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Academic Portrait Paintings

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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Style: Academic
Daughters of Spain oil on canvas painting young woman
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: "Daughters of Spain" Artist: Juan José Barreira Polo (1887-1957) Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 31.5 x 27.5 in (80 x 70 cm) Framing: Unframed Signature: Signed at the lower left corner as "J. Barreira" Period: Approximately first half of the 20th century Movement/Style: Realist Costumbrismo, Spanish Academicism Description of the Artwork "Daughters of Spain" is a remarkable example of Spanish Costumbrismo, where Juan José Barreira Polo masterfully captures the essence of national identity and tradition. The painting portrays two young Spanish girls in traditional attire, exuding warmth and natural grace. The older girl, with a gentle smile, wears a richly embroidered blue shawl and has flowers adorning her hair, while delicately holding a copper jug filled with vibrant orange flowers. Beside her, the younger girl, with an innocent and joyful expression, holds a doll dressed in red with floral embellishments, evoking the charm of childhood and cultural heritage. The well-balanced composition and softly blurred background enhance the presence of the figures. Barreira Polo employs a warm color palette and skillful lighting to create harmony, while his refined brushwork and attention to detail in facial expressions and textiles reflect his academic training. The artwork conveys a profound sense of cultural pride and nostalgia for Spain’s rich traditions. Artist’s Biography Juan José Barreira Polo (Valencia, March 31, 1887 – Valencia, January 30, 1957) was a Spanish painter specialized in portraits and costumbrista scenes. Son of the painter Vicente Barreira Meliá, he trained at the Academy of Fine Arts of San Carlos in Valencia, where he obtained his degree as a drawing professor in 1933. Throughout his career, he gained recognition for his representations of Spanish traditions and culture, receiving several awards at various exhibitions. In 1925, he won first prize in the Valencia City Council's poster competition. In addition to his pictorial work, he was an editorial board member of the magazine Semana Gráfica, contributing to the artistic and graphic culture of his time. His paintings, known for their exquisite detail and vibrant colors, are part of private collections worldwide and are admired for their ability to capture the spirit of Spanish heritage. Similar Artists and References The style of Juan José Barreira Polo is associated with other realist and costumbrista painters, such as: José Mongrell...
Category

1930s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Odalisque with Tray oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title of the Artwork: Odalisque with Tray Artist: Rosendo González Carbonell Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 24 x 20 inches Frame: Unframed Style: Figurative, focusing on the fe...
Category

1970s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Painter's Studio original painting by Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas Framed
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"The Painter's Studio", oil on canvas, 39x27.5in / 100x70cm The artist's studio and art objects part of artist' life and work. A sculpture, an antique head and a painting that remin...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

The Painter's Studio original painting by Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas Framed
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"The Painter's Studio", oil on canvas, 39x27.5in / 100x70cm The artist's studio and art objects part of artist' life and work. A sculpture, an antique head and a painting that remin...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Virgin Mary and Child Jesus oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Virgin Mary and Child Jesus Artist: Francisco Ribera Gómez (1907-1990) Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 31.9 x 25.6 inches (unframed) Date of creation: 1942 Style: Classical Academicism with Renaissance influences Description of the Artwork The painting depicts the Virgin Mary holding the Child Jesus in a tender and intimate moment. Warm colors, primarily reds, greens, and soft flesh tones, enhance the devotional nature of the scene. The use of golden halos, symbolizing sanctity, along with serene and realistic expressions, directly connects with the Renaissance pictorial tradition. The style belongs to classical academicism, characterized by a balanced composition, meticulous drawing, and a masterful use of chiaroscuro to give volume and depth to the figures. The detailed rendering of the flesh tones and draperies amplifies the spirituality and solemnity of the piece, evoking the works of great masters such as Raphael and Murillo. Artist's Biography Francisco Ribera Gómez (1907-1990) was a prominent 20th-century Spanish painter known for his depictions of religious scenes, female portraits, and costumbrist works. Trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Ribera Gómez received numerous accolades and was regarded as one of the great exponents of Spanish academicism. His work combines a rigorous technical foundation with luminous sensitivity and an idealized sense of beauty. Influences and Comparisons Francisco Ribera Gómez's work can be compared to other academic and religious artists who share a similar aesthetic: Bartolomé Esteban Murillo: In the emotional and approachable treatment of religious themes. William-Adolphe Bouguereau: For the idealization of human figures and technical mastery. Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio): For harmonious composition and the depiction of the Virgin Mary. Within the Spanish tradition, his style recalls Eduardo Rosales...
Category

1940s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Woman Selling Fruit oil on canvas painting european art
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Title: Woman Selling Fruit Author: Rosendo González Carbonell Technique and Support: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 31.9 x 25.6 in (unframed) Period: 1970s Style: Costumbrist realism with impressionist influences Condition: Part of a private collection Description of the Artwork The painting portrays a woman holding a basket filled with fruit, notably apples and pears, focusing on warm and dark contrasts that add depth and realism to the composition. The artist creates an intimate atmosphere, skillfully manipulating light to highlight the woman's facial features and the textures of the fruit. The figure’s attire evokes a classical style, likely inspired by costumbrist themes. Rosendo González Carbonell, renowned for his focus on traditional scenes and female figures, employs in this piece loose yet precise brushstrokes, creating dynamism that enhances the composition. The warm hues of the fruit and the serene expression of the woman reflect the artist’s intention to capture a moment of everyday life with sensitivity and expressiveness. Author’s Biography Rosendo González Carbonell (Barcelona, 1910 - 1984) was a Spanish painter recognized for his focus on female figures, portraits, and landscapes. He studied at the Acadèmia de Belles Arts de Sabadell under the mentorship of Mayoral and Antoni Alsina i Amils and also attended the "Llotja" art academy in Barcelona. He was a disciple of Bonaventura Puig Perucho and maintained a close friendship with painter Alejandro Huerta Lucas. He participated in the National Fine Arts Exhibitions held in Barcelona in 1942 and 1944. His work reflects the tradition of Catalan painters such as Joaquim Mir and Santiago Rusiñol, as well as influences from impressionist masters like Claude Monet and Camille Pissarro. González Carbonell often depicted small villages, rural churches, and tranquil landscapes, balancing meticulous detail with impressionist brushstrokes that bring his compositions to life. Similar Artists González Carbonell shares artistic sensitivities with other renowned painters who captured the essence of landscapes and human figures through light and color: Joaquim Mir: Renowned for his luminous interpretations of the Catalan landscape. Santiago Rusiñol: Famous for his delicate depictions of rural scenes and local architecture. Josep Amat...
Category

1970s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Virus, Portrait Surrealism, Original oil Painting
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2021 Style: Surrealism, Portrait, Subject: Virus, Size: 46" x 35" x 2'' in...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Prosperous Family: Academic Figurative Painting by Mark Beard aka Bruce Sargeant
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style figurative painting on canvas of a family and red tractor against a classic American farm field "Prosperous Family", painted by Mark Beard under his fictitious persona, Bruce Sargeant 84 x 58 inches unframed, 91 x 65 x 3 inches with a gold painted wood frame Excellent condition, ready to hang as is This Academic style figurative oil painting on canvas was painted by Mark Beard as Bruce Sargeant, a pseudonym in homage to the fashion photographer, Bruce Weber, and figurative painter, John Singer Sargeant. Here, the artist captures a blue collar American farming family in their field with an old red tractor. The man and woman stand stoically with their young child, dressed in simple white garments, perhaps to symbolize their purity. Rolling mountains...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Zeus and Ganymede - Paula Craioveanu oil canvas Neo Mythology
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Zeus and Ganymede", oil and silver leaf on canvas, 39x39in / 100x100cm Inspired by the legend of Zeus and Ganymede. Part of my NeoMythology project. Shipped as it is, stretched. "Z...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Sir Beauchamp, 1880-90 - oil paint, 73x62 cm, framed
Located in Nice, FR
Oil on canvas with its original frame.
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Dandy a Salon in Paris 19th Century portrait of a young man French painting
Located in Norwich, GB
A wonderful depiction of a dapper Parisian dandy, dating from 1848. I love his air of decadence! It is a work by F de Korff, a mysterious French aristocratic portrait artist who had ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

WINGED GENIUS- original painting by Paula Craioveanu Neo Mythology
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Winged Genius", oil on canvas, 70x110cm, 27.5×43.5in Winged Genius is a fantastic character, a mythological creature, a male figure with birds’ wings, a guardian spirit, a demigod. ...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Ready to Play (Academic Figurative Painting of Male Athlete by Mark Beard)
Located in Hudson, NY
Academic style figurative oil painting of a handsome football player against a country landscape 'Ready to Play', Painted by Mark Beard as Bruce Sargeant (pseudonym in homage to the...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Winged Genius - original painting by Paula Craioveanu Neo Mythology
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Winged Genius", oil on canvas, 70x110cm, 27.5×43.5in Winged Genius is a fantastic character, a mythological creature, a male figure with birds’ wings, a guardian spirit, a demigod. ...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Untitled Portrait II (Modern, Academic Style Portrait Painting of a Young Man)
Located in Hudson, NY
Modern, academic style portrait painting on canvas of a young athletic male oil on canvas, 26 x 17 inches in antique wood frame This vertical, contemporary portrait painting of sin...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century French Realist Oil Profile Portrait of Lady Beautiful Quality
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
French realist artist of the 19th century oil painting on board, unframed board: 12.5 x 10.5 inches provenance: private collection, France condition: ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent
Located in New Orleans, LA
John Singer Sargent 1856-1925 American Stamped by artist's estate (en verso) Oil on canvas John Singer Sargent, widely regarded as one of history's most distinguished portraitists...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

La Fille Du Pêcheur By William Bouguereau
Located in New Orleans, LA
William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905 French La fille du pêcheur (The Fisherman’s Daughter) Signed and dated “W-Bouguereau-1882” (middle right) Oil on canvas William Bouguereau's...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

'Manolo Gonzalez' Plaza de Toros, Maestranza, Seville, Bullfighting, Matador
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
Signed lower left, 'John Fulton' (American, 1933-1998) and painted circa 1995. The original oil painting for the poster advertising the appearance of Manolo Gonzalez at the prestigious Maestranza bullring in Seville and showing famous bullfighter in an emerald suit of lights, holding his espada at the ready while deflecting the enraged bull with his red cape. John Fulton was an American bullfighter and painter who settled in Seville. Born in Philadelphia, he received a scholarship to an art school in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, in the early 1950s. During this time, he studied both painting and bullfighting, killing his first calf there in 1953. In 1954, Fulton joined the U.S. Army and continued and continued painting and bullfighting on his downtime. After his release in 1956, he moved to Spain where he studied bullfighting under Juan Belmonte and performed as a novillero (novice) with some of Spain’s leading matadors. In July 1963, Fulton was sponsored by José María Montilla to take his 'alternativa' at the Plaza de toros...
Category

1990s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portraits Of Emperor Napoleon III And Empress Eugénie By Studio Of Franz Xaver W
By Franz Xaver Winterhalter
Located in New Orleans, LA
Studio of Franz Xaver Winterhalter (1805-1873) German Portraits of Emperor Napoleon III and Empress Eugénie Oil on canvas These grand portraits of Emperor Napoleon III and Empres...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Young Shepherdess
By Charles Amable Lenoir
Located in New York, NY
The Young Shepherdess by Charles Amable Lenoir (1860-1926) Oil on canvas 48 x 32 inches unframed (121.92 x 81.28 cm.) 58 ½ x 42 ¾ inches framed (148.59 x 10...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Woman portrait by Ilse Voigt - Oil on canvas 96x76 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on canvas with wooden frame. Total size with frame is 88x109 cm Ilse VOIGT is an artist born in 1905 and died in 1997. His works have been sold at public auction 24 times, mostl...
Category

1940s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait Of Horatio Nelson Attributed To Lemuel Abbott
Located in New Orleans, LA
Attributed to Lemuel Abbott 1760-1803 English Portrait of Horatio Nelson Oil on canvas This previously unknown portrait is an important discovery in British Naval history. In Admiral Lord Nelson's illustrious and well-studied life, there existed a "silent period" spanning 16 years during which no known portraits of Nelson existed. The discovery of this 1790 portrait, rendered just before his reentry into the Navy, is a significant development for Nelson scholars, adding new insight into the leader's life prior to his legendary command as Admiral of the British Navy. Almost certainly painted by Lemuel Abbott, the official portraitist of Admiral Nelson, the rendering depicts the naval titan in casual dress. This is one of the two final depictions of Nelson before he acquired the war-inflicted injuries that marked his later years. In 1790, Britain was at peace, and Lord Nelson found himself residing in Burnham Thorpe with his newlywed wife, Frances. Having served with great distinction in South America and the West Indies, he garnered much local acclaim. Yet, the uncertainty of returning to the sea weighed heavily on his mind. At the age of thirty, he lived the life of a country gentleman managing his estate. Only one other much smaller portrait of Nelson in civilian attire exists, a much smaller rendering from 1800 currently held at the National Portrait Gallery. Compelling and atmospheric, the oil on canvas offers viewers a rare glimpse into the visage of a youthful and resolute Nelson, a man driven by an unwavering desire to forge his reputation in the art of naval warfare. This portrait had long been believed by the Nelson family to portray Edmund Nelson, Horatio Nelson's father. When connoisseur Jeremy Knight acquired this treasure directly from the Nelson family, he postulated that the work actually depicted the famed Admiral and not his father, as it was painted around 1790, and the elder Edmund Nelson would have been 68 years old at that time. Knight then hired the renowned Nelson scholar Martin Downer, the former Sotheby's expert and author of the bestselling books Nelson's Purse and Nelson's Lost Jewel, to confirm his hunch. It has now been confirmed by Martin Downer that this portrait is the missing...
Category

18th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original painting for JOB cigarettes advert, 1900, by French artist Gervais
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Paul Gervais was one of the most highly regarded painters of the female form in the late 19th Century but this is one of his most famous images as it was used in the advertising camp...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Lady
By Alexandre-François Caminade
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Alexandre François CAMINADE (1789-1862) Portrait of a Lady Oil on wood signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Wood size : 22 X 15 cm Frame size : 40 X 30 cm Alexandre-Françoi...
Category

1850s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Old Time Football in the 1920s - Football 1920s - Classic Football
Located in Miami, FL
You Got to be a Football Hero to Get Along with a Beautiful Girl. Masterfully composed and dynamic illustration that show a player getting punched in the jaw. During this period, there were no face...
Category

1920s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Napoléon before the Battle of Moscow
Located in New Orleans, LA
Emperor Napoléon I was and remains one of the most legendary military and political figures in history, having held, for a brief period, the fate of the Western world in his hands. Composed by the French painter Joseph Franque...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Solitude
Located in New Orleans, LA
Signed “G-Seignac” (lower right) Oil on canvas French Academic painter Guillaume Seignac was renowned for his masterful treatment of the idealized nude. His languishing female subje...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Solitude
Located in New Orleans, LA
French Academic painter Guillaume Seignac was renowned for his masterful treatment of the idealized nude. His languishing female subjects based on Greco-Roman prototypes were and rem...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Pompeian Lady
By John William Godward
Located in New Orleans, LA
John William Godward 1861-1922 British A Pompeian Lady Signed and dated "J.W. Godward 1904" (lower right, partially covered by frame) Oil on canvas One of the last and greatest Victorian neoclassical painters, John William Godward is celebrated for his flawlessly executed images of graceful women posed in idealized ancient settings. In this work, entitled A Pompeian Lady, a classical beauty is caught idling in a moment of quiet, solitary reflection. Godward's elegant subjects are depicted with a degree of technical mastery that remains unsurpassed, and the work's dramatic palette, luxurious fabrics and classical vision are all characteristics of his unique take on the neoclassical style. Godward was unmatched in terms of his technical skill and attention to detail. A master of contrasting textures, he paints a diaphanous gown draping against the model’s smooth, milky white skin, which sits against the painstakingly rendered individual hairs of a tiger’s pel. Scintillating color permeates the canvas as well, energizing the otherwise static scene. Each element is given careful attention, and the overall effect is one of both immaculate technique and sensual tactility. Along with his contemporary and mentor, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Godward set the tone for the Victorian neoclassicist movement. He built his career upon creating images of idealized feminine beauty infused with a Greco-Roman-inspired style. Though greatly influenced by Alma-Tadema, Godward distinguished himself through his predilection for the solitary female figure. His fame rose dramatically in the first few years of the 20th century, when the present work was completed, due to the burgeoning strength of the British Empire and the Victorian society’s preoccupation with ancient Rome. To many of the newly affluent, Roman society was, as Iain Gale writes, “a flawless mirror of their own immaculate world.” The sensuality and mystery of Godward’s maidens, combined with his impressive antique backdrops...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Alonso PEREZ - Painting Genre Scene in Paris
By Alonso Perez
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
ALONSO PEREZ (1881 - 1914) Lady and Napoleon Soldier in the Street Oil on canvas signed and dated 1906 low right Dedication : Au sympathique maître et...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

“Double Portrait”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful original oil on canvas double portrait painting of a young boy and girl with cat (moist likely brother and sister) attributed to the hand of American artist, John Carlin. ...
Category

1860s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait, Surrealism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2018 Style: Portrait Surrealism, Subject: Portrait, Size: 23" x 19" x 1'' ...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Panorama of The Minaret - Orientalist Gouache 1882
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
PASCAL Paul (1832-1903) Orientalist View of the Minaret Gouache on card signed low right and dated 1882 Old glassed frame gilded with leaves Dim gouache : 51 X 70 cm Dim Frame : 71 X 90 cm PASCAL Paul (1832-1903)Born 01 april 1832 in Toulouse (Haute-Garonne). Died in 1903 in Québec (Canada). French painter 19th century Typical subjects, genre scenes, lively landscapes, seascapes. Gouache, watercolor...
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Gouache

The walk in Luxembourg Garden in Paris, also called "The Privileged"
By Antoine-Victor-Edmond-Madeleine Joinville
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
JOINVILLE Antoine Victor Edmond Madeleine (1801-1849) From Ludwig Knaus (1829-1910) The Walk in Luxembourg Garden" in Paris, also called "The Privileged" Preserved at The Louvres M...
Category

1870s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Emile Vernon (French, 1872-1919) Pink Roses Belle Epoque Oil Painting .
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite genre painting showcases a darling slice of life for a young woman in the Belle Epoque era. Dressed in a frilly frock made of detailed lace, and wearing a v shaped pin...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lady at the Flower Market
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEBAS Léonie (19th-20th) "Lady at the Flower Market in Paris" Oil on wood panel signed low right Old Frame regilded with gold leaves Dim panel : 16 X...
Category

1890s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Mother and Child - Classic Portrait
Located in Miami, FL
This warm portrait looks like it could have been painted by Corot. Francis Luis Mora paints in that tradition. It's a small painting that invites the viewer to look closer. The art...
Category

1920s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

18th century diptych portraits man and woman American formal dress flower
By William Jennys
Located in Milwaukee, WI
The present pair of portraits would make an exceptional addition to any collection of early American art not only because they were painted by the notable William Jennys, but also because the sitters are members of notable and influential New England families. In addition, these pendants have impeccable provenance: they have never left ownership of the decedents of the Kimball family and this is the first time they have been available for purchase. David Kimball (1766-1848) and Nancy Stacy Kimball (1774-1844) were members of historic Massachusetts families. David Kimball is a sixth-generation decedent of Richard Kimball (d. 1675) and Ursula Scott (d. 1659), who emigrated from Rattlasden, Suffolk County, England to Watertown MA around 1634. The family then relocated in 1637 to Ipswich, the city with which the family is now most strongly identified, when Richard was appointed to be a wheelwright.[1] Nancy likewise had early New England ancestry, descended from Simon Stacy and Elizabeth Clark, who were married in London in 1620.[2] Nancy Stacy was the second wife of David Kimball, and the two were married in 1799. Given this, the present pendant portraits were likely completed shortly after the marriage. David had two children by his first wife Mary Morse, who died in September of 1798. David and Nancy would have nine additional children between 1801 and 1815.[3] Most notably, the couple were parents of the Boston politician and showman Moses Kimball (1809-1895).[2][3] Moses would found the Boston Museum, an early for-profit museum and theater opened in 1841 that resembled European curiosity cabinets: the museum displayed paintings of Thomas Scully and Charles Peale alongside Chinese artwork, stuffed animals, dwarves and mermaids. Alongside these exhibits, visitors could attend the theater which held performances by gymnasts and contortionists, followed by performances of Shakespeare and Dickens.[4] This museum set the model for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, which when founded in 1870 held a similarly diverse collection and appealed to the interests of a diverse set of visitors.[5] Moreover, some Greek antiquities from Moses Kimball's museum were eventually given to the MFA and Moses donated approximately $5,000 to the MFA's endowment upon his death.[6][7] William Jennys (1774–1859), also known as J. William Jennys, is an important American primitive portrait...
Category

1790s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Untitled 12, " Charcoal Drawing
Located in Denver, CO
Mark Bradley Schwartz's (US based) "Untitled 12" is an original, handmade charcoal drawing that depicts a woman in profile with her long dark hair draped over her right shoulder with...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

Academic 19th Century portrait of a young woman by Cabanel
By Alexandre Cabanel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alexandre Cabanel (1823–1889) Portrait Oil on canvas Signed lower left Alexandre Cabanel (1823–1889) was a prominent French academic painter known for his mastery of Neoclassical ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Gentry People in The Park in 18th century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEVIGNE Théodore (1848-1912) "Genre scene in 18th century" Oil on canvas signed low right Old original frame Dim canvas : 72 X 100 cm Dim frame : 103 X 127 cm LEVIGNE Théodore (1848...
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of an Elegant Young Woman in Warm Grays and Soft Ochers
Located in Miami, FL
Leon Kroll was above all an academician. To him "abstract art was merely the beginning of a picture. Structurally, "Portrait of a Young Woman recalls some of the portraits from the ...
Category

1930s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Portrait of an Elegant Lady 1897
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
GENTY Emmanuel (1830-1904) Portrait of an Elegant Lady Oil on canvas signed low right and dated 1897 Old Frame regilded with gold leaves Dim canvas : 100 x 81 cm Dim frame : 120 x 10...
Category

1890s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Aurora in white toga smelling a flower. Goddess of Dawn Mythology scene
Located in Miami, FL
Jean Louis Hamon artfully presents the mythological subject: Aurora the Goddess of Dawn. She is dressed in a flowing toga, standing on a large leaf and smelling the sweetness of a flower in bloom. Surrounded by lush plants in an idyllic setting of pinks and blues, one would not think that this peaceful and beautiful work was painted in 1864 at the time of the American Civil War. Hamon meticulously renders the scene with the academic precision of Bouguereau. The closer you get, the more detail you discover. Two butterflies sit atop Aurora's head. Droplets of water gracefully roll down her hair. There was a hand colored steel plate...
Category

1860s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Young Woman, Sir Godfrey Kneller, Hand carved gilt frame
Located in London, GB
Oil on canvas Image size: 30 1/4 x 25 inches (77 x 63 cm) Original hand carved gilt frame Provenance Private Estate, England This is a very fine example of Kneller's work in the early 18th century. Here, the emphasis is placed directly on the sitter's alluring femininity, with this being enhanced by the falling hair around her shoulder. This looseness of focus is created with a free fluidity of brushstrokes. He has used a Rembrandt-esque technique of subtle tones in the face, and we can see how Kneller often allowed the bluer ground layer to show through when suggesting the darker flesh tones.The painterly technique seen here is an excellent demonstration of Kneller’s style. The bold handling of the flesh tones is Kneller at his most emphatic, while the sizeable areas of dark grey ground we see are indicative of his method of painting quickly, developed by this stage in his career to cope with the many demands of a large circle of patrons. The same effect is used for the shadows in the face: rather than paint darker colours on top of the pink flesh tones, as most artists would have done, Kneller instead painted in the reverse order, using the ground layer for his dark shadows, and then painting the lighter colours on top. Often he worked with an almost dry brush in strong firm strokes. Here the flesh tones have been rapidly, almost roughly painted, with bold areas of impasto giving way to areas where almost no paint has been applied at all, a trick that allowed Kneller to use the blue-grey ground layer to show darker flesh tones. Godfrey Kneller...
Category

Early 18th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Horse Carriage in the Bourgeoise Yard
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
James Thomas Wheeler (1849 - 1888) Horse Carriage in the Yard Oil on canvas signed low right Old original frame gilded with leaves Canvas size : 55 X 65 cm Frame size : 85 X 95 cm
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Young Lady and Cupid in The Park
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Hans Zatzka (8 March 1859 – 17 December 1945 Young Lady With Cupid in The Park Oil on canvas circa 1880 signed low with pseudonym C.BRIAND Old Frame gilded with leaves Size canvas : ...
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Child Oil on Wood in Gilded Frame Napoleon III era
Located in Pistoia, IT
"Portrait of a little girl" oil on wood signed and dated at upper left "A. Robert 1879" for Alexandre Robert. A Belgian painter of great talent, after studying in Paris and spending...
Category

1870s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Painting 19th century French School Genre Scene Interior Portrait
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
French School 19th century Close to François Xavier FABRE (1766-1837) The Princess and The Chaperone Oil on canvas One can read on the reverse "Fabre Fecit" and the name and address of the canvas dealer shop...
Category

1850s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Classical French TURKISH Orientalist Beauty Painting of a Woman w/ Mandolin
Located in New York, NY
Francois Martin-Kavel (1861 - 1931) was active/lived in France. He was a profiling painter of woman, especially orientalism His auction records have exceeded over $20,000 Such a ...
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Study of an actor, ca 1880 dramatic oil young man staring into fire 19th Century
Located in Norwich, GB
A dramatic, one of a kind oil study. Certainly not your run of the mill 19th Century portait! Depicted is a young man, whose face is brightly lit from what is likely is an open fire....
Category

1880s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Father and children in front of TV - Mid-Century
Located in Miami, FL
John Falter arranges figures and faces in a way that rival the old masters in their compositional perfection. And he makes it look easy. The expressions are captured so the emotions of the story come alive. This Golden Age of illustration artist depicts fathers and children watching...
Category

1950s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Lilly Martin Spencer (American, 1822-1902) God Bless My Father Portrait Painting
Located in New York, NY
Lilly Martin Spencer (American, 1822-1902) A Rare Portrait God Bless My Father. **Figure 84 from principal book/catalogue on Lilly Martin Spencer. 19th Century. Oil on canvas, signed Lilly Martin Spencer was one of the most popular and American female genre painters in the mid-nineteenth century. She primarily painted domestic scenes, paintings of women and children...
Category

19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil

Miss Carolyn Edmunson
Located in Miami, FL
The art world today does not value traditional academic skills in portrait painting. If it did, this portrait would replace the childlike student-level art that is now achieving two...
Category

1930s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

"Crossing", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Elizabeth Zanzinger's (US based) "Crossing" is an oil painting that depicts an elderly man crossing the high water of a river with a young child on...
Category

2010s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Portrait of Dorothy Thompson (The Wild Rose) - Female Artist
Located in Miami, FL
A charming portrait of a beautiful blue-eyed girl in a pink dress holding flowers in her hand. It's based on Renaissance portraits where the subject is pushed to the foreground and i...
Category

1920s Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Children playing in the park, oil on canvas signed Joseph Dierickx dated 1903
By Joseph Dierickx
Located in Paris, FR
A "genre" painting representing a mother supervising her two small daughters at the Park. Oil on canvas signed bottom right Joseph Dierickx and dated 1903. Dierickx Joseph (1865-19...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Portrait Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Academic portrait paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic portrait paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add portrait paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mark Beard, Elizabeth Zanzinger, Leon Kroll, and Charles Joshua Chaplin. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint 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 portrait paintings, so small editions measuring 4.14 inches across are also available. Prices for portrait paintings 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 $165 and tops out at $388,500, while the average work sells for $7,763.

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