Fascinating! This sort of incredible schooling/apprenticeship in many ways was mirrored in the academies of painting and sculpture resulting in similar achievements that seem almost superhuman. Rather than assuming a method of "cheating" ala David Hockney and others, we see that such achievements are attainable... but demand an incredible investment of study and practice. It is sad that so many of our art schools/art programs have rejected the worth of craftsmanship.