The Concept of the French School The French School (École française de peinture) is a concept used in the art world to refer to a common tradition shared by French painters during the period when the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, and later the Institut de France, established artistic canons. While the exact period of this school is a subject of debate, it is considered to have emerged in the 17th century and reached its end at the close of the 19th century. The term was defined a posteriori. The school's roots are often linked to two disciplines where French artisans achieved m…