In this lecture, titled “Continuum“, Daniel Graves explores the vast tradition of classical art that is being kept alive and expands on his own vision of it. Detailing his own personal education, including where and who he trained alongside, Daniel also covers in depth the lineage of instructors, institutions, and philosophies The Florence Academy of Art and its methods are born from.

Throughout this lecture there is a constant theme “Our way forward is in the past” and Daniel repeatedly emphasizes the necessity of an artist to ask important questions such as “What does it mean to be an artist?” and encourages them to follow their own journey for there is no formula to being a great artist. Through an exploration of his mentors, his methods, philosophies behind his art, and some of the thought processes and meanings behind some of his personal work, we are shown how the well of knowledge of artists from the past is not only remembered, but being actively utilized and slowly reshaped by artists today for the contemporary world.

If you ever wondered about the history of The Florence Academy and the origin of the academy’s methods, this is a lecture for you.