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History of the ‘Artist's Studio’

How did this word 'studio' come to be associated with the artist?

In the art community, a ‘studio’ is a place where the artist creates their artwork. Most artists have a favorite ‘space’ where their creative energies flow without outside interruption. Today that place is often referred to as their 'Studio'. Two different meanings, one positive and one negative have been associated with this word.

The word ‘studio’ as it relates to art, can be traced back to the High Renaissance of the fourteenth century.  The word itself comes from the Latin word 'studere'.  There was a negative connotation attached to this word which continued through to modern times. During the Renaissance period which is said to have began in northern Italy, there were elite groups of educated artists; these were the intellectuals of the day who were commissioned by the heads of State. These artists looked down on the ‘lowly’ amateur artist who created ‘studio art’ as much as to say that studio art was considered inferior as it was not created by professionals whose work held great scientific, historical or classical merit like the works of the commissioned elitist.

In the twenty-first century, the ‘studio’ artist can now also be recognized as an artist who has a ‘working’ studio or one who makes his livelihood from this place. He is then considered a professional. In contrast to the artist who might create work in an art class, or art school, university or some other place of learning. Now the word 'studio' has a more positive appeal.

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