renowned art conservator based in Florence, brings extensive expertise in art conservation, the working methods and intentions of Renaissance artists, and contemporary conservation practices.
Guillermo Fischer Cárdenas, PhD, is an artist and professor who directs Casa 4 Arte, an independent center for contemporary art and art education in Madrid.
