L'Art d'Écrire
is the product of the historic collaboration of CAPP, the College's Committee on Art in Public Places, and The Edwin Austin Abbey Memorial Fund for Mural Painting in America, founded in 1932 and maintained by The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, New York. Formerly known as the National Academy of Design, this organization, founded in 1800, has recognized and exhibited works of outstanding American artists since its inception. CAPP was established by the Board of Trustees of the College in 1994 to oversee the implementation of their policy that one percent of the cost of all building projects be designated for the acquisition and care of works of art in public places on the campus.
A joint committee of the National Academy and Middlebury's CAPP announced a public competition for the commission of the mural in 2002. More than 70 artists were solicited to submit applications for the competition. Three finalists were selected from the pool of applicants by a jury comprised of three representatives from Middlebury College, three from the Edwin Austin Abbey Mural Committee, and one from the architectural firm of Gwathmey Siegel & Associates. The three finalists were invited to visit the campus, survey the site, and propose a design for the mural. Matt Mullican's design was selected in Fall 2004 at the dedication of the building, when President Ronald D. Liebowitz also announced that through additional support of the Glenstone Foundation the mural would be dedicated in honor of Charles Gwathmey, architect of the building, in recognition of his commitment to excellence in education. The foundation also established the Charles Gwathmey Scholarship Fund at Middlebury, "to enable generations of academically able and intellectually curious students to pursue their interests and talents as they prepare to become leaders in society."