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.
$9,679
Alone in the world, Oil on panel by Duwez Henri-Joseph (1810-1884)
Located in Gent, VOV
Alone in the world Signature on the left Presented in a period frame Provenance: Sold in Paris on February 6, 1895, at Drouot, for 140 Gold Francs (Bénézit) Biography Henri-Joseph ...
Acrylic
La Pêche by Duchoiselle
By Duchoiselle
Located in New Orleans, LA
Duchoiselle 1801-1900 French La Pêche (Allegory of Fishing) Bronze with a brown and parcel-gilt patina Signed “Duchoiselle” This remarkable bronze figure is distinguished by its ...
Bronze
$2,419Sale Price|33% Off
French academic painting Allegory Spring Love Child Belle Epoque end 19th
By Emile Vernon
Located in PARIS, FR
Emile VERNON Blois, 1872 – Blois, 1920 Oil on canvas 44 x 61 cm (57 x 74 cm with frame) Signed lower right “Emile Vernon” Very beautiful 19th century frame in carved and gilded wood ...
Oil
$720Sale Price|20% Off
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 ...
Watercolor
$480Sale Price|20% Off
Listening N°2 by Benjamin II Vautier - Graphite on paper - 26.5x21 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Benjamin II Vautier (1895–1974) was a Swiss-born artist, known for his contributions to both painting and graphic art. He was born into a family with artistic roots, as the son of Ot...
Paper, Graphite
Jungle by the River - Original Old painting
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
VON PLESSEN Willy (1868-1937) Jungle by the River - Probably from old german colonies in Africa Oil on wood signed low left Frame gilded with gold leaves Dim canvas : 62 X 50 cm Dim ...
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
The Water Tower
Located in Greenville, DE
Coastal landscape painting by Giovanni Casadei, "The Water Tower." Oil on panel. Framed dimensions 12.5 x 17.5 inches. Casadei’s approach to painting is to communicate to the viewer ...
Oil, Panel
Cake Mountain
Located in Greenville, DE
Still life painting by Tina Ingraham, "Cake Mountain." Oil on linen, 27 x 27 inches framed. Ingraham traveled Europe studying Old Master works, mosaics, and contemporary painters tha...
Linen, Oil
Washed Grapes and Pitcher
Located in Greenville, DE
Contemporary still life painting by Tina Ingraham, "Washed Grapes and Pitcher." Oil on canvas. Framed dimensions 20.25 x 21.25 inches. Ingraham traveled Europe studying Old Master wo...
Linen, Oil
Sunset, Seascape, Original oil Painting on Linen, Framed
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2021 Style: Impressionism Subject: Sunset, Size: 17.5" x 23.5" x 0.8...
Canvas, Oil
Still-Life With Roses and China Jewel Box
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Hortense DURY-VASSELON (1860-1924) Still Life with Roses and China Jewel Box Oil on canvas signed and dated 1905 low left DIm canvas : 63 X 50 cm Di...
Oil
$555Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of a Horse Being Fitted with a Bridle
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of a Horse Being Fitted with a Bridle Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil and Watercolor on Paper Size: 18.75 (Heig...
Pencil, Watercolor
$280Sale Price|20% Off
"Rembrandt Self Portrait, 1636"
By Viktor de Jeney
Located in Southampton, NY
Here is a etching executed by master painter and copyist, Viktor de Jeney. Done circa 1965 using the same techniques employed by Rembrant when he executed his now most famous self portrait etching in 1642. Framed measurements are 15.5 by 12.5 inches in original white mat and one inch wood frame. Sheet size 8.25 by 8 inches. De Jeney was born in Budapest, Hungary and emigrated to the United States in 1962 and settled in St. Louis, Missouri. He was known for his paintings of Native American Indians...
Etching
$1,451Sale Price|25% Off
Woman Selling Fruit oil on canvas painting european art
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
$18,500
Venus and the Sea Monster Large Mythological Oil on Canvas Female Nude
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Venus and the Sea Monster Large Mythological Oil on Canvas — Sculpture Rendered in Painting By American Artist Philip Melville Courtney This large-scale oil on canvas painting presen...
Oil
Vintage Large Albumen Photo Jerusalem Photograph American Colony Old City Market
Located in Surfside, FL
The mat measures 21 X 16 the images are around 12 X 9 inches. They bear the blindstamp of the American Colony Jerusalem. I am not sure if these are hand colored but they are from th...
Photographic Paper
Academic master drawing: Allegorical Scene artist in Musée d'Orsay
Located in Norwich, GB
A fascinating allegorical scene by French master Paul-Louis Delance (1848–1924), an artist known for the allegorical and history paintings. His grandfather was the Count Joseph van R...
Charcoal, Paper
Vintage Large Albumen Photo Jerusalem Photograph American Colony Mt Zion Trees
Located in Surfside, FL
The mat measures 21 X 16 the images are around 12 X 9 inches. They bear the blindstamp of the American Colony Jerusalem. I am not sure if these are hand colored but they are from th...
Photographic Paper
Time of Rest, 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: Time of Rest, Size: 11.5" x 16" x 0...
Canvas, Oil
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...
Oil, Wood Panel
Watercolor Painting - Flowers with China Porcelain vase
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
ROSENSTOCK Isidor (1880-1956) Still Life of Flowers with China Porcelain Vase Watercolor on card signed low right Old original frame gilded with leaves and Glass Dim card : 38 X 58 c...
Watercolor
Break at the Inn for the Rural Policeman 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
DE LAUNEY Fernand (19th Century) Break at the Inn for the Rural Policeman Oil on Wood Panel signed Low Left Old frame gilded with Leaves Dim wood : 33 X 41 cm Dim frame : 48 X 56 cm...
Oil
Landscape with windmill
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
KUWASSEG Charles Euphrasie (1838-1904) Landscape with Windmill Oil on canvas signed low right New Golden frame Dim canvas : 75 X 108 cm Dim frame : 104 X 140 cm KUWASSEG Charles Euphrasie (1838-1904) French Painter 19th Century born on September 29, 1838 in Draveil (Essonne). Died in October 1904 in Paris Painter, Watercolor Lively landscapes, seascapes, panoramas Charles Kuwasseg...
Oil
“Provincetown Harbor”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful original watercolor of Provincetown Harbor in first light by the well known artist John Cuthbert Hare. Signed lower right. Condition is excellent. The watercolor is hou...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
Mashallah! by Carl Haag
By Carl Haag
Located in New Orleans, LA
Carl Haag 1820–1915 German Mashallah! Signed and dated “Carl Haag / 1870” (lower right) Titled and signed “Mash: Allah! / by Carl Haag” (en verso) Watercolor heightened with white...
Watercolor
Notre-Dame de Paris - Original Handsigned Etching
Located in Paris, IDF
Jean Michel Mathieux-Marie Notre-Dame de Paris Original drypoint etching Handsigned in pencil On BFK Rives vellum, 28,5 x 38 cm (c. 11,2 x 14,9 inch) Numbered /100 copies Excellent...
Etching
Women Wiping Themselves - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E8)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Women Wiping Themselves, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932, this e...
Etching
Original 1925 Zeppelin "Bayerische Zeppelin Eckene-Spende" vintage air travel
Located in Spokane, WA
Original German poster: Bayerische Zeppelin-Eckener Spende. 1925. (Bavarian Zeppelin-Eckener donation). Printer: M. Grunst, München. Condition: Grade A. Archival linen-back...
Lithograph
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
“Flying South”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on canvas painting of Canadian geese flying south under a twilight sky. Beautiful light reflection in the water below Signed lower right and attributed to Alice Roge...
Canvas, Oil
Coastal, 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: Coastal Size: 16.5" x 21.5" x 0.8'' ...
Canvas, Oil
Studies of Goats and Sheep, Cairo (c. 1871)
Located in Stockholm, SE
Swedish artist Egron Lundgren sketched a small herd of goats and sheep resting together in this scene. Two goats recline quietly at the center while another stands nearby, creating a...
Paper, Watercolor
Nymph of Eurydice - Original lithograph
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice DENIS (1870 - 1943) Nymph of Eurydice Original lithograph enhanced in pastel Printed signature in the plate On light cream tinted vellum 40 x 24,5 cm (c. 15,7 x 9,6 inch) I...
Lithograph
Portrait of an Elegant Lady 1897
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
GENTY Emmanuel (1830-1904) Portrait of an Elegant Lady Oil on canvas signed low right and dated 1897 Old Frame regilded with gold leaves Dim canvas : 100 x 81 cm Dim frame : 120 x 10...
Oil
Queen's Walk, Figurative 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: 2014 Style: Figurative Surrealism, Subject: Queen's Walk, Size: 40" x 35" ...
Canvas, Oil
$555Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of Equine Leg Muscles
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of Equine Leg Muscles Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on paper Size: 19.5 (Height) x 12.75 (Width) Signed: No Conditi...
Pencil
$241Sale Price|33% Off
Venice, View of the Grand Canal - Original etching and watercolor, 1831
Located in Paris, IDF
Dionisio MORETTI View of the Grand Canal, 1831 Original etching Finely enhanced by hand with watercolor On vellum 26 x 41 cm (c. 10.2 x 16 inch) ...
Watercolor, Etching
$475Sale Price|26% Off
“On the Seine, Paris”
By Hans Figura
Located in Southampton, NY
Original aquatint etching of working river barges on the Seine in Paris, France. A horse drawn cart is seen loading or unloading product. Circa 1900. Si...
Archival Paper, Aquatint
$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
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...
Oil, Canvas
$264Sale Price|20% Off
Granny with glasses by Hans Berger - Engraving 50x39 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Ed: 24/100
Charcoal, Engraving
$1,693Sale Price|41% Off
Young Peasants at Rest, Oil on Board, Academic Style, Signed, 1890s
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: Young Peasants at Rest Artist: Adrián de Unzueta (Mexico, 1865 – first half of the 20th century) Medium: Oil on panel Dimensions: 35 x 26 cm (13.8 x 10.2 in) Framed dimens...
Oil, Board
Arrotino (Knife Sharpener) Fonderia Chiurazzi Life-size Bronze Bust Sculpture
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Grand Tour Bronze Bust of the Arrotino (Knife Sharpener) Chiurazzi Foundry, Naples, Italy Early 20th Century This exceptional Grand Tour bronze bust represents the celebrated Arrotin...
Bronze
Young Woman and Old Woman - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E24)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Young Woman and Old Woman, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932, this...
Etching
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
$3,600
Timing Belt Sculpture Clay Ceramic Handmade by Garo, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Figurative Sculpture Clay Ceramic Handmade Artist: (Garo) Karapet Balakeseryan Medium: Clay Ceramic, One of a Kind Year: 2025 Style: Impressionism, Surrealism Title: Time Belt S...
Clay, Ceramic
Anahit Goddess Fertility Sculpture Clay Ceramic Handmade by Garo, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: (Garo) Karapet Balakeseryan Medium: Clay Ceramic, One of a Kind Year: 2025 Style: Classic Academism Title: Anahit, Goddess of Fertility & Motherhood Size: 12''x16''x...
Clay, Ceramic
“Double Portrait”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful original oil on canvas double portrait painting of a young boy and girl with cat (moist likely brother and sister) attributed to the hand of American artist, John Carlin. ...
Canvas, Oil
$3,336Sale Price|50% Off
Jean Cocteau by Mario Napoli - Bronze 60x50x28 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze sculpture by Mario Napoli, Swiss artist from XXth century. His works was sold 12 times in auctions since 2022. Work signed in the bronze. Edition ...
Bronze
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
Naked Women Under the Trees - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E9)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Naked Women Under the Trees, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932, th...
Etching
$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
$680Sale Price|20% Off
Original 1917 Railroad Map of Washington State railway map
Located in Spokane, WA
This is an Original Lithograph Vintage Railroad Map of Washington State; it is not a reproduction. “Railroad Map of Washington, 1917, The Public Servi...
Lithograph
$2,056
Mary in the Tub Sponging Herself - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E13)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Mary in the Tub Sponging Herself, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 193...
Etching
$1,149Sale Price|52% Off
Et in Arcadia ego Pencil and charcoal on paper J. Miro
Located in Sitges, Barcelona
Title: Et in Arcadia ego Artist: Signed “J. Miró” Technique: Pencil and charcoal on paper Paper size: 49 × 39 cm (19.3 × 15.4 in) Framed size: 64 × 53 cm (25.2 × 20.9 in) Date: Decem...
Pencil
The Flight of Sodom and Gomorrah - Entourage of Monsu-Desiderio
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Italian School 17th Century Close to Monsu Desiderio The Flight of Sodom and Gomorrah Oil on canvas Framed with Black wood and golden ornementation Di...
Oil
Lying Naked Woman - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E11)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Lying Naked Woman, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932, this etching...
Etching
Young Woman Sponging Herself - Original Etching Signed (Petrides #E12)
Located in Paris, IDF
Suzanne VALADON (1865-1938) Young Woman Sponging Herself, 1932 Original etching Signed in pencil On BFK Rives vellum 47 x 37 cm (c. 18.5 x 14.5 in) INFORMATION : Printed in 1932, t...
Etching
$555Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Head and Neck
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Head and Neck Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pen and Pencil on card Size: 19.75 (Height) x 12.75 (Width) Signed: ...
Pen, Pencil
$352Sale Price|20% Off
Geneva countryside and Lake Bienne, Switzerland by Pierre Desaules drawing 20x29