The Ecole des Beaux-Arts, also known as the Academy, was build during the reign of Louis XIV of France. The Academy was extremely significant in the 19th century because the works that were accepted into the Salon became the taste making body in French culture. Attendees of the Salon were generally from the upper class and considered anything accepted into the Academy to be of great value. The annual exhibitions were highly competitive, as was membership to the academy. Because of this, artists would crowd around the Academy to try and get their works of art accepted knowing that if their work were showcased, they would have a prosperous career.
             Funded by the government, the French Academy thus supported a limited range of artistic expression. Works of art accepted into the Academy were those that were created using a classical style. In classic art, individuals with importance, such as a king or mythical character, were usually the subject of a painting. Colors used for paintings were local, or believable and similar to those seen in real life. They were used to create lines that blended together to give a chiaroscuro effect and give depth (shadow) to two-dimensional objects. Titian's "Venus of Urbino", painted in 1538, is an example of a classical piece. The subject is a goddess-like figure whose round and voluptuous figure is bathed in a golden light, showing importance on the subject. Her expression is seductive, almost inviting to the men, fitting perfectly to the gender role of women at that time. Art of the Impressionists, however, showcased a very different style. These paintings were made using expressive colors and short, choppy brushstrokes that gave little detail to the objects being painted. Impressionist painters liked to use candid events or people as their subjects and often created a painting with multiple focal points. Unlike classical artists that painted in studios indoors, those following the impres...