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Academic Paintings

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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.  

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Style: Academic
"The ribbons bent"
"The ribbons bent"

"The ribbons bent"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

Located in Edinburgh, GB

The picture "Stozhki nakhilis" transports the viewer to the winter fairy tale of Transcarpathia, where a sunny day envelops the snow-covered slopes of the mountains with warm rays. O...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Port. Batumi"
"Port. Batumi"

"Port. Batumi"

By Oleksandr Khrapachov

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Jupiter and Mercury received by Philemon and Baucis
Jupiter and Mercury received by Philemon and Baucis

Jupiter and Mercury received by Philemon and Baucis

Located in New York, NY

Canvas size: 57 3/4 x 45 1/2 inches A striking and impressive French Academic painting in a high quality Italian style gold leaf frame. Gorguet was an Academic French artist who was trained by Boulanger, Gerome, Bonnat and Morot. His academic training was so strong that he was asked by the Opera House to illustrate many of their posters and he made his living illustrating many books of the time. In the market today this is most of what circulates and comes to light by the artist. He was ultimately made a professor of Drawings at L’Institut. However, Gorguet was also a Symbolist artist and did works aligned with the Art Nouveau movement. Many of these works are quite impressive but rarely have surfaced in the art market. Jupiter and Mercury Received by Philemon and Baucis is more of an Allegorical work and Gorguet switched gears to do a painting which would garner International attention at the important Concourse du Prix de Rome competition. 1891 was a year where the competition would be stiff and he knew he had to do an impressive painting with a compelling historical or allegorical content. In this painting, Gorguet is depicting their Jupiter and Mercury’s arrival at their home and the indication that Philemon and Baucis will share what they have with them despite their poverty-stricken means. The technical execution of this work is exceptional as the figurative work is done masterfully and any small detail within the canvas demonstrates tremendous attention of subtlety of tone and modeling. An example is the strand of cloth that crosses Jupiters chest and the delicate shades of pink and gray and how it is modeled. More than ever, the academic artists of this period are to be appreciated for the quality and creativeness of their work. And the timelessness of these classical allegories are still applicable to our lives today. So we predict a turn back toward work like this as qualitatively we know it will never be done again. Story of Jupiter and Mercury Visiting Philemon and Baucis (one interpretation) According to ancient Roman mythology and Ovid's Metamorphoses (8.631, 8.720.), Philemon and Baucis had lived out their long lives nobly, but in poverty. Jupiter, the Roman king of the gods, had heard of the virtuous couple, but based on all his previous experiences with humans, he had serious doubts as to their goodness. Jupiter was about to destroy mankind but was willing to give it one final chance before starting over again. So, in the company of his son Mercury, the wing-footed messenger god, Jupiter went about, disguised as a worn and weary traveler, from house to house among the neighbors of Philemon and Baucis. As Jupiter feared and expected, the neighbors turned him and Mercury away rudely. Then the two gods went to the last house...

Category

1890s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Provocative 19th Century Folk Art painting of a young boy holding thorny flowers
Provocative 19th Century Folk Art painting of a young boy holding thorny flowers

Provocative 19th Century Folk Art painting of a young boy holding thorny flowers

Located in Colfax, CA

A great 19th century folk art painting of a young boy posed, carefully holding thorny flowers between two fingers. His belt buckle has initials monogrammed, the last being an 'A' pos...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Feeding the Young
Feeding the Young

Feeding the Young

By Edmund Adler

Located in Mc Lean, VA

A rural interior scene by Austrian artist Edmund Adler. The scene is typical of Adler's paintings of Austrian culture and rural life. It is full of gemütlichkeit.

Category

1930s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

In the diner

In the diner

Located in Roma, RM

Antonio Maria Fabrés y Costa (Barcelona 1854 - Rome 1938), In the Restaurant (1880) Oil painting on panel 14 x 21 cm signed and dated on the right.

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Orientalist Scenes in Pair - Dutch Painting 19th Century
Orientalist Scenes in Pair - Dutch Painting 19th Century

Orientalist Scenes in Pair - Dutch Painting 19th Century

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

VAN WYK Henri (1833-NC) signed HENRI Orientalist scenes in pair Oil on wood panel signed low left Old frame re-gilded with gold leaves Dim wood : 22 X 41 cm Dim frame : 33 X 55 cm V...

Category

1880s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Stony Brook Village
Stony Brook Village

Stony Brook Village

By Marc Dalessio

Located in Sag Harbor, NY

Dalessio faithfully depicts a Long Island town, picturesque with a large white church in the background. Marc Dalessio was born in 1972 in Los Angeles, California. Even in his earlie...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Portrait of a boy 1865
Portrait of a boy 1865

Portrait of a boy 1865

By Carl Gutsch

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Carl GUTSCH (19th Century) Portrait of a young Boy Oil on canvas signed low right and dated 1865 Old Original frame gilded with Leaves Dim canvas : 127 X 84 cm Dim Frame : 157 X 114 ...

Category

1860s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sexy Woman in a Swamp  Storm - Pulp  Magazine,  Hispanic Artist, Mid Century
Sexy Woman in a Swamp  Storm - Pulp  Magazine,  Hispanic Artist, Mid Century

Sexy Woman in a Swamp Storm - Pulp Magazine, Hispanic Artist, Mid Century

By Rafael DeSoto

Located in Miami, FL

Rafael Maria de Soto y Hernandez was born February 18, 1904 in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. It's high drama in the swamp. Woman in the Swamp is a masterfully executed example of Pulp Art and showcases Rafael DeSoto's full command of academic painting. DeSoto did pulp covers up until the industry's demise in the 1950s for such magazines as Adventure, Argosy, Black Mask, Captain Zero, Crack Detective, Fantastic Novels, 15-Story Detective, Fifteen Western Tales, New Detective, Smashing Detective, and Walt Coburn's Western Magazine. He also painted many covers and interior story illustrations for men's adventure magazines, such as Action For Men, Adventure, Battle Cry, For Men Only...

Category

1950s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

Mountain Landscape with Animals and Figures
Mountain Landscape with Animals and Figures

Mountain Landscape with Animals and Figures

Located in Atlanta, GA

A student of Regnault and of Bertin, Jean-Charles Joseph Rémond exhibited at the Salon from 1814 to 1848. He was awarded his first grand prize in 1821 for "L'enlevement de Proserpin...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lion and Lioness On The Hunt
Lion and Lioness On The Hunt

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...

Category

1930s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Across the River by Sir David Murray
Across the River by Sir David Murray

Across the River by Sir David Murray

By Sir David Murray

Located in New Orleans, LA

Sir David Murray, R.A., H.R.S.A., R.S.W., R.I. 1849-1933 • Scottish Across the River Signed and dated D. Murray 1907 (lower left) Signed and inscribed “Across the River/by David M...

Category

Early 20th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Girl with Bouquet
Girl with Bouquet

Girl with Bouquet

Located in Mc Lean, VA

Monogrammed lower right

Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Figures at a mill
Figures at a mill

Figures at a mill

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

English school, 18th Century Figures at a mill Gouache on paper 4.5/8 x 7.1/2 in. (11.8 x 19 cm.)

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Paper, Gouache

The Connoisseur By Georges Croegaert
The Connoisseur By Georges Croegaert

The Connoisseur By Georges Croegaert

By Georges Croegaert

Located in New Orleans, LA

Georges Croegaert 1848-1923 Belgian The Connoisseur Signed "Georges Croegaert Paris" (lower right) Oil on panel A Cardinal peers through a magnifying glass at gilded treasures in...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Landscape With Washerwoman
Landscape With Washerwoman

Landscape With Washerwoman

By Theodore Levigne

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

LEVIGNE Théodore (1848-1912) Landscape With Washerwoman Oil on canvas signed low right Old Frame regilded with leaves Dimensions canvas : 55 X 73 cm Dimensions frame : 70 X 85 cm LE...

Category

1880s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

A. LEONARD - Flower Girl and her Dog
A. LEONARD - Flower Girl and her Dog

A. LEONARD - Flower Girl and her Dog

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

A. LEONARD (19th-20th) Flower Girl and Her Dog Oil on canvas signed low left Old Frame regilded with Leaves Dim canvas : 46 X 38 cm Dim Frame : 55 X 46 cm

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Watercolour painting by Henry Ryland
Watercolour painting by Henry Ryland

Watercolour painting by Henry Ryland

By Henry Ryland

Located in London, GB

This watercolour painting is by the English artist Henry Ryland, celebrated in his day and since for his Neoclassical pictures. Ryland was a contemporary of Lawrence Alma-Tadema and ...

Category

Early 20th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Board, Laid Paper

Istambul View with characters
Istambul View with characters

Istambul View with characters

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Alfredo CALDINI (1917 - NC) View of Istambul with Characters Oil on canvas signed low left Old frame regilded with gold leaves Size canvas : 46 X 65 cm...

Category

1950s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Blond Girl with Basket of Flowers "Rosemary's Playmate"
Blond Girl with Basket of Flowers "Rosemary's Playmate"

Blond Girl with Basket of Flowers "Rosemary's Playmate"

By Francis Luis Mora

Located in Miami, FL

This is an almost lifesize portrait of a charming blond holding a basket of freshly picked flowers. The girl set against a verdant landscape with blue sky and cumulus clouds. The subject is the friend of the artist's daughter. 78 x 42in. framed. This joyful image of youth looks better in person due to its impressive size and clearly will be a statement piece in any home. Francis Luis Mora ( ( Uruguayan / American, 1874-1940) Studied under Edmund Charles Tarbell...

Category

1910s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 6
French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 6

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 6

By Pascal Plazanet

Located in Paris, IDF

Rapidography & acrylic on paper + white frame Pascal Plazanet is a French artist born in 1963 who lives and works in Paris, France. For more 30 years, he constantly uses rapidograph pens in his artworks on paper or onto canvas. The rapidograph is a special pen with a capillary tubular tip in which flows a black pigment, an ancient drawing tool...

Category

1990s Academic Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 12
French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 12

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Provencale No. 12

By Pascal Plazanet

Located in Paris, IDF

Rapidography & acrylic on paper + white frame Pascal Plazanet is a French artist born in 1963 who lives and works in Paris, France. For more 30 years, he constantly uses rapidograph pens in his artworks on paper or onto canvas. The rapidograph is a special pen with a capillary tubular tip in which flows a black pigment, an ancient drawing...

Category

1990s Academic Paintings

Materials

Paper, Acrylic

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Chateau de Foix
French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Chateau de Foix

French Contemporary Art by Pascal Plazanet - Chateau de Foix

By Pascal Plazanet

Located in Paris, IDF

Rapidography & ink on paper + white frame Pascal Plazanet is a French artist born in 1963 who lives and works in Paris, France. For more 30 years, he constantly uses rapidograph pens in his artworks on paper or onto canvas. The rapidograph is a special pen with a capillary tubular tip in which flows a black pigment, an ancient drawing tool...

Category

1990s Academic Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink

The Potter
The Potter

The Potter

Located in New Orleans, LA

Léon Olivié-Bon 1863-1901 French The Potter Oil on canvas Signed and dated "Olivie-Bon 1888" (lower right) This monumental masterpiece by French artist Léon Olivié-Bon is one of ...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Academic paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic 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 paintings 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, pink, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Karen Darbinyan, Mark Beard, Kyna de Schouël, and Elizabeth Zanzinger. 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 paintings, so small editions measuring 4.14 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $140 and tops out at $700,000, while the average work sells for $4,850.