What are the advantages of copying classic paintings?

China's calligraphy and painting circles have summed up a wise saying about learning art from ancient times to the present, which is called "learning from the law". Learning art includes learning calligraphy and painting, and choosing excellent works to learn copying. The best, that is, classics, are recognized as excellent works of art that can be used as models.

So, what are the advantages of copying classic paintings?

First of all, copying classic paintings can help learners to establish a higher starting point from the very beginning or early learning, and treat art learning and creation with high standards and strict requirements. This is a good start for art learning and creation, which is of great benefit to broadening their horizons, improving their painting skills and consolidating their painting foundation.

Secondly, copying classic paintings can make learners take fewer detours and directly enter the correct way to learn painting. Classic paintings are usually the essence of works of art, which contain rich painting creation techniques, expression techniques and artistic aesthetic concepts. Copying classic paintings is a comprehensive learning and understanding process for painting learners, and it is also a process of rapidly improving artistic literacy.

Third, copying classic paintings, while learning and understanding, my painting skills are constantly maturing, which is also a process of forming my own creative style. It is the only way for artists to copy their predecessors' paintings and create their own. Copying classic paintings can help you learn better things and fly higher and farther in your later artistic life.

At all times and in all countries, all successful artists, including many masters, started to create by copying classic works of art. Rubens, an important representative of baroque art, traveled in Italy for six years when he was young, and almost copied all the oil paintings of Michelangelo and Titian, which benefited him a lot. He made a breakthrough in copying and became an independent master of art.

Bouguereau, the master of aesthetic realism oil painting in the 19th century, began to imitate Raphael and giorgione, groping step by step. No matter what school of painting was popular at that time, bouguereau always adhered to his artistic creation concept and determined to become a master of classical aesthetic realism in the history of western oil painting.