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.
Park, Summer 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: Park Size: 12" x 17" x 0.8'' inch, (...
Canvas, Oil
$540Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Leg
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of a Horse's Leg Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pen and Pencil on paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.25 (Width) Signed: No Conditi...
Pencil, Pen
Chinese Monastery, 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: Chinese Monastery Size: 16" x 20...
Canvas, Acrylic
$800Sale Price|20% Off
Symphony of Flowers, 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: Symphony of Flowers Size: 24" x ...
Canvas, Acrylic
$2,572Sale Price|20% Off
Woman with Cameo, Academic Oil Painting, Mid-19th Century, Framed
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Original frame This portrait of a woman with a cameo is a beautiful example of 19th-century classical painting, showcasing the refinement and elegance of its time. The...
Oil
Alfred Copestick, Fort Hamilton from the Narrows, New York, 1857
Located in Queens, NY
Alfred Copestick (1837–1859) Fort Hamilton from the Narrows, New York, 1857 Oil on canvas, in the original giltwood frame 14 ¼ x 20 ⅛ in. (canvas) Signed lower left: A. Copestick NY 1857 Painted when Copestick was only twenty years old, Fort Hamilton from the Narrows, New York captures both the military fortifications and maritime vitality of New York Harbor at mid-century. In the foreground, the fortress bastion commands the shoreline, while sail and steam vessels traverse the Narrows — the strategic waterway linking Upper New York Bay to the Atlantic. Copestick conveys not only the architectural solidity of Fort Hamilton but also the shifting atmosphere above, where cloud formations build and dissolve across a wind-driven sky. The painting is a remarkable marriage of documentary precision and romantic sensibility. The young artist’s brush imbues the fortress with weight and presence, yet the broader scene is alive with the transience of weather and the ceaseless motion of the sea. In its original giltwood frame, richly carved and preserving the period character, the canvas is a rare survival of a gifted hand cut short in its prime. This canvas reveals Copestick’s deep engagement with the maritime traditions of American art. The careful delineation of sailing vessels recalls the precision of James E. Buttersworth, while the atmospheric breadth echoes the influence of Fitz Henry Lane and John F. Kensett. The choice of subject — the strategic Narrows and its fortress — also reflects the national mood of the 1850s, when American identity was bound up with its coasts, harbors, and defenses. The romantic skies and dramatic contrasts suggest the impact of the Hudson River School, particularly the legacy of Thomas Cole and Asher B...
Canvas, Oil
$900
Beautiful Day, 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: 2017 Style: Impressionism Title: Beautiful Day Size: 20" x 26" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Oil
BARRIER Gustave - Painting Bunch of Flowers
By Gustave Barrier
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
BARRIER Gustave (1871-1953) Bunch of Flowers Oil on card signed upper left Old original frame re-gilded with gold leaves Dim card : 56 X 46 cm Dim fr...
Oil
$432Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Eyes
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Eyes Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Acrylic on Paper Size: 18.25 (Height) x 14.75 (Width) Signed: No Condition: G...
Acrylic
The Musician
By Theodore Ceriez
Located in Paris, Île-de-France
Theodore Ceriez Belgian, 1832–1904 The Musician Oil on panel Signed T. Ceriez lower right 24.3 × 18.9 cm Probably executed c. 1865–80 Provenance Arthur Tooth & Sons, London, s...
Oil, Panel
"Sailboats in a Bay" John Ross Key, American Landscape, Skyscape, Maritime Scene
Located in New York, NY
John Ross Key Sailboats in a Bay Signed lower right Oil on canvas 15 x 26 inches Provenance Private collection, St. Simon's Island, Georgia Private Collection, by descent Private Co...
Canvas, Oil
Painting animals interior cats
By Alfred Arthur Brunel De Neuville
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Alfred BRUNEL NEUVILLE (1852-1941) Interior with cats Oil on canvas signed low right Old frame re-gilded with gold leaves Dim canvas : 54 X 75 cm Dim frame : 74 X 85 cm Alfred BRUNE...
Oil
$1,148Sale Price|33% Off
"Woman Selling Fruit Oil on Canvas, Costumbrist Realism, 1970s"
Located in Sitges, 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...
Canvas, Oil
$29,850Sale Price|39% Off
A Fine & Large 19th Century Oil on Canvas "New Year's Day at The Grandfather's"
Located in LA, CA
Friedrich Ortlieb (German, 1839-1909) A fine and large oil on canvas titled "New Year's Day at The grandfather's". The joyful indoor family scene depicting a Christmas and new year's...
Oil
$864Sale Price|20% Off
Anatomy Drawing of a Horse - Original French Artwork Equestrian Anatomy Study
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Anatomy of a Horse by Robert Ladou (French 1929-2014) original drawing stuck on card in black folder/ thick paper, unframed drawing: 12 x 17.75 ...
Charcoal, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
$640Sale Price|20% Off
Potted daffodils - Still life oil on canvas
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canvas Gilded wooden frame 70,5 x 48 x 4,5 cm Unsigned
Oil
Portrait Of Jean Gerard Vonderbank & Family, Early 19th-Century Oil Painting
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This finely observed early 19th-century oil painting, attributed to German artist Carl Adolf Mende (1807-1857), depicts Jean Gerard Vonderbank, a German surveyor, instrument designer...
Canvas, Oil
$2,737Sale Price|20% Off
Young Italian woman in traditional dress holding a tambourine
Located in Genève, GE
This superb 19th-century portrait depicts a young Italian woman in traditional dress, holding a tambourine, a symbol of music and popular celebration. Dressed in a white shirt with ...
Oil, Canvas
"Montauk Point Lighthouse" Antique 19th Century Academic Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Signed lower left corner Painting Size: 9.13″ x 18.20″ Frame Size: 14.13″ x 20.13″ Francis Augustus Silva (1835-1886) was a prominent American artist renowned for his remarkable ability to paint boats and seascapes...
Canvas, Oil
$16,000Sale Price|20% Off
Brothel, Groovy Harem with Courtesan, Concubine, Paramour, Playboy Magazine
Located in Miami, FL
George Hirsch - He gets his inspiration from the prototype of neo-classic painting for this groovy 1970s brothel. This is a complex figural work with m...
Gouache, Illustration Board
$22,287
Large British turn of the 20th Century oil painting of boys at the rockpool
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A stunning, large scale, oil painting by British artist Harry Watson of bathers at a rockpool. HARRY WATSON RWS ROI (BRITISH, 1871-1936) BATHERS AT A ROCKPOOL oil on canvas signed ...
Canvas, Oil
Three Fishermen in a Boat Watercolor, 20th Century American Sporting Art
By John Whorf
Located in Marco Island, FL
A masterful example of John Whorf at the height of his powers, this large and luminous watercolor depicts three fishermen on a calm, silver-blue lake or bay, their figures rendered w...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
“Montalcino”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on board painting of the historic town of Montalcino in Italy by the well known American artist, David Buckley Good. Signed by the artist lower left. Titled verso. Gr...
Oil, Board
$3,582Sale Price|20% Off
Lively Conversation at a Balustrade, 19th Century Oil on Canvas
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas Dimensions with frame : 83 x 101.5 x 3.5 cm This 19th-century painting depicts a genre scene, typical of the academic and romantic art of the period. It shows three fi...
Oil
Frederick Goodall R.A Bedouins in the Desert Oil on Canvas Orientalist Painting
Located in Plainview, NY
Frederick Goodall R.A Bedouins in the Desert Oil on Canvas Orientalist Painting , unsigned This evocative Victorian Orientalist oil on canvas by Frederick Goodall R.A. (British, 18...
Oil
$4,300
“Self Portrait Post Panic Attack ” Oil Painting, Realist, Melancholic, Signed
By Rolf Hellem
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
"Self Portrait Post Panic Attack" is an impressionist self portrait of artist Rolf Hellem. He is painted from the neck up, staring directly at the viewer. The bare linen canvas and a...
Linen, Oil
"Red Bell II, " Oil painting
By Thane Gorek
Located in Denver, CO
Thane Gorek's (US based) "Red Bell II" is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a red bell pepper halved, so that it's seeds and core are exposed...
Oil, Board
French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - Grand Angle
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 Unite...
Oil, Panel
$8,500
"Harvest" Samuel S. Carr, American Pastoral Scene, Child in Wheat Field
By Samuel S. Carr
Located in New York, NY
Samuel S. Carr Harvest Signed lower left Oil on canvas 16 x 12 inches Samuel S. Carr was an American pastoral and landscape painter. Originally from England, he trained at the Roy...
Canvas, Oil
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 ...
Pencil
“Checco vuol un Soldo” (Checco wants a Penny)
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on wooden panel painting of a young child begging for a coin. The painting is attributed to the hand of Leopoldo Dumini. Circa 1865...
Wood Panel, 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
Newfoundland with a Kitten by Otto Eerelman
Located in New Orleans, LA
Otto Eerelman 1839-1926 Dutch Newfoundland with a Kitten Oil on canvas Signed “O. Eerelman” (lower right) This monumental painting is by the celebrated Dutch artist Otto Eerelman...
Canvas, Oil
$12,000
"The Cedars" Lemuel Maynard Wiles, American Scene, Estate, Skyscape
Located in New York, NY
Lemuel Wiles The Cedars, 1869 Signed and dated lower right Oil on canvas 12 1/8 x 20 1/4 inches Lemuel Maynard Wiles (1826–1905) was an American landscape painter associated with t...
Canvas, Oil
A Very Fine Danish 19th Century Oil on Canvas "The Sewing Room" (Systue)
Located in LA, CA
Wenzel Ulrik Tornøe (Danish, 1844-1907) A very fine and large oil on canvas titled "Systue" ("The Sewing Room"). The finely executed artwork depicting the interior of a sewing room w...
Oil
Cavalry Charge 1st Empire - French realism by Edouard Detaille - French art
Located in PARIS, FR
Conditions : Very good original conditions including a beautiful frame. This Framed under glass artwork has a Length of 90 x 68 cm. Rare composition for sale is an exceptionnel pie...
Tempera, Watercolor, Gouache
$6,500
Antique Female American Orientalist painting ARABS PRAYING outside MOSQUE
Located in New York, NY
Maria Martinetti was born in 1864 in Italy. Martinetti attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Rome, studying under the Orientalist painter Gustavo Simoni. Martinetti exhibited works in...
Watercolor
$10,000
Nude Boy Found in Barn, Academic Gouache on Board, Circa 1910-1919
Located in Miami, FL
Norman Mills Price depicts a handsome, nude blond boy with classical good looks. He is lying on his stomach in straw in the loft of a barn with his buttocks exposed. The artist captu...
Gouache, Board, Pencil
Homeward with Dog and Burden
Located in North Clarendon, VT
This finely painted 19th-century genre scene evokes the crisp chill of winter at the gloaming. As the last pale light glints across a frozen pond, one child hauls a bundle of kindlin...
Oil
$8,500
Profile of a Classical Warrior En Grisaille Oil on Canvas, 36x26 in
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Large En Grisaille Oil on Canvas by Philip Melville Courtney After Gregorio di Lorenzo — Profile of a Classical Warrior This commanding large-scale oil on canvas by American artist P...
Oil
$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
Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat 19th Century Large Antique Oil Painting on Canvas
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat The Painting is monogrammed bottom left side Provenance: Notes: This is the full scale version of Ruth in Pharoah's Fields exhibited at the Royal Academy (now lost). Exhibited at the Bristol Art Museum, Birmingham UK Private Collection, Detroit, MI Description: Sir Edwin Long (1829-1891) was a renowned British painter known for his historical and Orientalist artworks. Born in Bath, England, Long displayed exceptional artistic talent from an early age. He received formal training at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where he honed his skills and developed his distinctive style. One of Long’s oil paintings...
Canvas, Oil
"Croquet" John Cousins Lawrence, British, Coast, Playing in the Field
Located in New York, NY
John Cousins Lawrence Croquet Signed lower right and on the overlap Oil on canvas 25 x 30 inches
Canvas, Oil
'Peau d’Âne' Large 19th-Century French Allegorical Pastoral Painting
Located in New York, NY
Pastoral Scene with Young Woman and Turkeys Oil on canvas 118.5 × 153.5 cm The frame is extremelly heavy, better to sell without it. Signed low-right This large-scale and finely ex...
Canvas, Oil
Paire Flower Arrangement
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
MARTIN DES AMOIGNES, Elisabeth (1858-1936) Paire Flower Arrangement Oil on canvas signed New golden Frames Dim canvas : 110 X 32 cm Dim frame : 125 X 47 cm MARTIN des AMOIGNES, E...
Oil
Still Life, Flowers and Fruit
Located in New York, NY
A stunning and dramatic still life by noted Belgian 19th century artist, David De Noter. Framed in a complimentary Empire style 22 karat hand carved frame....
Canvas, Oil
"The Equestrian" Gene Pressler, Countryside Setting, American Society Portrait
By Gene Pressler
Located in New York, NY
Gene Pressler The Equestrian, circa 1925 Signed lower left Pastel on canvas 32 x 24 inches Gene Pressler was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, in 1893 or 1894, and lived in New Jers...
Canvas, Pastel
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
"John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn" Eastman Johnson, Prominent Gentleman Portrait
Located in New York, NY
Eastman Johnson John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, 1883 Initialed and dated lower left Oil on canvas 28 x 18 inches For many years the foremost genre painter in the United States, Eas...
Canvas, Oil
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
"Stil life with Lobster"
By Martha A. Brockway
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on canvas still life painting of a wine bottle along with a lobster. Signed lower left. Circa 1880. The painting is housed in its original monumental wood gesso and gilt Victoria...
Canvas, Oil
The Young Shepherdess: Late 19th Century Academic Oil Painting
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...
Oil
$7,429
La Couturiere - Academic Portrait Oil Painting by Tony Robert-Fleury
Located in Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Signed oil on canvas portrait circa 1890 by French academic painter Tony Robert-Fleury. The work depicts a young red-headed woman wearing in a white dress with blue trim. She is stti...
Canvas, Oil
"Still Life with Cherries, Grapes" Annie L. Morgan, Academic Fruit Still Life
Located in New York, NY
Annie L. Morgan Still Life with Cherries, Grapes, and Pomegranate, circa 1880 Signed lower left Oil on canvas 20 x 16 inches
Canvas, Oil
Leaves I, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Elizabeth Zanzinger's (US based) "Leaves I" is an oil painting that depicts yellow Fall leaves with a cream colored background Elizabeth Zanzinger...
Oil, Panel
“Voilier en Bretagne”
Located in Southampton, NY
“Voilier en Bretagne” or “Sailboat in Brittany” is an oil painting on a wooden panel by the French artist, Eugene Jacquet. Signed by the artist lower right. Circa 1880. Condition i...
Oil, Board
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...
Oil
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of a Woman in Red, Oil on Canvas, Academic Style, 1890s
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas. Signed upper right. A characteristic work by Henner, renowned for his masterful handling of sfumato and chiaroscuro to evoke atmosphere and depth. His subtle transiti...
Oil, Cardboard
19th-Century Dutch Pastoral Landscape with Cattle by Frederik Lodewijk Huygens
Located in Wien, AT
This exceptional 19th-century oil painting is a classic example of Romantic Realism and animalier art by the noted Dutch painter Frederik Lodewijk Huygens (1802-1887). The artwork b...
Canvas, Oil
Olivia Unveiling to Viola (from Twelfth Night)
Located in Mc Lean, VA
Exhibited: Birmingham Royal Society of Artists, 1879 “Autumn Exhibition of the Birmingham Royal Society of Artists.” The London Times, 25 August 1879. T...
Canvas, Oil
Paris, Boulevard Porte Saint Denis
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
FOURNIER Victor Alfred (1872-1924) "Paris, Porte Saint Denis" Oil on canvas signed lower right and dated 1924 Old frame gilded with leaf (fine gold) Canvas size: 40 X 30 cm Frame size: 58 X 48 cm FOURNIER Victor Alfred (1872-1924) French 20th century Born in Paris in 1872. Died in Paris in 1924 Painter of landscapes, seascapes, beach scenes, urban landscapes. Victor Fournier...
Oil
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...
Canvas, Oil