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.
Antoni Costa Woman. original figurative academician drawing painting
By A. Costa
Located in CORAL GABLES - MIAMI, FL
woman. original figurative academician drawing painting.. frame Barcelona, 1904 - Barcelona, 1965 It was formed in Buenos Aires, in the Circle of San Lucas of Barcelona and the FAD....
Paper, Graphite
$115,000
The Crossing, 19th Century Oil Painting on Wood Panel, Signed, Framed
Located in New York, NY
The Crossing, 1855, by Theodore Frere (1814-1888) Oil on wood panel 9 x 14 inches unframed (22.86 x 35.56 cm) 17 ¾ x 22 ½ inches framed (45.085 x 57.15 cm...
Oil
The gift of flowers / - The depth of allegory -
Located in Berlin, DE
Conrad Kiesel (1846-1921), The gift of flowers. Oil on wood, 43 x 35 cm, 69 x 61 cm (frame), signed at lower left "Conrad Kiesel pxt [pinxit]", about 1900. In a magnificent gilt stuc...
Oil
An Amusing Thought by Georges Croegaert
Located in New Orleans, LA
Georges Croegaert 1848-1923 Belgian An Amusing Thought Signed "Georges Croegaert Paris" (lower left) Oil on panel This oil on panel by Belgian artist Georges Croegaert is a rich ...
Oil, Panel
Charming Italian Tuscan villa landscape with cow and pheasant. 19th century
Located in GB
A luminous and atmospheric view of a grand Tuscan villa nestled within rolling countryside, painted in the refined Romantic tradition of the 19th-century Italian school. Bathed in wa...
Canvas, 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...
Canvas, Oil
Italian Limestone Garden Sculptures of Aria a Roman Goddness
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in Lecce limestone of Aria a Roman Goddness . Excellent condition from an estate of Veneto. Measurements: Statue cm 160, base cm 85.
Limestone
Twilight Crashing Surf”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor on archival paper by the well known American artist, George Howell Gay. Signed lower left by the artist. Circa 1910. Condition is excellent. Great vibrant colo...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$696Sale Price|20% Off
Boulevard parisino - Dibujo a pastel
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado por el artista en la parte inferior Se presenta bien enmarcada la obra (no hay cristal para evitar posibles roturas del cristal en el transporte) y comentar que el marco pre...
Pastel
$1,560
Four 19th Century Hand Colored Engravings Depicting English Royal Residences
By Charles Wild
Located in Alamo, CA
Four hand colored etchings and aquatints depicting interiors within English royal residences, including "The Blue Velvet Room at Carlton House", "The Queen's Library at Frogmore", "T...
Engraving
$928Sale Price|20% Off
Camel Rider in a Desert Landscape, Early 20th Century, Framed, Orientalist
Located in Genève, GE
Monogram work A.B. oil on cardboard Dimension with frame :44.5 x 39.5 x 5 cm This oil on board depicts an Orientalist scene featuring a figure in traditional dress riding a camel in ...
Oil, Cardboard
Nymphs Dancing
By Henri-Pierre Picou
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
PICOU Henri Pierre (1824-1895) Nymphs Dancing Oil on canvas signed and dated 1881 low left Old frame regilded with leaves Dim canvas : 62 X 82 cm Dim frame : 80 X 100 cm PICOU Henri Pierre (1824-1895) French Painter 19th century Born on February 27th, 1824 in Nantes - Died on July 17th, 1895 in Nantes Painter of History, allegorical subjects, genre paintings, Symbolist. Pupil of Paul Delaroche...
Oil
Harbour with Characters
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Follower of Emile Jean Horace Vernet (French, 1789–1863) Marine Harbour With Characters Oil on canvas signed low left - Signature to read Old frame gilded with leaves Size canvas : 4...
Oil
$340Sale Price|20% Off
“Man with Magic Show”
Located in Southampton, NY
China Trade aquatint engraving. The plate was engraved by Dadley in London after drawings by Pu Qua of Canton and published in 1799 by W. Miller of Bond Street in London. Sight size 11.5 by 9.5 inches. Under glass. Silver leaf frame with wear consistent with age. Overall framed measurements are 13.5 by 11.5 inches. Not examined out of frame. Borghese label verso. Provenance: Sarasota collector. Inscriptions read as follows: Pu-Qua. Canton. Delin. Dadley, London, Sculpt. Published May 4, 1799, by W. Miller, Old Bond Street, London. John Dadley...
Aquatint
Marines - Boats are Leaving for Fishing in Brittany
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
GILBERT Pierre-Julien (1783-1860) Marines - Boats are Leaving for Fishing in Brittany Two Oils on wood panels in pair signed both low right Old frames re-gilded with leaves Dim wood ...
Oil
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
The Declaration Of Love
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
COLIN François (1798-1864) The Declaration of love Oil on canves signed low left Old frame regilded with leaves Dim canvas : 41 X 57 - Dim frame : 56 X 71 cm COLIN François (1798-1...
Oil
George BARRETT Landscape irish Painting Scotland waterfall mountains Late 18th
Located in PARIS, FR
George Barrett Senior Dublin, 1728/32 – Paddington, 1784 Lively Landscape with waterfall and mountains Oil on canvas 28 x 42 cm (40 x 52 cm with frame) Trace of a signature lower cen...
Oil
Samantha Haring "Fire" 2025 chalk pastel on paper 15 x 15 in.
Located in New York, NY
Samantha Haring Fire, 2025 chalk pastel on paper 15 x 15 in. (hari027)
Paper, Pastel
The Carpet Seller 19th Century Orientalist Antique Watercolor Painting on Paper
Located in Jacksonville, FL
Provenance John Welles Hollenback, New York The Painting is Signed FBartolini Lower Right Federico Bartolini (Italian, 1861 - 1908) Description: Federico Bartolini was a renowned ...
Paper, Watercolor
$3,336Sale Price|50% Off
James Dean by Mario Napoli - Bronze 60x50x28 cm
By Mario Napoli
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
Samantha Haring "Water" 2025 chalk pastel on paper
Located in New York, NY
Samantha Haring Water, 2025 chalk pastel on paper 15 x 15 in. (hari028)
Paper, Pastel
$232Sale 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
"The Informal Gathering" — 1913 Oil on Canvas Figurative Rural Landscape
By César Pattein
Located in Naples, Florida
"The Informal Gathering" by César Pattein (French, 1850–1931) is a signed and dated 1913 oil on canvas measuring 23 x 32 inches, depicting a charming rural scene of young girls gathe...
Oil, Canvas
Little Girl, Figurative, 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: Little Girl Size: 22" x 28" x 0.8'' ...
Canvas, Oil
Four Season Extraordinary Set of Italian Stone Term Figure Sculptures
Located in Rome, IT
Four Term Figure sculptures with classically draped figures and their distinguishing symbols in carved Vicenza stone. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Measures: Height with squar...
Limestone
Landscape of the Valley in French Normandy
By Eugène Jules Delahogue
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
DELAHOGUE Eugène Jules (1867-c1930) " Landscape of the Valley" Oil on canvas signed low right Frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 91 X 150 cm Dim frame : 110 X 172 cm DELAHOGUE Eu...
Oil
$1,800Sale Price|25% Off
“Sailing Ships off the Coast”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on canvas painting of sailing ships off the Danish coast by the marine artist, Johan Jens Neumann. Signed lower left and dated 1921. Slightly covered by frame. Conditi...
Canvas, Oil
$3,336Sale Price|50% Off
Marlène Dietrich by Mario Napoli - Bronze 50x60x28 cm
By Mario Napoli
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
$1,500Sale Price|20% Off
“The Race”
By Henry Alken
Located in Southampton, NY
Graphite and watercolor attributed to the well known British artist, Henry Thomas Alken. Circa 1825. Unsigned. Condition: Good. Provenance: Christie’s London, 1993. Matted but presently unframed. Alken was born on 12 October 1785 in Soho, Westminster, and baptised on 6 November at St James's Church, Piccadilly. He was the third son of Samuel Alken, a sporting artist. Two of his brothers were George and Samuel Alken the Younger, also an artist. In 1789, the Alken family moved from Soho to 2, Francis Street East, Bedford Square. Young Henry first studied under his father and then with the miniature painter John Thomas Barber...
Paper, Watercolor, Graphite
$538Sale Price|20% Off
Anatomy Drawings 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 blue folder/ thick paper, unframed top drawing: 7.25 x 9...
Charcoal, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
Untitled: Rearview Of a Seated Nude
By Henry Varnum Poor
Located in New York, NY
Henry Varnum Poor (American, 1887-1970), "Untitled: Rearview Of A Seated Nude", Figurative Signed Pen and Ink Drawing, 16 x 10.38, Mid 20th Century Colors: Black and White Henry V...
Ink, Pen
$619Sale Price|20% Off
Early English watercolour of cottage on lane in Pirbright Constable Contemporary
Located in Harkstead, GB
A very attractive view of a rural lane in Pirbright by this highly collectable artist who was a contemporary and friend of John Constable. Dr William Crotch (1775-1847) Mr Pear's House at Pirbright from the Turnpike Signed with initials on reverse and inscribed as title and additionally " Thunder about/ 1 pm" watercolour and pencil 4 x 6½ inches without frame 11 x 13 inches with frame William Crotch (5 July 1775 – 29 December 1847) was an English composer and organist. According to the British musicologist Nicholas Temperley, Crotch was "a child prodigy without parallel in the history of music", and was certainly the most distinguished English musician in his day. Crotch was a professional musician, becoming the first Principal of the Royal Academy of Music...
Paper, Watercolor, Pencil
Cathédrale Saint Pierre Genève by Pierre Duc - Watercolor
By Pierre Duc
Located in Geneva, CH
Watercolor paper Brown wooden frame with plexiglass 85,5 x 65,7 x 2 cm
Watercolor, Pencil
$640Sale Price|20% Off
“Pietra Dura Female Dancer”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original pietra dura handmade mosaic plaque composed of marble and other exotic stone of a traditionally clad dancing female figure holding an horn. Circa 1950. Condition is excellen...
Stone
$228Sale Price|20% Off
“Scene in Union Square, New York on a March Day
Located in Southampton, NY
Original wood engraving on paper. Taken from Harper’s Weekly, April 7, 1860. Signed “Homer” in the plate. Condition is good. Slight staining lower left. Very slight tear to the l...
Archival Paper, Engraving
Bunch of Roses with Chinese Vase
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
MONNOT Maurice Louis (1869-1937) Bunch of Roses with Chinese Vase Oil on canvas signed low right Frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 61 X 50 cm Dim Frame : 90 X 80 cm MONNOT Maurice Louis (1869-1937) French painter 19th – 20th century Born the 22th of October 1869 in Paris. Dead in 1937 Painter of interior and still lives. He was the pupil of Joseph Bail...
Oil
“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
$1,746Sale Price|20% Off
Two Hinds on the Run in the Snow, 19th Century Oil on Canvas
Located in Genève, GE
Unsigned oil on canvas; date and artist indicated on the back Two hinds on the run in the snow This 1861 painting illustrates a hunting scene of great dramatic and naturalistic inte...
Oil, Canvas
The Farm to the Donkey
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
GARAT Francis (1870 - NC) The Farm of The Donkey Oil on canvas signed and dated 1883 low right Frame guilded Size canvas : 50 X 76 cm - Size frame : 60 X 76 cm GARAT Francis (1870 -...
Oil
Cleopatra Queen of Egypt 17' century Painting Oil on Canvas
By Diamantini Giuseppe
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 subje...
Oil
$680Sale Price|20% Off
“Dockside Serenity”
Located in Southampton, NY
Here for your consideration is a very well executed original watercolor by the American artist, Erhard Ericson. Signed lower left by the artist. Condition is excellent. The waterc...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$232Sale Price|42% Off
Gentle Evening - Pencil drawing - circa 1914
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Gentle evening Original pencil and color pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Very good condition, pa...
Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil
Seashore, Coastal Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Coastal 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: Impressionis...
Canvas, Oil
$3,175
Three Gould Hand-colored Lithographs from Birds of Australia and New Zealand
By John Gould
Located in Alamo, CA
Three hand-colored lithographs from John Gould's seven volume book "The Birds of Australia", which included New Zealand, depicting: pairs of "Eudyptes Chrysocome" (New Zealand Rock-hopper Crested Penguins), "Diomedea O Thalassarche Cauta" (Australian Shy Albatross) and "Sula Fusca" (Brown Gannets). These beautiful sea bird prints are presented in identical very attractive brown wood frames, embellished with gold highlights in the corners and gold inner trim, along with light cream-colored French mats, each with a medium cream-colored band and a gold highlight line. There is scattered spotting. There is a small tear in the lower right corner of the penguin lithograph...
Lithograph
$704Sale Price|20% Off
Farm, 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: Farm Size: 12" x 17" x 0.8'' inch, (...
Oil, Canvas
Boats at the Dock
By Stephen Seymour Thomas
Located in Dallas, TX
gouache with pen and ink signed "Seymour Thomas" at lower right
Ink, Gouache, Pen
$5,000
"Chicago World's Fair" Florence McClung, Female Artist, Modernist Architecture
Located in New York, NY
Florence McClung Chicago World's Fair, 1933 Signed lower right Watercolor on paper 10 x 14 inches Florence McClung was a pioneering Texas painter, printmaker, and educator whose ca...
Paper, Watercolor
$11,610
Monumental Figurative Bacchanal Painting on Four Wood Panels Botanical Interior
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Large contemporary figurative painting on four wooden panels depicting a modern Bacchanalian gathering surrounded by an immersive botanical landscape, where mythology, ornament and c...
Spray Paint, Acrylic, Board, Fabric
$1,440Sale Price|20% Off
“La Femme aux Figues”
By Paul Gauguin
Located in Southampton, NY
Original etching and lavis in black ink on Arches watermarked crème laid paper by Paul Gauguin. Titled: “La Femme aux Figues” (The Woman with Figs). This impression is from the 3rd s...
Archival Paper, Etching
$14,000
"Provence" Edmond Petitjean, Academic, Southern France, Garden in Bloom
Located in New York, NY
Edmond Petitjean Provence Signed lower right Oil on canvas 18 x 24 inches Provenance Vincent Mann Gallery, New Orleans Edmond Petitjean was born in 1844 in Neufchâteau, in the Vos...
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
Roses, Flowers, 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: 2020 Style: Impressionism Title: Roses Size: 19.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' in...
Canvas, Oil
Flowering Jasmine and Laurel Plants: A Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored copper-plate engraving entitled "Gelsiminum Catalonicum, Mairana Latifollia, Euphasiaramosa Pratensis Flore Albo, Euphasia Minus Ramosa Flore Excereruleo Purpurascente", depicting flowering Jasmine, Mountain Laurel...
Engraving
Plums: George Brookshaw's Framed Hand-colored 19th C. Aquatint
Located in Alamo, CA
George Brookshaw's (1751-1823) beautiful "Plums" hand colored aquatint engraving from his "Pomona Brittanica", considered to be the finest British botanical large format treatise of the 19th-century. His engravings were unique for their rich tones and colors, elegant compositions with the fruit seeming to float on a mottled sumptuous background. There are purple, mustard-colored plums on brown branches with green leaves over a two-tone dark brown and light tan background. The print is presented in an ornate bronze-colored wood frame with gold-colored inner and outer trims and a triple mat. The outer mat is a marbled light...
Aquatint
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
A.POURFILET - Original Painting Early 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A.POURFILET (19th-20th Century) Still life with Peaches and Grapes Oil on card signed low left Old frame gilded with leaves Dim card : 33 X 41 cm Dim frame : 50 X 58 cm
Oil
Under the Blossomed Tree, 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: 2019 Style: Impressionism Subject: Under the Blossomed Tree, Size: 1...
Canvas, Oil
$396Sale Price|20% Off
“Flower Seller, Notre Dame”
Located in Southampton, NY
Very nice original hand colored copper plate etching (aquatint) by the Hungarian born artist, Marianne L. Almasy. Depicts a Parisian flower girl selling her bouquets with the iconic cathedral of Notre Dame. Handwritten bottom left in pencil, original etching 136/295. Handwritten in pencil by the artist lower right, L. Marianne. Condition: excellent. Provenance: Sarasota, Florida estate. Professionally matted with a one inch solid oak frame in a medium walnut stain. Overall 24 by 19 inches. Marianne Almasy...
Archival Paper, Etching
$1,500
Art Deco Thistles Still Life Watercolor Painting by Marie Benoit-Levy
Located in Atlanta, GA
Marie Benoit-Levy (France, 20th Century). This stunning watercolor on Arches Vellum paper painting features a still-life with thistles and a blue water pot, an academic design by Mar...
Watercolor