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.
$1,800Sale Price|36% Off
“Child in White Dress”
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1890 Signed verso on stretcher bar Original period gold leaf frame Overall size framed 21 x 18 in
Canvas, Oil
Charming Italian Tuscan villa landscape with cow and pheasant. 19th century
Located in GB
A luminous and atmospheric view of a grand Tuscan villa nestled within rolling countryside, painted in the refined Romantic tradition of the 19th-century Italian school. Bathed in wa...
Canvas, Oil
"Woman with Violets" Margaret Longstreith Baugh, Early Female American Artist
Located in New York, NY
Margaret Longstreith Baugh Woman with Violets, circa 1901 Signed lower right Oil on canvas 26 3/4 x 13 3/4 inches Provenance Walker-Cunningham Fine Art, St. Louis, Missouri, 2007 Pr...
Canvas, Oil
Solothman on the Aase, Switzerland
By Eugene Schmidt
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Eugene Schmidt (German/American, 1919-2007) Title: Solothman on the Aase, Switzerland Year: Circa 1970 Medium: Oil on canvas board Board size: 10 x 8 inches Signature...
Oil
Port. Oil on canvas. 22.7x27.1 cm. Signed on the reverse
Located in Riga, LV
Vernet was born in Avignon. When only fourteen years of age he aided his father, Antoine Vernet (1689–1753), a skilled decorative painter, in the most important parts of his work. Th...
Canvas, Oil
$4,500
"Portrait of Fanny Adam" Mary Jane Peale, Mid-19th Century, Early Portrait
Located in New York, NY
Mary Jane Peale Portrait of Fanny Adam, 1857 A scanned photograph of the back of the canvas taken prior to relining shows the inscription "Fanny Adam / painted by / Mary J. Peale / P...
Canvas, Oil
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
“Matterhorn”
Located in Southampton, NY
Here for your consideration is a wonderfully detailed miniature painting of the Matterhorn. Signed and titled verso. Attributed to the artist William Archibald Wall. Dated 6/50 verso...
Oil, Fiberboard
$4,226Sale Price|20% Off
PLAUZEAU Painting Oil canvas French Academic Portrait of boy Early 20th century
Located in PARIS, FR
Alfred PLAUZEAU Avanton-Paché (Vienna), 1875 - Hendaye, 1918 Oil on oil 61 x 38 cm (75.5 x 52.5 cm with frame) Signed lower right "A. Plauzeau" Good condition (sevreal restoration, w...
Oil
Classic Still Life with Fan and Flowers
Located in New York, NY
Still Life, 20th Century Oil on board Sight: 16 1/4 x 19 in. Framed: 19 3/4 x 22 1/4 x 1 in.
Oil, Board
Pasture with Cows
By Rémy Cogghe
Located in Atlanta, GA
Born in Mouscron in the Belgian province of Hainaut, Cogghe attended the Academy of Roubaix where he studied under Constantin Mils. In 1876, Cogghe was admitted to the École Nationa...
Canvas, Oil
Landscape, Paysage aux Bories
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: Pierre Lavarenne (French, born 1928) Title: Landscape, Paysage aux Bories Year: Circa 1975 Medium: Oil on canvas Canvas size: 15 x 18.25 inches Signature: Signed lo...
Oil
Lion and Lioness On The Hunt
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
RÖTIG Georges-frédéric (1873-1961) Lion and Lioness On The Hunt Oil on canvas signed and dated 1933 lower right. The canvas is mounted in a frame called "Berain style” inherited fro...
Oil
$975Sale Price|45% Off
“Puerta Bisagra, Toledo”
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on artist board painting of the historic city of Toledo by the Australian artist, Robert Camm. Signed lower left and titled and dated verso, 1931. Th...
Oil, Board
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
“Dead Gull”
By John Duncan
Located in Southampton, NY
In original gold leaf pierced frame Signed and dated lower right 1902 Sight size 7.5 x 9.5 in
Paper, Watercolor
$5,200Sale Price|38% Off
“The Harem Girl”
By Konrad Filip
Located in Southampton, NY
Here for your consideration is an intriguing portrait of a young harem girl in costume by the German artist, Konrad Filip. Signed by the artist top right, Munich. Condition is very ...
Canvas, Oil
Sitting Pretty (Pomeranian Pups)
Located in Mc Lean, VA
Signed and dated '1901' lower left
Canvas, Oil
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
Black-Headed Gull
By John Duncan
Located in Southampton, NY
In original gold leaf pierced frame Signed and dated lower left 1902 Sight size 6 x 8 in
Paper, Watercolor
Picnic on the Hudson
Located in New York, NY
Picnic on the Hudson is a significant canvas painted circa 1860 as Whittredge was purposely transitioning his European training and experience into a purely American style and genre....
Canvas, Oil
Mexican School Mother and Child
Located in San Francisco, CA
Beautiful Mexican school painting of a mother carrying her child. It is a mixed medium on paper using what looks to be oil paint as well as oil, crayon and or pastel. Wonderfully exe...
Oil Crayon, Oil
French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - 7eme Symphonie
Located in Paris, IDF
Franck Bailleul is a French painter born in 1964 who lives & works in Abbeville, Normandy, France. He has exhibited nationally as well as in the United States and China. His wor...
Canvas, Oil
"Still Life with Figure"
Located in Southampton, NY
This painting is an oil on canvas mounted to a wood panel. It is signed with his monogram signature JTA lower right. The work is unframed. Axton was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kan...
Oil, Canvas
The gift of flowers / - The depth of allegory -
Located in Berlin, DE
Conrad Kiesel (1846-1921), The gift of flowers. Oil on wood, 43 x 35 cm, 69 x 61 cm (frame), signed at lower left "Conrad Kiesel pxt [pinxit]", about 1900. In a magnificent gilt stuc...
Oil
"Port. Batumi"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The painting "Port of Batumi" by Oleksandr Khrapachov is full of legends about the life of the corners of the Black Sea, where the sea ridges and mountain ridges grow together. Paint...
Canvas, Oil
$1,232Sale Price|25% Off
1974 oil painting still life of strawberries by British artist George Weissbort
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
George Weissbort (Belgian / British, 1928 – 2013) Strawberries Oil on canvasboard Signed and dated ‘G Weissbort 1974’ (lower right) 18.1/4 x 20.1/8 in. (46.3 x 51 cm.) George We...
Oil, Board
Sir Beauchamp, 1880-90 - oil paint, 73x62 cm, framed
Located in Nice, FR
Oil on canvas with its original frame.
Oil
French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - Humeurs Éthérisées
Located in Paris, IDF
Franck Bailleul is a French painter born in 1964 who lives & works in Abbeville, Normandy, France. He has exhibited nationally as well as in the United States and China. His wor...
Canvas, Oil
Mid-Century Americana "Good House Keeping Magazine", 1948
Located in Miami, FL
When the Wood Grows Dry "Good House Keeping Magazine" illustration Surreal depiction of a young mid-century girls social life Good House Keeping Magazi...
Board, Gouache
Muse, Women Portrait, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
By Ashot Yan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2016 Style: Portrait Surrealism, Title: Muse, Size: 19.5" x 19.5" x 0.8'' ...
Canvas, Oil
Portrait Max Surrealism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
By Ashot Yan
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ashot Yan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2017 Style: Portrait Surrealism, Title: Portrait Max, Size: 23.5" x 19.5" ...
Canvas, Oil
"Sakura is blooming"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
The painting "Sakura Blooms" is a true ode to spring, created outdoors in the heart of Transcarpathia. Oleksandr Khrapachov skillfully conveys all the beauty of cherry blossoms, whic...
Canvas, Oil
"The Informal Gathering" — 1913 Oil on Canvas Figurative Rural Landscape
By César Pattein
Located in Naples, Florida
"The Informal Gathering" by César Pattein (French, 1850–1931) is a signed and dated 1913 oil on canvas measuring 23 x 32 inches, depicting a charming rural scene of young girls gathe...
Oil, Canvas
Roses, Impressionism, Still Life, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Roses Size: 19.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' in...
Canvas, Oil
Vienna, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind, cityscape
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2015 Style: Impressionism Title: Vienna Size: 9" x 12" x 0.8'' inch,...
Canvas, Oil
Sunset, Seascape, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Sunset Size: 18" x 23.5" x 0.8'' inc...
Canvas, Oil
$1,500Sale Price|25% Off
Stack, Landscape Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Stack Size: 16" x 21" x 0.8'' inch, ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,500Sale Price|25% Off
Time of Seeding, Landscape, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Landscape, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressi...
Canvas, Oil
$1,050Sale Price|30% Off
Lavenders, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Lavenders Size: 15.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Oil
Summer Day Landscape, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Summer Day, Size: 9" x 13.5" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Oil
Flower Sellers, Figurative, Original Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Impressionism Title: Flower Sellers Size: 16" x 20" x 0.8'' inch, (41x51x2cm), Unframed, Stretched on wooden bar, Ready to Hang, Artist Bio Ara H. Hakobyan is an Armenian artist and art critic, Doctor of Sciences (arts, 2017), professor (2018) and a member of Artist Union of the Republic of Armenia (1999). Ara H. Hakobyan was born in 1973 in Yerevan in the family of art historian Hravard Hakobyan. In 1997 Mr. Hakobyan graduated from the Yerevan State Academy of Arts, Department of Painting. During 1997-2000 Ara Hakobyan...
Canvas, Acrylic
Flowers with a Statue, Still Life, Original Oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Impressionism Title: Flowers with a Statue Size: 24" x 30" x 0.8'' inch, (61x76x2cm), Unframed, Stretched on wooden bar, Ready to Hang, Artist Bio Ara H. Hakobyan is an Armenian artist and art critic, Doctor of Sciences (arts, 2017), professor (2018) and a member of Artist Union of the Republic of Armenia (1999). Ara H. Hakobyan was born in 1973 in Yerevan in the family of art historian Hravard Hakobyan. In 1997 Mr. Hakobyan graduated from the Yerevan State Academy of Arts, Department of Painting. During 1997-2000 Ara Hakobyan...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life in Blue and Yellow, Original Oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Impressionism Title: Still Life with Blue and Yellow Size...
Canvas, Oil
The Wave, Coastal, Impressionism, Original Oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2018 Style: Impressionism Title: The Wave Size: 16" x 20" x 0.8'' inc...
Canvas, Oil
Autumn in the Yard, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2017 Style: Impressionism Title: Autumn in the Yard Size: 18" x 14" x...
Canvas, Oil
Waves, Seascape, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2017 Style: Impressionism Title: Waves Size: 20" x 27.5" x 0.8'' inch...
Canvas, Oil
On the Rocks, Coastal, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2017 Style: Impressionism Title: On the Rocks Size: 24" x 25" x 0.8''...
Canvas, Oil
$452Sale Price|20% Off
Play on the Beach, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2017 Style: Impressionism Title: Play on the Beach Size: 11" x 14" x ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,300
Playing with Sand, Figurative, Coastal, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2016 Style: Impressionism Title: Playing with Sand Size: 22" x 28" x ...
Canvas, Oil
Young People on the Rocks, Figurative, Original Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2016 Style: Impressionism Subject: Young People on the Rocks Size...
Canvas, Acrylic
City Park, Impressionism, Original Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2019 Style: Impressionism Title: City Park Size: 16" x 20" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Acrylic
Winter Landscape Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2018 Style: Impressionism Subject: Winter Size: 20" x 28" x 0.8'' inc...
Canvas, Oil
A. Costa Woman original Figurative academician drawing painting
By A. Costa
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
Woman. original figurative academician drawing painting Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965 It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD. He was f...
Carbon Pencil
Antoni Costa Woman. original figurative Academician drawing painting
By A. Costa
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
woman. original figurative academician drawing painting Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965 It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD. He was ...
Carbon Pencil
$547Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Pelvic Girdle
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Pelvic Girdle Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on Paper Size: 19.75 (Height) x 12.75 (Width) Signed: No Cond...
Pencil
$547Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of Horse’s Head and Neck
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of Horse’s Head and Neck Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on Paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.75 (Width) Signed: No ...
Pencil
$547Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of Horse’s Limb
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of Horse’s Limb Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on Paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13 (Width) Signed: No Condition: G...
Pencil
$547Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Shoulder
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Shoulder Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.5 ...
Pencil
$465Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Limb
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Limb Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.75 (Width) Signed: No Condition: Lig...
Pencil, Color Pencil
$547Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Study of Children Watching Horses Cross a Bridge
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Study of Children Watching Horses Cross a Bridge Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Ink on card Size: 6.5 (Height) x 14.75 (Width) Signed: No Co...
Ink
Venice with characters
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
COUSIN Charles (1807-1887) Venice With Characters Oil on canvas signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 76 X 60 cm Dim frame : 96 X 83 cm COUSIN Charles (1807-188...
Oil
$1,232Sale Price|25% Off
1974 oil painting still life of squashes and grapes by British George Weissbort
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
George Weissbort (Belgian / British, 1928 – 2013) A SQUASH, A BUNCH OF GRAPES AND A GLASS OF WINE Oil on canvasboard 18.1/8 x 22 in. (46 x 55.7 cm.) George Weissbort was born in ...
Oil, Board