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Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

ACADEMIC STYLE

During the Renaissance, the first European fine art academies were established in Italy and would guide the style and standards of visual culture in the following centuries. Academic art became dominant across the continent in the 17th century, with artists coming together to offer instruction in this style of painting and sculpture

The academic art period represented a significant change from the previous era when painters, sculptors and other artists were part of guilds and seen more as artisans than purveyors of culture. While patronage from the elite and the church remained pivotal, young artists were able to support themselves for the first time through academic exhibitions and an independent marketplace. The leading academies included the French Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture founded in Paris in 1648 (which became the Académie des Beaux-Arts after the French Revolution) and the London Royal Academy of Arts formed in 1768 under the inaugural leadership of painter Joshua Reynolds

Academy students sketched drawings based on prints, sculptures and, finally, live models. Movements including neoclassicism and romanticism were particularly popular in these art schools and institutions where the influence of Raphael and Nicolas Poussin was prominent. Beaux Arts architecture and furniture design drew on these movements, too, and, as they also originated at the Académie des Beaux-Arts, the disciplines share common ground with academic painting and sculpture.

Although academic art was a major shift for artistic status when it began, by the middle of the 19th century it was viewed as stodgy and resistant to new ideas, with the subject matter of artists such as William-Adolphe Bouguereau and Jean-Léon Gérôme generally limited to allegorical or mythological themes. Impressionism, realism and the other movements that engaged with contemporary issues that followed were direct reactions to the academic tradition, although it continued to inform the avant-garde as artists like Gustav Klimt and Pablo Picasso started their practices as academic realists.  

Find a collection of academic paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs. 

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Item Ships From: USA
Style: Academic
Procession Four girls with flowers - English Female Illustrator
Located in Miami, FL
Four young English girls with flowers are shown in a line and moving from left to right. They are pushed forward on the picture plane as if they were on a stage with a simple indica...
Category

1890s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

The Buttonhole By Charles Spencelayh
Located in New Orleans, LA
Charles Spencelayh 1865-1958 British The Buttonhole Signed “C.SPENCELAYH” (lower left) and inscribed “This Drawing was accepted into the Royal Academy but crowded out for want of ...
Category

20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Pencil

La femme préhistorique (Prehistoric Woman)
Located in New Orleans, LA
James Tissot was among the most successful and critically acclaimed artists of the Victorian era. Although the artist is celebrated for his elegant scenes of fashionable life in Paris and London, this work is a fascinating rarity within his oeuvre. In this monumental pastel, Tissot depicts a prehistoric woman draped in a tiger skin, presented with a striking pose and heroic air. His delicate portraiture, combined with his fascination with conveying texture, demonstrates why he was one of the most revered artists of his generation, and La femme préhistorique illustrates the remarkable technique for which he was renowned. This work was completed in preparation for a series of works exploring the Old Testament undertaken by Tissot from 1899-1902 that remained unfinished at the time of his death. A portion of this series focused on illustrations of Adam and Eve, and among these sketches were images of a nude Eve partially draped in animal furs. Towards the end of his life, following his conversion to Catholicism, biblical subjects became important to the artist. A few years before this work was completed, Tissot embarked upon a highly ambitious group of nearly 300 watercolors illustrating the New Testament, presenting the illustrated epic in its entirety at the Paris Salon of 1894. Both of these series were a critical artistic departure for the artist, stemming from a desire to create works separated from his typical images of modern society. This pastel imagines Eve as the prototype of womanhood in the guise of a prehistoric woman. Tissot rarely painted the nude, and his skill as a draftsman highlights the figure's natural beauty, contrasting it with the stark landscape surrounding her. Although a study, this monumental work is incredibly well-finished and highly engaging, with the statuesque model commanding the majority of the canvas. Her pose is strong and theatrical, and she addresses the viewer with a direct, confident gaze. The imagined historical subject of this drawing is grounded by Tissot’s exceptional attention to detail. A master of conjuring an array of textures, Tissot showcased this ability in this work by juxtaposing many types of fabrics and natural elements within one composition. The tiger skin with which the woman partially covers herself was a favorite studio prop of Tissot’s, appearing in many of his most influential works from the period, including several paintings of his partner and favorite model Kathleen Newton. It, in particular, showcases the artist’s understanding of texture, yet it also serves as an exotic element that elevates the sensuality of the scene when placed against the woman’s bare skin. Born in 1836 in the port town of Nantes, Tissot traveled to Paris at the age of 20 in order to join the studios of Hippolyte Flandrin and Louis Lamothe. During this period, he became close with James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Edgar Degas and Edouard Manet, and the impact of these friendships is reflected in his portraits of modern life. Having enjoyed considerable success in Paris during the 1860s, Tissot fought in the Siege of Paris, and after the fall of the Commune in 1871, he went to London, where he stayed for the next ten years. He was met with incredible success there, and he also met the love of his life, Kathleen Newton, a divorcée, with whom he lived from about 1876 until her death in 1882. Today he is regarded among the great masters of Belle Époque painting, and his works can be found in important collections worldwide, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Musée d’Orsay, the Tate Gallery and many others. This pastel remained in Tissot's private collection until his death in 1902 and is referenced in the posthumous 1902-3 valuation of Tissot's home at 64 avenue du Bois...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Laid Paper, Canvas, Oil Pastel, Pastel

MB 017 (Figurative Life Drawing of Female Nude by Mark Beard)
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style life drawing of female nude with charcoal and graphite by Mark Beard, "MB 017" graphite, Conte crayon and charcoal on Arches paper 30 x 22 inches unframed Signed, lowe...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal, Archival Paper, Graphite, Conté

Studious Girl Reading a Book - Women's Education - Female Illustrator
Located in Miami, FL
The work represents a carefully rendered and meticulously observed environmental portrait of a young girl absorbed in study in front of a book case. It celebrates the intelligence o...
Category

1910s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Chalk, Charcoal

Street Costumes, Gay Nineties Fashion - Female Illustrator
Located in Miami, FL
Street Costumes by Ruth Kreps. Signed lower right. Most likely for a book published in the 1930's about turn of the century women's fashion. "Costume Design of the Gay Nineties" T...
Category

1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Board, Ink

Dusk from the Tomb of Lorenzo di Piero de'Medici - Original Ink Drawing
Located in Chicago, IL
This particular drawing is a study of the sculpture at the Medici Chapel in Florence, Italy. The artist creates a true to life representation of the sculpture in question by incorporating techniques of classical academic drawing such as cross hatching and gesture based mark making in order to create volumes and give the study an overall three-dimensionality. Christopher Ganz Dusk from the Tomb of Lorenzo di Piero de'Medici, by Michaelangelo, in Florence Ballpoint pen 24h x 13w in 61h x 33.29w cm CG0064 -ARTIST STATEMENT- I depict my person in multiplicity with different selves representing dramatis personae. My likeness is both implicit and symbolic in the portrayal of my narrative; the drama involved in creating art and the artist’s role in society. I use realism to invite the viewer into mysterious inner worlds that are layered reflections of the outer. Dehumanizing environments are imbued with art historical references as a critique of power structures. The artist is an Everyman who is at odds with society and his self. Visually my work is a celebration of society’s dark undercurrents and its overlooked absurdities. I use charcoal and printmaking media as their tenebrous values add a fitting metaphor. The nuances of light and shadow seduce viewers into a world their better judgment would have them avoid. This provokes a sense of disquietude that causes viewers to assess our world through the austerity of a colorless, yet not humorless, light. -BIO- Christopher Ganz grew up in Northeast Ohio and from early on had a fertile imagination and an interest in art. Christopher's artistic education truly began at the University of Missouri, where his love of the human form led to many figure drawing classes and his exposure to the wonders of printmaking. Christopher's then went onto graduate school at Indiana University and a summer abroad program in Italy was a dream realized. Christopher then grasped charcoal with a renewed vigor and large, sfumato-laden drawings ensued. Christopher's artistic influences are many; from a seminal exposure to Dore's engravings of the Divine Comedy, to Rembrandt, Caravaggio, Goya, and up to Lucian Freud, Mark Tansey, and Michael Mazur. Christopher is now an associate professor of printmaking and drawing at Indiana-Purdue University Fort Wayne. Christopher drawings are represented by Ann Nathan Gallery in Chicago, and he shows his prints across the nation. -CV- EDUCATION MFA 2001 Printmaking Indiana University-Bloomington BFA 1995 Drawing and Printmaking University of Missouri-Columbia TEACHING/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2002-13 Associate Professor, Printmaking and Drawing Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW), Fort Wayne, IN 2002 Adjunct Professor: Lithography (instructor of record) Indiana University-Bloomington 1998-00 Associate Instructor: Beginning Drawing (instructor of record) Indiana University-Bloomington 1998 Artist’s Assistant, Assisted Distinguished Professor Emeritus Rudy Pozzatti in the production of an intaglio edition, Bloomington, IN SOLO OR SMALL GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2013 Multiplicities: Drawings and Prints by Christopher Ganz, Franklin College, Franklin, IN Feb. 5 – Feb. 21 2012 Dramatis Personae: Drawings and Prints by Christopher Ganz, University of South Carolina-Columbia, Jan 16. – Feb. 16, 2012 2011 Christopher Ganz; Prints and Drawing Hendrix College, Hendrix, Arkansas, March 5 - 18 2009 Fall Season Exhibition, six drawings displayed Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago. Oct 16 – Nov. 24 South Bend Museum of Art Biennial 25 - regional juried exhibition for artists in all media, six large drawings displayed; 14 artists selected from over 200 submissions; May 30-Aug. 23 Juror: William Lieberman, Director of Zolla/Lieberman Gallery, Chicago 2007 Christopher Ganz: Drawings, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center Covington, KY, March 9 - April 6 Alter Egos: Drawings and Prints by Christopher Ganz Trisolini Gallery, Ohio University, Athens, OH, Jan. 9 - Feb.17 2005 The Two-Way Mirror: Self - Portraits by Christopher Ganz Fort Wayne Museum of Art, Fort Wayne, IN, Aug.20 - Oct. 23 2004 Works on Paper: Christopher Ganz and Paul Schumann Robert E. Wilson Gallery, Huntington College, Huntington, IN, Sept. 2 - 25 2002 Images by Christopher Ganz - Visual Arts Gallery Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, Fort Wayne, IN, Sept. 3 – Oct. 11 2001 M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition - School of Fine Arts Gallery Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, March 27 - April 7 SELECTED ADJUDICATED OR INVITATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS 2012 International Expositions of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) Chicago, Drawing, “The Initiation” on display in Ann Nathan Gallery space, Nov. 2-4 Reverse Watching, Invitational Print Portfolio Monoprint, “The Mind’s Eye" displayed at Mid America Print Council’s National Conference, Southeast Missouri State, Cape Girardeau, MO, Nov. 1 – 3 Contemporary American Realism: Fort Wayne Museum of Art 2012 National Biennial, Fort Wayne, IN, Aug.11-Oct. 28 32nd Annual National Print Exhibition at Artlink - National Juried Exhibition Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, April 13 – May 23 Juror: Ladislav Hanka, internationally exhibiting printmaker International Expositions of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) New York, Park Avenue Armory, Drawing, “The Enigma” on display in Ann Nathan Gallery space, April 20-23 Spring Group Show, drawings, “Checking Out” and “The Enigma” displayed, April – May 2 Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago 2011 Prints U.S.A. 2011 – National Juried Exhibition Springfield Art Museum, Missouri, Nov. 18 – Jan. 8 Juror: Elizabeth Wyckoff, Curator of Prints, Drawings & Photographs, St. Louis Art Museum International expositions of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) New York, Park Avenue Armory, Drawing, Checking Out on display in Ann Nathan Gallery space, April 14-17 2010 Contemporary American Realism: Fort Wayne Museum of Art 2010 National Biennial, Fort Wayne, IN, Sept. 3 – Nov. 7; two pieces accepted Cultural Baggage, Invitational Print Portfolio Intaglio print, Super-Heroes go to Hell, after Dore’ displayed at Mid America Print Council’s National Conference, University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN, Chicago, Oct. 13-16 Art Chicago: International Fair of Contemporary and Modern Art Drawing, The Cyclops on display in Ann Nathan Gallery space, April 29 - May 2 30th Annual National Print Exhibition at Artlink - National Juried Exhibition Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, April 16 – May 26 Juror: Claudia Berlinski, Senior Lecturer of Printmaking at Akron University, Akron, OH 2009 Are you looking at me? Invitational Print Portfolio Color lithograph, Open and Shut, displayed at IMPACT 6: International Print Conference Centre for Fine Print Research, University of the West of England, Bristol, Sept. 16 – 19 Art Chicago: International Fair of Contemporary and Modern Art Drawing, Self-Checkout on display in Ann Nathan Gallery space, May 1 – 4 Identification Please, Invitational Print Portfolio Intaglio print, Good Cop/Bad Cop displayed at Southern Graphics Council National Conference, Columbia College, Chicago, March 25 – 29 Boston Printmakers 2009 North American Print Biennial – National juried printmaking exhibition Juror: Rebecca Waddell, Curator of Prints at the New York Public Library Boston University’s 808 Gallery, Boston, MA, Feb. 15 – March 30 22nd Parkside National Small Print Exhibition - National Juried Exhibition University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI, Jan.18 - Feb. 19 Juror: Professor of printmaking at the University of Wisconsin - Parkside Portraits and Beyond, Ann Nathan Galley, Chicago, IL, Jan. 9 - Feb 19 2008 Contemporary American Realism: Fort Wayne Museum of Art 2008 National Biennial, Fort Wayne, IN, Sept13 – Nov. 2; two pieces accepted 28th Annual National Print Exhibition at Artlink - National Juried Exhibition 2008 Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, April 11 – May 21 Juror: Mark Pascale, Printmaking Faculty, School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Curator of Prints and Drawing, Art Institute of Chicago “No Danger” - Invitational Portfolio Folded paper airplane lithograph, “The Dream of Flight” displayed at Richmond International Airport as part of the Southern Graphics Council National Conference Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, March 26 – April 26 21st Parkside National Small Print Exhibition - National Juried Exhibition University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Kenosha, WI, Jan.20 - Feb. 21 Juror: Karla Hackenmiller, Printmaking Chair and Associate Professor, School of Fine Arts, Ohio University 2007 Singularities – Invitational group exhibit Joan Resnikoff Gallery, Roxbury Community College, Boston, MA Nov. 2 – Dec. 17 Hong Kong Graphics Art Festival 2007: Crossing Boundaries - Invitational international printmaking exchange exhibition School of Design Gallery, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China, Nov. 1 – Nov. 16 27th Annual National Print Exhibition at Artlink - National Juried Exhibition Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, May 26 - July 5; two pieces accepted Award Selector: Brett Colley, Assistant Professor of Art and Design, Grand Valley State University Boston Printmakers 2007 North American Print Biennial – National juried printmaking exhibition Boston University’s 808 Gallery, Boston, MA, Feb. 18 - April 1 Juror: Judith B. Hecker, Assistant Curator, Department of Prints and Illustrated Books, The Museum of Modern Art, New York 2006 The Printed Image: The First Biennial Midwestern Graphics Juried Exhibition National Juried Printmaking Exhibition Alice C. Sabatini Gallery, Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Topeka, KS Aug. 11 - Sept 15 Juror: Karen Kunc, Professor of Printmaking/Book Arts, University of Nebraska- Lincoln 2006 National Contemporary American Realism: Fort Wayne Museum of Art's 2006 Biennial, Fort Wayne, IN, June 10 - Aug. 20; two pieces accepted 26th Annual National Print Exhibition at Artlink - National Juried Exhibition Artlink Gallery, Fort Wayne, IN, May 26 - July 5; two pieces accepted Award Selector: Carolyn Autry, artist and Associate Professor of Art and Art History at the University of Toledo 19th University of Dallas Print Invitational - Traveling national invitational exhibition Haggerty Gallery, University of Dallas, Irving TX, Jan. 28 – March 6 three pieces accepted Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi, TX, Feb. 1 – March 9, 2007 Juror: Juergen Strunck...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pen, Paper

Resting Man (Man relaxes draped only in a small towel)
Located in New Orleans, LA
A rare pencil drawing by John Lear created in 1937, signed and dated in pencil. John Brock Lear, Jr. Born: 1910 - Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania Died: ...
Category

1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil, Graphite

"Sons and Lovers" Drill Drawing, #2
Located in Dallas, TX
Signed by artist "M. O'KEEFE 2013" at lower left. Media is graphite on clay-coated panel. Overall dimensions including the frame are 18 x 15 inches.
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Clay, Panel, Graphite

The Carpet Seller 19th Century Orientalist Antique Watercolor Painting on Paper
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Provenance John Welles Hollenback, New York The Painting is Signed FBartolini Lower Right Federico Bartolini (Italian, 1861 - 1908) Description: Federico Bartolini was a renowned ...
Category

19th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

“India, 1912”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor and gouache on paper of a busy street scene in India done in 1912 by the American artist, William Henry Drake. Copyrighted signed and dated 1912 lower left. Condition is good. Recently professionally matted. Unframed. Overall matte size is 12 by 16 inches. Provenance: A Long Island, New York estate. William Henry Drake Born: 1856 New York Died: 1926 Los Angeles Nationality: American Education: Académie Julian, Art Students League of New York Known for: Painting, illustration Awards: National Academy Biography: Drake studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, with Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant and Henri Lucien Doucet. Back from Europe, he studied at the Cincinnati School of Design, and would often go to the zoo, where he could draw the animals. He was then employed by the Museum of Natural History. He continued to study at the Art Students League of New York. In 1878 he worked as a freelance pen-and-ink artist for such periodicals as Century or Harper’s with animal studies...
Category

1910s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

"Portrait of Young Woman with Bonnet, " Watercolor
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Portrait of Young Woman with Bonnet" is an original watercolor and graphite drawing on paper by Hannah de Rothschild. This artwork features a woman in a hat holding a ring. 10" x ...
Category

1860s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Graphite

“Tsingtao, China 1912”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor and gouache on paper of a Tsingtao, China street scene in 1912 executed by the American illustrator, William Henry Drake. Copyrighted and signed and dated 1912 lower left. Condition is good. Recently professionally matted. Unframed. Overall mat size is 16 by 12 inches. Provenance: A Long Island, New York estate. William Henry Drake Born: 1856 New York Died: 1926 Los Angeles Nationality: American Education: Académie Julian, Art Students League of New York Known for: Painting, illustration Awards: National Academy Biography: Drake studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, with Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant and Henri Lucien Doucet. Back from Europe, he studied at the Cincinnati School of Design, and would often go to the zoo, where he could draw the animal...
Category

1910s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Paper, Gouache

“On Alert”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original pen and India ink drawing on heavy card stock of French soldiers on horseback by the well known French military artist, Edouard Detaille. Signed lower left and dated 1882. ...
Category

1880s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Archival Paper, Pen

Miss Twisty: Back to the City - Mid-Century Female Illustrator
Located in Miami, FL
Miss Twisty is a story of a young girl who leaves the big city to spend time in the country. The book is filled with insight and humor. This work is a deftly rendered black-and-wh...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Graphite, Paper

“Nassau Harbor, Bahamas”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor and gouache on archival paper by the American artist, Martin Louis Lindsay. Signed, titled and dated top right. Done in 1944. Condi...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache, Watercolor, Archival Paper

Two Women (Contemporary Female Figurative Nude Drawing))
Located in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans/Washington State artist Lue Isaac shows off her remarkable draftsmanship with this classical nude figure drawing. Note that this is from her ske...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Conté

Vogue Magazine Illustration Turn of the Century - Woman Illustrator
By Helen Dryden
Located in Miami, FL
Early in the artist's career most likely for Vogue Magazine. Signed lower left. Helen Dryden (1882–1972) was an American artist and successful industrial designer in the 1920s and 1...
Category

1910s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pencil, Graphite, Gouache, India Ink

Stipple Drawing in Black and White of the First Lady of Haiti - African American
Located in Miami, FL
1942 Calendar illustration featuring the First Lady of Haiti (Madame Elie Lescot]) rendered in a precise stipple effect and celebrating African-American women which was titled "Twelve American Women." It was executed during the hight of World War II. Lois Mailou Jones...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Pencil

“Bedouin Encampment at Sunset”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful orientalist original gouache by the well known French artist, Paul B. Pascal. Circa 1885. Signed lower right. Condition is excellent. The scene is of a Bedouin encampment at sunset. Newly professionally matted and framed in antique style frame. Under glass. Overall measurements are 11 by 13 inches. Provenance: A Sarasota, Florida estate. Paul B. Pascal (1839–1905) was a French landscape painter. He did landscape paintings of the Middle East and the Mediterranean coast with gouache. After he emigrated to the United States in 1893, he did paintings of the American wilderness...
Category

1880s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache

“Afternoon Stroll”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor of a hunter and his dog taking a late afternoon stroll in the countryside. Signed middle bottom and dated 1852 or 1853 J. Hamilto...
Category

1850s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor

“Mother and Children”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor on archival paper of a mother and her children by the Japanese artist, Takashi Nakayama. Signed in watercolor lower left...
Category

1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor

“Figures on Camelback along the Nile”
Located in Southampton, NY
Wonderful original orientalist gouache by the well known French artist, Paul B. Pascal. Signed lower right. Circa 1885. Condition is excellent. The scene depicts figures on camelback along the Nile with pyramids in the background. Newly professionally matted and framed in antique style frame. Under glass. Overall framed measurements are 11 by 13 inches. Provenance: A Sarasota, Florida estate. Paul B. Pascal (1839–1905) was a French landscape painter. He did landscape paintings of the Middle East and the Mediterranean coast with gouache. After he emigrated to the United States in 1893, he did paintings of the American wilderness...
Category

1880s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache, Archival Paper

Portrait Sketch
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A portrait of a male head, in profile by BenFenske. The artist uses a variety of colors to convey a naturalist impression. Artist Bio Ben Fenske (b. 1978) although a native of Minn...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Crayon, Paper, Conté

'Harvest Time', Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, London Royal Academy
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower right, 'H. Hammond' for Horace Murray Hammond (British, circa 1879-1966) and dated 1921. A luminously painted, bucolic view of harvest time in England with the lilac of the evening casting a soft light over the contented horses and loaded hay-cart, as the harvesters come to the end of their day's labors. Son of the noted landscape painter, Robert John Hammond, Horace Hammond was born and raised in Warwickshire. In 1927, he moved, first to Worcestershire and then to London. Over the course of a long and successful career, Hammond exhibited widely, including at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and at London's Royal Academy, among numerous other locations. A well-listed painter...
Category

1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Illustration Board, Gouache, Watercolor

'Erika in Gesture II, ' by James Cobb, Drawing
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 21" x 19" academic drawing by artist James Cobb, 'Erika in Gesture II,' captures a female model in a standing pose. Facing away from the viewer...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Conté, Graphite

'Dancer in Seated Gesture 2, ' by James Cobb, Chalk and Conté on Paper, 2021
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 11.25 x 15.25 work on paper features a lone, seated, female dancer viewed from the back. The figure is twisting toward the viewer as she begins to look over her right shoulder. Her legs are pulled toward her body with the left leg crossed over the right. The isolation of the seated figure within the ground of the page lends a vulnerable quality to the work. The 16 x 20 dark brown mat has a window size of 11.25 x 15.25. Bio: Jim Cobb, until recently was hanging his work on Canyon Rd in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One-man shows have been hosted in Taos, New Mexico, Norman, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When the Oklahoma Art...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Conté, Paper, Chalk

'Erika in Gesture I, ' by James Cobb, Drawing
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 21" x 19" drawing by artist James Cobb, 'Erika in Gesture I,' captures the female model in a seated pose. The model is seated with her legs tuck...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Conté, Graphite

“European Village”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor on archival paper laid down to heavy card stock by the American artist, Edward Loyal Field. The watercolor is of a European scene, perhaps Holland when the artist...
Category

1870s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

“The Hunter”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of a solitary hunter in the field by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed bottom right. ...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

Self Portrait Sketch
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
An early work on paper, by American Impressionist painter, Ben Fenske. It's rare to see a drawing like this from Fenske, especially of a self portrait. Fenske uses classical draftin...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Conté

Drawing of Putti in the Clouds by Jean-Jacques le Barbier l'Ainé (1738-1826)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Drawing of Putti in the Clouds Jean-Jacques le Barbier l'Ainé (France, 1738-1826) Black pencil on paper Signed and dated lower left "Le Barbier L'ainé 1816" 10 1/4 x 12 1/4 inches ...
Category

1810s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

'Ballerina in Repose #2, ' by James Cobb, Charcoal and Conte Drawing, 2021
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 13.5" x 13.5" charcoal and conte drawing by artist James Cobb captures a ballerina in a seated, relaxed pose. The work is on toned gray drawing...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Chalk, Conté, Charcoal

She Ain't Heavy - She's My Lover (Contemporary Figurative Nude Drawing))
Located in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans/Washington State artist Lue Isaac shows off her remarkable draftsmanship with this classical nude figure drawing. Note that this is from her ske...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Graphite

ACADEMIC MALE NUDE FIGURE STUDIES
Located in Portland, ME
Michallet (attributed). ACADEMIC MALE NUDE FIGURE STUDIES. Four Charcoal drawings, each on heavy wove paper, 19th Century. 24 1/2 x 19 1/8 inches (s...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal

Drawing of Putti with Anchor by Jean-Jacques le Barbier l'Ainé (1738-1826)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Drawing of Putti with Anchor Jean-Jacques le Barbier l'Ainé (1738-1826) Black pencil on paper Signed and dated lower left "...1822. 12 years l waiting" Considering that the anchor ...
Category

1820s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Pencil

Sexy Gag Cartoon E. Simms Campbell first African American Cartoonist - Black Art
Located in Miami, FL
Elmer Simms Campbell was a brilliant illustrator and cartoon artist and was also the first African American cartoonist to be nationally syndicated in major newsstand magazines such a...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Ink, Board, Casein

Sosie
Located in Florham Park, NJ
House of Bernard Founded 1905. Pen and ink. Paris, France. Coats, 1923. French fashion has influenced men and women, kings and queen, rich and poor throughout time. Tumultuo...
Category

1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Pen, Plexiglass, Archival Paper, Rag Paper, Archival Tape, Ink, Paper

“Tavern Life”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of a lively tavern scene. Signed lower right and dated 1942 by the British artist, George Anderson Short...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Graphite, Watercolor

“Bringing Home the Game”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of a hunter bring home the fresh game by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed top right. ...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

“The Hunters”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of two hunters in the field by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed bottom right. Circa ...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

Nude Sketch #2
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
A rare work on paper by Ben Fenske. A sketch of a female nude, posing. Drawn from direct observation using a live model. White chalk is used to create highlights. Not framed. Wrapped...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

“Seaside Italian Villa”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful, original watercolor on archival paper of an Italian seaside villa with figures. Executed in 1902 by the American artist, George Washington Nicholson...
Category

Early 1900s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor

Untitled (Sideview of a Gentleman)
Located in New York, NY
John Thomas Young Gilroy (English, 1898-1985), "Untitled: Sideview of a Gentleman", Charcoal/Pencil on Paper signed and matted to original card stock, 20.75 x 12.75 (22 x 14), Early 20th Century, 1920 Colors: White, Black John Thomas Young Gilroy (30 May 1898 – 11 April 1985) was an English artist and illustrator, best known for his advertising posters for Guinness, the Irish stout. He signed many of his works, simply, "Gilroy". Born in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England, Gilroy attended Durham University until his studies were interrupted by World War I, during which he served with the Royal Field Artillery. He resumed studying at the Royal College of Art in London, where he remained as a teacher. He taught at Camberwell College of Arts.[1] In 1925, he gained employment at S.H. Benson's advertising agency, where he created the iconic advertisement art for Guinness featuring the Zoo Keeper and animals enjoying Guinness.[2] He worked with Dorothy L. Sayers.[3] He was also an accomplished portrait painter, numbering Royalty, Politicians, Actors and many others amongst his sitters. He worked in his large studio at 10 Holland Park, London, the former home and studio of Sir Bernard Partridge. He was a long-standing and much loved member of the Garrick Club...
Category

1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Charcoal

“After the Hunt”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of interior pub scene by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed bottom left. Circa 1940. ...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

“British Pub”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of interior crowded pub scene by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed lower left and date...
Category

1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

'Napoleonic Guard at the Cathedral of Uspensky Sobor', Moscow, French Militaria
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Initialed lower left, 'C.H.' for Charles Constantine Hoffbauer (French, 1875-1957) and painted circa 1900. Accompanied by the original artist-signed mat, original backing with inscription and newspaper clipping from Los Angeles Times' review of Hoffbauer's 1949 Legion of Honor Exhibition. Mat dimensions: 12.75 x 13.5 Inches An exceptionally fine and detailed, cabinet-sized gouache showing members of the Napoleonic guard relaxing in the courtyard of the Cathedral of Uspensky Sobor during France's brief occupation of Moscow during the fall of 1812. Born in Paris in 1875, Charles Hoffbauer studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts under Fernand Cormon and Gustave Moreau and, during his studies, became acquainted with Matisse, Rouault, and Marquet. He was the recipient of numerous prizes, medals and juried awards including an Honorable Mention in the Salon of 1896, and prizes at the Salons of 1898 and 1899. He was awarded a bronze medal at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1900 and, in the same year, a French government scholarship, the Prix National du Salon, that allowed him to travel and study in Italy, Greece and Egypt. In 1902, he won the Prix Rosa Bonheur. At the Salon of 1904, the French government purchased 'Champs de Bataille' for the Musée du Luxembourg and Hoffbauer was elected a member of the Legion of Honor. Hoffbauer served in the French Army as an official war artist during the first world war, winning the Croix de Guerre and acting as liaison officer to the American camouflage section. On the recommendation of the mural painter, James Wall Finn, Hoffbauer received the 1935 commission to paint the murals for Battle Abbey, the Confederate memorial in Richmond, Virginia. He revisited America to accept a commission for the mural in the Missouri State Capitol, and was appointed to membership of the jury of the 1937 International Exposition. Two years later, he became an American citizen and settled in Rockport, Massachusetts. Charles Hoffbauer's work may be found in the permanent collections of numerous national museums including the Museum of Modern Art in Paris. Reference: Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Peter Hastings Falk, Sound View Press 1999, Vol. 2, p. 1585; Thieme-Becker Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zu Gengenwart, Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker, Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag 1992, Vol. 17/18, p. 246; E. Benezit, Dictionnaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs, et Graveurs, Jacques Busse, 1999 Nouvelle Édition, Gründ 1911, Vol. 7, p. 105; Biographical Encyclopedia of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers of the U.S.: Colonial to 2002, Bob Creps, Dealer’s Choice Books, Inc. 2002, Vol. 1, p. 643; Steen, James T. "The Story of a Painting," Carnegie Magazine 31/32 (February 1957): 57-59; Charles Hoffbauer (1875-1957). Drawings, Temperas & Oil Paintings. Exh. cat. Somerville, MA: Gropper Art Gallery, 1977; Glueck, Grace. New York: The Painted City. Salt Lake City: Peregrine Smith Books...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Gouache

Untitled: Left Side Seated Nude
Located in New York, NY
Unknown/Unidentified Artist, "Untitled: Left Side Seated Nude", Unsigned Figurative/ Nude Watercolor, Charcoal (Mixed Media) Painting on Paper, 18 x 14, Late...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Charcoal, Mixed Media

Untitled (Mother Holding Baby)
Located in New York, NY
John Thomas Young Gilroy (English, 1898-1985), "Untitled: Mother Holding Baby", Figurative/Academic Drawing signed on Paper, 14 x 8, Early 20th Century Colors: White, Black "Untitled: Mother Holding Baby" is a Figurative/ Academic Drawing signed on Paper. Among our Gilroy collection of drawings, this particular work is unique due to its original grid markings included here within. As one can view among our details, the drawing has visible age markings and 3/4 of the perimeter rear of the work has tape. Nevertheless, as with all his figurative graphite works, a wonderfully drawn piece of a Mother cradling her infant child. John Thomas Young Gilroy (30 May 1898 – 11 April 1985) was an English artist and illustrator, best known for his advertising posters for Guinness, the Irish stout. He signed many of his works, simply, "Gilroy". Born in Whitley Bay, Northumberland, England, Gilroy attended Durham University until his studies were interrupted by World War I, during which he served with the Royal Field Artillery. He resumed studying at the Royal College of Art in London, where he remained as a teacher. He taught at Camberwell College of Arts. In 1925, he gained employment at S.H. Benson's advertising agency, where he created the iconic advertisement art for Guinness featuring the Zoo Keeper and animals enjoying Guinness.He worked with Dorothy L. Sayers. He was also an accomplished portrait painter, numbering Royalty, Politicians, Actors and many others amongst his sitters. He worked in his large studio at 10 Holland Park, London, the former home and studio of Sir Bernard Partridge. He was a long-standing and much loved member of the Garrick Club...
Category

1920s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Carbon Pencil

Self Portrait, Graphite Drawing
Located in Denver, CO
Elizabeth Zanzinger's (US based) "Self Portrait" is a graphite drawing that depicts the artist. Elizabeth Zanzinger is an award-winning painter with an enthusiastic international following. She developed her artistic voice through her studies at the Aristides Atelier and Gage Academy of Fine Art in Seattle. Elizabeth finished her education with a fellowship award (Grand Prize, 2nd Annual Utrecht Art...
Category

2010s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Graphite

“British Pub 2”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of interior crowded pub scene by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed top left and dated ...
Category

1930s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

“Tavern Meeting”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of interior crowded pub scene by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed bottom left. Circa...
Category

1940s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

“Villagers”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings by the well known German artist, Peter Von Halm. Signed in pencil lower right. Condition is good. Several tiny foxing spots with small areas of mild wrinkles on the outer corners. Matted but not framed. He was the son of an innkeeper and brewer. Initially, he wanted to become an architect and, in pursuit of that goal, attended the Technische Universität Darmstadt. After 1875, he studied copper engraving with Johann Leonhard Raab and general art subjects with Ludwig von Löfftz, at the Munich Academy. From 1883 to 1885, he lived in Berlin at the invitation of his friend, Karl Stauffer-Bern, where he created graphic versions of the Old Masters for Wilhelm von Bode...
Category

1880s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Archival Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

Untitled: Seated Rear Nude
Located in New York, NY
Unknown/Unidentified Artist, "Untitled: Seated Rear Nude", Unsigned Figurative/ Nude Watercolor, Charcoal (Mixed Media) Painting on Paper, 18 x 13, Late 20th Century Colors: Black, ...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal, Mixed Media, Paper, Watercolor

Untitled: Solo Seated Nude Twist
Located in New York, NY
Unknown/Unidentified Artist, "Untitled: Solo Seated Nude Twist", Signed Figurative/ Nude Watercolor Painting on Paper, 18 x 14, Late 20th Century Colors: Black, Brown, Orange, Yellow, Turquoise, Green, Purple, Red *Unidentified/ Unknown Artist signature...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Untitled: Three Nude Females
Located in New York, NY
Unknown/Unidentified Artist, "Untitled: Three Nude Females", Figurative/ Nude Charcoal signed Drawing on Paper, 24 x 18, Late 20th Century Colors: Black a...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

Untitled: Standing Nude
Located in New York, NY
Unknown/ Unidentified Artist, "Standing Nude", Figurative/ Nude Charcoal Drawing on Brown Charcoal Paper, 24 x 20, Late 20th Century, 1968 Colors: White, Blue, Black, Red, Black "S...
Category

1960s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Charcoal

“Portrait of a Head”
Located in Southampton, NY
Late 18th century mixed media portrait of the head of an old man, perhaps the biblical figure Moses. Italian school . Composed of graphite, colored chalk, watercolor and gouache on ...
Category

1780s Academic Figurative Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Gouache, Paper, Chalk, Graphite, Watercolor

Academic figurative drawings and watercolors for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic figurative drawings and watercolors available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 20th Century, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add figurative drawings and watercolors created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple and other colors. Frequently made by artists working with Archival Paper, and Archival Tape and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Academic figurative drawings and watercolors, so small editions measuring 2.56 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative drawings and watercolors made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $288,500, while the average work sells for $747.

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