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Academic 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
Dance of the Nymphs
Dance of the Nymphs

Dance of the Nymphs

By Paul Desire Trouillebert

Located in New Orleans, LA

This lyrical landscape entitled Dance of the Nymphs was composed by the French Barbizon painter Paul Désiré Trouillebert. A joyful scene of nymphs dancing the morning fog, the work closely resembles an important work by the great Camille Corot, which is now housed at the Musée d'Orsay (Paris). Renowned for his unique individuality that toed the line between the traditional and modern, Corot and his landscapes helped pave the way for an entire generation of Impressionists who followed him. Trouillebert perfectly captures the poetic atmosphere of Corot’s groundbreaking works, while also imbuing this scene with a freshness and character that is all his own. Trouillebert's oil on canvas is exemplary of the tradition of historical painting. The work perfectly combines a realistic depiction of the natural world with a spirited romanticism as his idealized nymph figures frolic playfully beneath a crisp morning sky. As a whole, it is a lovely composition executed with a level of skill and artistry that proves Trouillebert's exceptional talent in the arts. Born in Paris in 1831, Paul Désiré Trouillebert was a student of the academic painters Ernest Hébert...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Chickens in the Farmyard in pair
Chickens in the Farmyard in pair

Chickens in the Farmyard in pair

By Claude Guilleminet

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

GUILLEMINET Claude (1821-1860) Chickens in the Farmyard Oils on wood panels in pair signed low New golden frames Dim wood panel (each) : 27 X 20 cm Dim frame (each) : 47 X 40 cm GU...

Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Paris, Boulevard Porte Saint Denis
Paris, Boulevard Porte Saint Denis

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...

Category

1920s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait (after Stubbs and Anon.)

Portrait (after Stubbs and Anon.)

By Shelley Reed

Located in Bozeman, MT

This Reed piece is of a horse painted on 6 separate sheets of oil paper. It is painted in the influence of the European artist Stubbs. This painting is oil on paper, and is monochrom...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Archival Paper

Divertimento in the Music Salon
Divertimento in the Music Salon

Divertimento in the Music Salon

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

GUIDI Giuseppe (1881-1931) Divertimento in the Music Salon Oil on canvas signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 70 X 100 cm Dim frame :...

Category

Early 1900s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

“The Drunk ” 17th Century  Dutch Oil Painting On Panel
“The Drunk ” 17th Century  Dutch Oil Painting On Panel

“The Drunk ” 17th Century Dutch Oil Painting On Panel

Located in Jacksonville, FL

The Drunk" is an oil on panel painting created by Dutch school student. This artwork provides viewers with a captivating glimpse into the past, offering a detailed and vivid portraya...

Category

17th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

The walk in Luxembourg Garden in Paris, also called "The Privileged"
The walk in Luxembourg Garden in Paris, also called "The Privileged"

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - Au Feu!

French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - Au Feu!

Located in Paris, IDF

Artwork located in Los Angeles, USA. Franck Bailleul is a French painter born in 1964 who lives & works in Abbeville, Normandy, France. He has exhibited nationally as well as in th...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Young Lady and Cupid in The Park
Young Lady and Cupid in The Park

Young Lady and Cupid in The Park

By Hans Zatzka

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 Paintings

Materials

Oil

Solitude
Solitude

Solitude

By Guillaume Seignac

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 Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Three Fishermen in a Boat Watercolor, 20th Century American Sporting Art
Three Fishermen in a Boat Watercolor, 20th Century American Sporting Art

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...

Category

20th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Taxi Service Ashot, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting
Taxi Service Ashot, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting

Taxi Service Ashot, Figurative Surrealism, Original oil Painting

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: 2014 Style: Figurative Surrealism, Subject: Taxi Service Ashot, Size: 27.5...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Leaves II, Oil Painting

Leaves II, Oil Painting

By Elizabeth Zanzinger

Located in Denver, CO

Elizabeth Zanzinger's (US based) "Leaves II" is an oil painting that depicts yellow Fall leaves with a cream colored background Elizabeth Zanzinger is an award-winning painter with an enthusiastic international following. She developed her artistic voice through her studies at the Aristides Atelier and Gage Academy of Fine Art in Seattle. Elizabeth finished her education with a fellowship award (Grand Prize, 2nd Annual Utrecht Art...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

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

A Party To The Castle in 18th Century
A Party To The Castle in 18th Century

A Party To The Castle in 18th Century

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

A Party To The Castle in the 18th Century Oil on canvas with a signature G.Weiss low left Old frame regilded Dim canvas : 46 X 38 cm Dim frame : 66 X 58 cm

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

"Woman Selling Fruit Oil on Canvas, Costumbrist Realism, 1970s"
"Woman Selling Fruit Oil on Canvas, Costumbrist Realism, 1970s"

"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...

Category

1970s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Table Settings With Orchids, Painting 19th Century
Table Settings With Orchids, Painting 19th Century

Table Settings With Orchids, Painting 19th Century

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

DESCHIENS – ASTRUC (1861) Table settings with Orchids Oil on canvas signed down right Frame gilded with gold leaves Dim canvas : 82 X 116 cm Dim Frame : 107 X 141 cm DESCHIENS – ASTRUC Pauline Hélène (1861-NC) French school 19th - 20th century Born the 25th of August 1861 in Angers Painter of flowers and marines. Pupil of Pierre Bourgogne...

Category

1890s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

“Classic Sailboats”
“Classic Sailboats”

“Classic Sailboats”

Located in Southampton, NY

Beautiful, original watercolor on archival paper of two classic American sailboats by the well known marine artist, Ron Saporito Signed by the artist lower right. Condition is excel...

Category

1970s Academic Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Italian Woman in Cloak Costume Study Pencil Drawing 19th Century Figure
Italian Woman in Cloak Costume Study Pencil Drawing 19th Century Figure

Italian Woman in Cloak Costume Study Pencil Drawing 19th Century Figure

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Title:Italian Woman in Cloak Costume Study Pencil Drawing 19th Century Figure Medium: original graphite pencil drawing on artists paper image size: 13.25 x 10.25 inches (height x wid...

Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Pencil, Graphite

Mid-20th Century Framed Allegorical Oil Painting 'The Temptation' on Canvas
Mid-20th Century Framed Allegorical Oil Painting 'The Temptation' on Canvas

Mid-20th Century Framed Allegorical Oil Painting 'The Temptation' on Canvas

By Benjamin II Vautier

Located in Genève, GE

Allegorical Garden Scene (The Temptation) — Signed Oil on Canvas, 20 Century Swiss School Dimension without frame : 81 x 80.5 x 4 cm A refined and evocative oil on canvas by Swiss painter Benjamin Vautier, depicting an allegorical scene traditionally interpreted as The Temptation. The composition presents a young shepherd-like figure offering a fruit to a nude female — an allusion to Adam and Eve — while two additional female figures observe, set within an idyllic, Edenic landscape populated by symbolic fauna, including a striking white peacock. Vautier demonstrates exceptional sensitivity in the modeling of the human form, rendered with academic precision softened by a poetic, almost symbolist atmosphere. The lush vegetation, filtered light, and harmonious palette of deep greens, warm flesh tones, and earthy hues create a serene yet subtly charged narrative space. The artist’s controlled brushwork and nuanced tonal transitions reflect his training within the European academic tradition while revealing a distinct personal lyricism. Signed lower right, the painting embodies the 20th-century fascination with classical mythology, biblical allegory, and Arcadian pastoral themes. Works of this subject and quality are increasingly sought after for both private collections and sophisticated interior settings. Benjamin Vautier painting, Swiss 20th century painting, antique oil painting signed, European academic painting, mythological oil painting, allegorical painting 20th century, Adam and Eve painting, Eden garden scene painting, classical nude painting...

Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

traditional English painting Horse in a stable
traditional English painting Horse in a stable

traditional English painting Horse in a stable

By English School

Located in GB

This painting presents a quietly dignified portrait of a horse, rendered with a restraint and sensitivity that places it firmly within the tradition of British sporting and animal pa...

Category

19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Morning News Early 19th-century Realism: Antique Oil Painting on Wood Panel
The Morning News Early 19th-century Realism: Antique Oil Painting on Wood Panel

The Morning News Early 19th-century Realism: Antique Oil Painting on Wood Panel

By William Wallace Gilchrist

Located in Jacksonville, FL

Provenance: Exhibited at Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, 1911 #229 Description: William Wallace Gilchrist (1879-1926) was an American painter known for his captivating depictions of everyday life scenes and his ability to capture the ambiance and aesthetic of the late 19th century. Born in Philadelphia, Gilchrist showed an early passion for art and pursued his artistic education at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Gilchrist’s artwork often revolved around intimate domestic settings, where he skillfully portrayed the beauty and tranquility of ordinary moments. His painting “The Morning News...

Category

Early 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

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

Two Landscapes in Pair
Two Landscapes in Pair

Two Landscapes in Pair

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Paul ARMANDI (19th Century) Wood Landscapes by the river Oils on canvas in pair signed low right New golden frames Canvas : 65 X 40 cm Frame : 83 X 58 cm Paul ARMANDI is one of ...

Category

1880s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Musician
The Musician

The Musician

Located in New Orleans, LA

Alfred Weber 1859-1922 I Swiss The Musician Signed “Alfred Weber” (lower left) Oil on panel This work by Swiss ecclesiastical genre painter Alfred Weber, best known for his humorous and meticulously detailed paintings, features a cardinal enjoying his leisure time. Weber's talent for rendering opulent interiors and his keen sense of comic narrative are evident in this painting. The cardinal, looking blissfully content, sits in his lavish living space playing the violin, accompanied by a flutist. Alfred Charles Weber...

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Lady at Dressing Table - Original Painting
Lady at Dressing Table - Original Painting

Lady at Dressing Table - Original Painting

By Delphin Enjolras

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

"Lady at dressing table" Oil on canvas signed and dated right below 1929 Old original frame gild with leaves Dim canvas : 72 x 56 cm Dim frame : 92 X 80 cm ENJOLRAS Delphin (1857-...

Category

1920s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Potted daffodils - Still life oil on canvas
Potted daffodils - Still life oil on canvas

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

Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Napoléon II
Portrait of Napoléon II

Portrait of Napoléon II

Located in New Orleans, LA

The son of the legendary Napoléon Bonaparte, Napoléon François Charles Joseph, takes a spirited stance in this remarkable oil painting attributed to the Austrian portraitist Johann Peter Krafft. Believed to have been exhibited at the Exposition Universelle of 1900 in Paris, this work stands as a testament to both Austrian artistry and the legacy of one of the most powerful men in history. After Napoléon's exile to the island of Elba in 1814, his son was seen by many of his supporters as the last hope of France. The child was named the ruler of half of Europe, holding the titles of Napoléon II...

Category

Early 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Waiting, Figurative Art, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Waiting, Figurative Art, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind

Waiting, Figurative Art, 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: 2012 Style: Impressionism Subject: Waiting, Size: 18" x 14" x 0.8'' ...

Category

2010s Academic Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still Life composition
Still Life composition

Still Life composition

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

Jacques DELANOY (1820-1890) Still Life Fruits and vegetables Oil on canvas signed and dated 1890 low left Old frame regilded with leaves Dim canvas : 41 X 34 cm Dim frame : 53 X 44 ...

Category

1890s Academic Paintings

Materials

Oil

Two Marines in Pair
Two Marines in Pair

Two Marines in Pair

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

BURLING Gilbert (1843-1875) Two oil on wood panel signed low right Showing scenes of fishing by the sea Frames giglded with leaves Size wood panel : 22 X 41 cm (each) Size frame : 33...

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Paintings

Materials

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.