The Italian Language

Rome was (and still is in some ways) an important stage in the artistic education of the French.

The Prix de Rome was instituted in 1663 by Louis XIV and was originally designed for painters, sculptor and architects. Eventually engraving and music were included in the list. Eventually these were housed for a period at the Villa Medici.

Among musicians who won this prize were Hector Berlioz (1809-1869) and Claude Debussy (1862-1918).

Berlioz himself wrote many pieces inspired by Italy, such as the Overture Roman Carnival, The symphony for Viola Harold in Italy, commissioned by Paganini (see Music) and based on Byron (see Writers) and the opera Benvenuto Cellini.

The Prix de Rome was suppressed in 1968.