On the programmatic foundation of the collections of artists' portraits and their works in the 16th century

The origin of the idea to establish art collections in various socio-cultural contexts represents a special topic museum history, on one hand, and institutionalization art, other. expressions intentions form certain collections, especially order preserve memory works likeness their creators still stir scholarly debates. creation as such, along with them artists' portraits self-portraits, is result several trends renaissance concept art. One status liberal arts, which fine painting, gradually assumed since beginning 15th century, owing Leon Battista Alberti's Treatise Painting. Another phenomenon that contributed this process formation value system 16th century theory, Giorgio Vasari its main proponent. We would like point other instances anticipated tendency collections. such instance collection famous men Paolo Giovio, prominent humanist, started acquire 1521. room Vasari's house Arezzo artists, he had painted early 1540s. Yet another cycle graphic representations appeared second edition Lives, 1568, mnemonic devices accompany literary portraits. Concurrent design illustrated Lives were preparations for establishment Academy Arts Drawing (Accademia del Disegno), founded 1563, whose Statute introduced need an featuring works. These supposed serve didactic purposes, first place, but also artistic forebears. It paved way future academic Borromeo's Milan Ambrosiana was created academy. All these played important roles visible history grew into shaped not only by exhibition works, preservation creators. Moreover, they established practice, obligation, artists leave progeny became image guarantee newly