This is an unfortunate by-product of the times. To paint well, you first have to draw well. And drawing well can only be accomplished with both serious talent, discipline and an egregious amount of hours in classic study. Which is not so different than, say, the violin. But the art world is a cover for money laundering so there's been a collapse of criticism and expectations to the point where, literally, anything goes and almost all of it is complete dross.

There are a few warm embers still out there, as the author mentioned, but only two true schools and he missed one and mislabeled the other. The Florence Classical Arts Academy (where my daughter spent part of her high school years) and, even better, the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg. Surprisingly, the former has as many Russian teachers as the latter.