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Academic Art

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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Item Ships From: Europe
Style: Academic
Hunting Dog Portrait Pastel On Paper By Catherine Dammeron
Located in Gavere, BE
The artist Catherine Dammeron was born in 1976 in Wissembourg in Alsace. She made her passion for pastel drawing her job. Artist going against the current, this resident of Yonne fav...
Category

1990s Academic Art

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nudo maschile nella posa di un satiro dormiente. XIX secolo
Located in Firenze, IT
Disegno del nudo maschile. Dal 19 ° secolo Disegno su carta leggermente colorata. In buone condizioni. Il disegno rappresenta un uomo sdraiato, che si abbandona al sonno. In una posa...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Carbon Pencil

Academic Study of the Head of Paris by Canova (Gypsoteca plaster copy)
Located in Firenze, IT
Academic Study of the Head of Paris by Canova (plaster copy) 57 cm x 46.5 cm Charcoal pencil drawing on matte paper. Excellent conservation conditions. Plaster casts from nineteenth...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Carbon Pencil

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 Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Academic drawing of classical bust sculpture. 19th century
Located in Firenze, IT
This 19th century Italian drawing of classical bust sculpture in plaster showcases expert chiaroscuro modeling in black and brown charcoal on paper. Technique: black and brown charc...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

Study of a male nude
Located in PARIS, FR
Constance CHARPENTIER (1767-1849) Study of a male nude Charcoal and highlights with white chalk Dimensions: 56.5 x 43.87 cm Provenance Private...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Charcoal

French academic drawing Pencil portrait man bust 19th
Located in PARIS, FR
Charles Louis MULLER Paris, 1815 – Paris, 1892 Dessin au crayon 50 x 38 cm Signé en bas à droite « Ch. L. Müller »
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Carbon Pencil

1900s French Atelier Life Drawing Academic Sculpture of Male Nude Figure
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Life study drawing original atelier drawing by the French artist, Jeanne Nachat (1898-1984) Nachat attended the prestigious Académie des Beaux-Arts in Pa...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Pencil, Charcoal

Henry Robert Robertson, Ave Maria, Etching
By Henry Robert Robertson
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This fine late 19th-century etching by British artist Henry Robert Robertson (1839-1921) depicts a couple worshipping a shrine to the Virgin Mary at sea. The original painting was ex...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Etching

Bacino San Marco
By Giuseppe Canella
Located in Roma, RM
Giuseppe Canella (Verona 1788 - Firenze 1847), Bacino San Marco Dipinto ad olio su tavola di cm 14 x 20 firmato in basso a sinistra.
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Maiden with hat
Located in Roma, RM
Luigi Preatoni (Novara 1845 - ?), Maiden with hat Marble bust 66 x 43 x 36 cm signed (L Preatoni) on edge of dress.
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Marble

Bust of veiled woman
Located in Roma, RM
Giulio Tadolini ( Rome 1849 - 1918 ) ( attr. to ), Bust of veiled woman Bronze 61 x 37 x 22 cm.
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Bronze

Portrait of a lawman in his study
Located in Roma, RM
Giuseppe Gandolfo (Catania 1792 - 1855), Portrait of a lawman in his study Oil painting on canvas 87 x 68 cm signed and dated 1831 (or 1851) lower left, always in the lower left co...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The plain of Palermo as seen from Monte Pellegrino
Located in Roma, RM
Giovanni Calamia Lombardo (Palermo 1849 - 1894) The plain of Palermo as seen from Mt. Pellegrino. Oil painting on panel 26 x 44 cm signed lower left.
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Riva d'Arno in Florence
Located in Roma, RM
Domenico Bresolin (Padua 1813 - Venice 1890), Riva d'Arno in Florence Oil on canvas applied to cardboard 26 x 40 cm. INFO: to get more information Publications D. Ritter, Venedig...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

Portrait of Raphael Gambogi
Located in Roma, RM
Lando Landozzi (Pisa 1887 - Livorno 1959), Raffaello Gambogi Oil painting on panel 62 x 40 cm signed lower right.
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Boy in a squero in Venice
Located in Roma, RM
Domenico Bresolin (Padua 1813 - Venice 1890), Boy in a squero in Venice Oil on canvas applied to cardboard 27 x 16 cm initialed (DB) lower left. Publications D. Ritter, Venedig in...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Cardboard

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 Art

Materials

Oil, Board

20th Century British watercolour of Cowdrey ruins, West Sussex by Muncaster
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Claude Muncaster (British, 1903-1974) Cowdray ruins, West Sussex Pencil and watercolour 12.1/2 x 9 in. (31.7 x 22.8 cm.) Provenance: Garton & Cooke, New Bond Street, London Exhibitio...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Echoes 3 - painting Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas
Located in Forest Hills, NY
Echoes 3 Composition with Two Male Nudes, oil on canvas, 35.5x19.5in / 90x50cm Part of Wings of Gods solo show, April 2024. Shipped as it is, stretched, directly from the artist...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Venice
By Alphonse Lecoz
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LECOZ (XIXe) "Venice" Oil on canvas signed low right New golden frame Dim canvas : 50 X 100 cm Dim frame : 80 X 130 cm
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

VOLTO DI DONNA - Stampa riproduzione Emilio Greco, anni 70
Located in Napoli, IT
Stampa riprodizione del disegno " Volto di Ragazza" realizzato dal disegnatore Emilio Greco.Firmato in basso a destra. Scultore italiano (Catania 1913 - Roma 1995). Trasferitosi a Ro...
Category

1970s Academic Art

Materials

Color

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 Art

Materials

Oil

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 Chassis Dim: 40 X 65 cm Frame Dim: 50 X 75 cm Paul ARMANDI is o...
Category

1880s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Outdoor Italian Stone Garden Sculptures of Roman Mythological subject of Apollo
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in Vicenza limestone of Apollo in Excellent condition from an estate of Veneto. Timeless decoration for your interior or garden. Measurements: St...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Limestone

The Goddess Hera - 19th Century Neoclassical Oil Painting Ancient Greek Myth
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘Hera’ by Eduard Niczky (1850-1919). The painting - which depicts the Greek queen of the gods in golden diadem and yellow robe - is signed by the artist and hangs in a newly commis...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Italian Mid 19th century White Carrara Marble bust. Portrait of young male.
Located in Firenze, IT
Italian Portrait White Marble Bust in a Heroic Attitude. Carrara statuary Marble. Tuscan school. Circa 1850.  Bust depicting a young man with bare shoulders. This model draws inspira...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Marble

Still life of summer flowers with portrait of a woman
Located in PARIS, FR
Marius VASSELON Saint-Etienne, 1841 - Paris, 1924 Still life of summer flowers with portrait of a woman Painting, oil on canvas Signed and dated 1864 lower left Painting: 50 x 60 cm ...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a woman, Tasie
Located in PARIS, FR
Jean Jules Antoine LECOMTE DU NOÜY Paris, 1842 - Paris, 1923 Portrait of a woman, Tasie Painting, oil on wood Signed, titled and dated 1876: "Tasie / Lecomte du Nouy / 76" Painting: ...
Category

1870s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Fair scene with actors
Located in PARIS, FR
French school circa 1815 Fair scene with actors Painting, oil on wood Unsigned Painting: 20 x 27 cm Period frame: 30 x 36.5 cm Very good condition
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Preparatory anatomical study for the figure of a man with hands on his face.
Located in Firenze, IT
Preparatory anatomical study for the figure of a man with hands on his face. Drawing of a medium-sized male nude. From the 19th century Drawing on slightly greyish colored paper. In ...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Gesso, Paper, Charcoal, Carbon Pencil

Composition with Two Male Nudes - painting Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Composition with Two Male Nudes", oil and silver leaf on canvas, 35.5x23.5in / 90x60cm Part of my Male Nude series. Shipped as it is, stretched, directly from the artist's studio.
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Echoes 2 - painting Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas
Located in Forest Hills, NY
Echoes 2 Composition with Two Female Nudes, oil on canvas, 35.5x19.5in / 90x50cm Part of WIngs of Gods, solo show. Shipped as it is, stretched, directly from the artist's studio.
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Lady in paris Street 1900
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEBAS Léonie (19th-20th) "Lady in Paris Street 1900" Oil on wood panel signed low right Old Frame regilded with gold leaves Dim panel : 16 X 22 cm Dim frame : 50 X 41 cm LEBAS Léoni...
Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

The Little Ballerina
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Alphonse PELLET (1853-1926) The Little Ballerina Oil on wood panel signed low right Old frame regilded with leaves Size panel : 30 X 43 cm - Size frame : 40 X 55 cm Alphonse PELLET...
Category

1880s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Passeggiata a cavallo a Trieste
Located in Roma, RM
Alfredo Tominz (Trieste 1854 – 1936), Passeggiata a cavallo a Trieste Dipinto ad olio su tela di cm 69 x 110 firmato e datato 1890 in basso a destra. Provenienza: Asta Stadion Trie...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait Painting Oil on Canvas by Joseph Badger
Located in Rome, IT
Joseph Badger (c. 1707–1765) was a portrait artist in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 18th century. This amazing painting depicting a young boy with a bird. oil on canvas cm 93 x73...
Category

18th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

British mid century watercolour and pen drawing of black and tan terrier dogs
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Mona Alizon Edmonds (British, circa 1944) The black and tans day Inscribed with title, signed and dated ‘May 1944 M. Alizon Edmonds.’ (lower edge) Pencil, watercolour and body colour...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

French school Drawing 18th Portrait Ténor SAINT AUBIN three chalks Paris Opéra
Located in PARIS, FR
French school of the 18th century Three pencils (pencil, red chalk, white chalk) on paper 27 x 18 cm (45 x 34 cm with frame) Inscription at bottom “Saint-Aubin de l’Académie de musique” Dated "1785" Augustin d'Herbez known as "Saint-Aubin" was a tenor and member of the Royal Academy of Music...
Category

1780s Academic Art

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Paper, Chalk

British mid century watercolour and pen drawing of black and tan terrier dogs
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Mona Alizon Edmonds (British, circa 1944) Black and tan terriers Watercolour on paper Signed, inscribed and dated ‘Black and tan terriers (minature) Dogs and Bitch. AM Edmonds. 19...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Portrait of woman
Located in PARIS, FR
French School of the 18th century Woman portrait Pastel on paper mounted on canvas Pastel: 46.5 x 63 cm (18.3 x 24.8 inches) Frame: 57 x 71 cm (22.4 x 28 inches) Very good condition ...
Category

1770s Academic Art

Materials

Pastel

Small Oil Painting From 1902 Called Birch Trees by the Stream
Located in Stockholm, SE
This enchanting painting called Birch Trees by the Stream by Alfred Thörne captures the serene beauty of a small forest scene, measuring just 27 x 17 cm. The artwork is a testament t...
Category

Early 1900s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

British mid century watercolour and pen drawing of children at a zoo with monkey
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Mona Alizon Edmonds (British, 1911 – 1983) Unfinished monkey business, 1944 Pen and watercolour 11.3/8 x 11.3/8 in. (28.7 x 28.7 cm.)
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor, Pen

British mid century pen drawing 'Bird's eye view' by Mona Alizon Edwards
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Mona Alizon Edmonds (British, circa 1944) Birds Eye View Pen on paper 9.7/8 x 10 in. (25.3 x 25.5 cm.)
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Pen

English School 19th Century, Julia Matthews in ‘The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein’
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A highly decorative and whimsical study of ‘The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein’ starring Julia Matthews as the title role, first shown in 1867. La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein is an ...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Pen

Bozzetto Accademico della Testa di un Cherubino.
Located in Firenze, IT
Bozzetto Accademico della Testa di un Cherubino. Disegno a carboncino e gessetto bianco su carta leggermente colorata di grigio. Seconda metà dell'Ottocento In buone condizioni. Prov...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Chalk, Pencil

Oedipus and Antigone, study of heads
Located in PARIS, FR
Neoclassical school circa 1800-10 Oedipus and Antigone, study of heads Painting, oil on spun wood panel Unsigned Painting: 33 x 42 cm (13 x 16.5 inches) Beautiful original frame: 44....
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Cleopatra Queen of Egypt 17' century Painting Oil on Canvas
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing painting of Cleopatra oil on canvas with a gilt wood frame. Attributed to Giuseppe Diamantini (Fossombrone 1621-Venice 1705) The dramatic subject of the painting depicts th...
Category

Late 17th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Woman smoking pencil drawing
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Frame size 74x61 cm.
Category

1950s Academic Art

Materials

Pencil

Young boy with carafe by Heinrich Rettig - Watercolor on paper 60x76 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Watercolor on paper sold with frame Total size with frame 73x89 cm Heinrich RETTIG is an artist born in Germany in 1859 and died in 1921. His works have been sold at public auction ...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor

Still life by Baldo Guberti - Oil on cardboard 32x45 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on cardboard sold with frame Wooden frame with glass Total size with frame 47x60 cm Baldo GUBERTI is an artist born in Italy in 1907 and died in 1974. His works have been sold ...
Category

1960s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

MARINA DI NAPOLI - Gouache anonymous artist, Italy 2000s
Located in Napoli, IT
Gouache, also known in the French form gouache, is a type of tempera color made heavier and more opaque by the addition of a white pigment mixed with gum arabic. The result is precis...
Category

1990s Academic Art

Materials

Gouache

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 Art

Materials

Oil

'Studies of a tabby cat', mixed media on paper by British artist John Sergeant
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
John Sargeant (British, 1937 – 2010) Studies of a tabby cat Mixed media Signed and dated ‘John Sargeant 1974 (lower right) 8.7/8 x 12in. (22.6 x 30.5 cm.)
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Study of a woman for the figure of Industry for a ceiling in Paris
Located in PARIS, FR
Pierre-Victor GALLAND Geneva, 1822 - Paris, 1892 Study of a woman for the figure of Industry for the ceiling of Jean-François Cail's hotel in Paris (actually town hall of the 8th arr...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

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) : 41 X 32 cm Dim frame (each) : 51 X 43 cm GU...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Zeus and Ganymede - original painting by Paula Craioveanu oil on canvas
Located in Forest Hills, NY
"Zeus and Ganymede", oil and silver leaf on canvas, 39x39in / 100x100cm Inspired by the legend of Zeus and Ganymede. Shipped as it is, stretched, directly from the artist's studio.
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Biedermeier Period Academic Life Study Male Nude Carrying a Staff circa 1826.
Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset
Eduard Braun. German ( b.1798 - d.1876 ). Academic Life Study of a Male Nude Carrying a Staff Pencil and Charcoal on Paper with Heightening on paper. Annotation (presumably a dedication) lower left. Paper size 24 inches x 16.5 inches ( 61cm x 42cm ). Frame size 30.1 inches x 22.2 inches ( 76.5cm x 56.5cm ). Available for sale; this academic life drawing of a male nude is by the German artist Eduard Braun and dates from around 1826. The drawing is presented and supplied in an interesting configuration with a modern twist (which is shown in these photographs). The drawing has been mounted between two sheets of Tru Vue Museum Glass® UV99 so that the wall or setting behind the hanging is visible and therefore provides the surround for the artwork. This antique drawing is in very good condition, commensurate with its age. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display. The drawing is not signed but came from a portfolio of drawings by Eduard Braun. This drawing has a later annotation and presumably a dedication in red ink in the bottom left hand corner. The annotation is the monogram HL within a heart. The configuration of the HL resembles the format used by the French artist Henri Laurens 1885 – 1954 where the downstroke of the L is merged with the second downstroke of the H. This stunning original pencil and charcoal drawing on paper is by a German artist called Eduard Braun. He was born in 1798 and died in 1876, but little else is known about him apart from the fact that he was active in the Paris art salons and rooms. This drawing is from a portfolio by this artist on a similar theme and is typical of the type of academic study undertaken by serious art students throughout the nineteenth century. One of the other drawings in this portfolio is annotated as being created in 1826 and there is every reason to think that this drawing is contemporaneous with that. The drawing is of a very high standard, capturing both strength and sensitivity, showcasing the artist’s ability to reproduce a lifelike image of a nude model. The subject of this drawing is a young man, possibly in his mid-twenties, with a toned and muscular body. He is standing with his weight on his right leg, which is slightly bent, and holding a wooden staff in his right hand. His left foot is raised slightly with the toes pointed, and his left hand is placed behind his back. Although he is facing fully towards the viewer, his gaze is to his left. He has pleasant, serene expression on his face. The background is bare, save for the shadow cast by the model. This original antique drawing...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Academic art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic art 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 art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of purple, blue, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Karen Darbinyan, Owen Jones, Paul Jones b.1921, and Mark Beard. 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 art, so small editions measuring 1.5 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $11 and tops out at $700,000, while the average work sells for $1,444.

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