In Classical Art training, students are often asked to reproduce a particular classical painting after learning about the original artist, their life, the art styles and the culture & politics of the artist's time. With this knowledge, you can apply all you've learned into your own art as well as other contemporary art.
There's nothing like learning from a Master - studying art history has stayed with me since high school and helps define all I do today. Even though my own art looks nothing like Classical, you can still see the influence of different artists who inspired me. It honestly cuts your learning time in half.
