Stadstekenacademie, Amsterdam

The Stadstekenacademie ("City Drawing Academy", contemporaneous spelling: Stads Teekenacademie, Teeken-Academie or Akademie der Teekenkunst) was an 18th-century art academy in Amsterdam. It was the precursor of the Koninklijke Academie (established 1822) and the Rijksakademie van beeldende kunsten (established 1870). Other Dutch towns such as Haarlem also had a drawing academy.^[1]

Artists such as Cornelis Apostool, Jan Willem Pieneman and Wouter Johannes van Troostwijk were educated at the academy.^[2]

The primary intention was not to train students to become artists, but rather to bring youth into contact with art as part of their education.^[2] There was no formal structure to the education, although students were divided into three stages and were required to attend classes twice a week.^[3] The academy organised a yearly drawing competition, awarding the winners gold, silver and bronze medals.^[2]

The academy had a number of "honorary members" — non-artists, usually wealthy, influential regenten (members of the ruling class), who could ensure that the academy would be properly housed, and who could finance art supplies and the prizes of the annual competition. In exchange, the regenten received social status from their honorary membership. They could also use the academy for social gatherings, or to receive foreign guests in an impressive manner.^[3]