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.
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Seashore, Coastal Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Seascape, Nautical Original oil Painting Artist: Karen Darbinyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2023 Style: Impressionism T...
Canvas, Oil
$200Sale Price|20% Off
Dancer by Henri Fehr - Drawing 50x35 cm
$1,600Sale Price|20% Off
Alexandroupolis, Seascape Original oil Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Seascape 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: Impressioni...
Canvas, Oil
$3,336Sale Price|50% Off
Jean Cocteau 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
“Nasturtiums in Blue Vase”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on canvas painting of nasturtiums in a blue vase. Signed lower left. Appears to be L.I.S. Wallace. Unknown artist. American school; circa 1890. Original pierced gold p...
Canvas, Oil
$264Sale Price|20% Off
Granny with glasses by Hans Berger - Engraving 50x39 cm
By Hans Berger
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Ed: 24/100
Charcoal, Engraving
Music : Violinist Player - Lithograph, 1918
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice DENIS (1870 - 1943) Violonist, 1918 Lithograph enhanced with pastel On vellum 47.5 x 31 cm (c. 18.7 x 12.2 inch) INFORMATION : Edited by Louis Rouart in Paris, former colle...
Pastel, Lithograph
$543Sale 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 blue folder/ thick paper, unframed drawing: 12 x 19 inch...
Charcoal, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil
$240Sale Price|20% Off
At Paulette's by M. Opériol - Drawing 32x41 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canton paper
Pastel
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
$3,175
Buttercup Flowers: A Besler 18th Century Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving depicting Ranunculus (Persian Buttercup) flowers from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This beautiful colorful engraving is printed on thick laid chain-linked paper. There is latin text on the verso. There are central horizontal creases and two small holes on the right and another in the left lower corner. It is otherwise in excellent condition. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...
Engraving
$2,600Sale Price|24% Off
“Orientalist Markeplace”
By George Washington Nicholson
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1865 marketplace painting by the American artist, George Washington Nicholson. Signed lower left. Oil paint on wooden panel. Condit...
Oil, Board
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'' ...
Canvas, Oil
Magnolia Grandiflora, Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Elizabeth Zanzinger's (US based) "Magnolia Grandiflora" is an oil painting that depicts a nude figure in the foreground with a bright red backgroun...
Oil, Panel
19th Century Tonalist Sheep Herder
Located in San Francisco, CA
Charming little 19th century oil on board. I am not sure if it’s European or American. The painting measures 12 inches wide by 6 inches high. The frame is 3/4 of an inch around. Pain...
Oil
$1,500Sale Price|25% Off
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
Path, Landscape Impressionism, 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: Path, Size: 9" x 13.5" x 0.8'' inch...
Canvas, Oil
$937Sale Price|25% Off
English Mansion by the Cemetery - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
English Mansion by the Cemetery - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper Dramatic and detailed landscape by Lucy Cooper (British, 1853-1929). A large home is shown on the left, with a red r...
Paper, Watercolor
$1,200
Roses, Still Life 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: 2023 Style: Impressionism Title: Roses Size: 23.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' i...
Canvas, Oil
$320Sale Price|20% Off
At the market by Jean Ducommun - Drawing 30x42 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper without frame Signed
Crayon
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
“Dutch Harbor”
By Anthony Andreas de Meijier
Located in Southampton, NY
Watercolor on paper by the Dutch artist, Anthony Andreas Meijiers. Signed lower right. Condition: Excellent. Unframed. Anthony Andreas de Meijiers or Meyer was a Dutch active in...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
Young Man in Firelight, ca. 1880 - Dramatic French 19th Century Oil Portrait
Located in Norwich, GB
A dramatic and highly unusual late 19th-century oil study, far removed from conventional portraiture of the period. A young man turns his head downwards, his features caught in an e...
Canvas, Oil
$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, (...
Canvas, Oil
Large 19th Century Antique Marble Bust of Apollo of Belvedere
Located in New York, NY
Pietro Bazzanti (1842-1881) specialized in allegorical and genre subjects as well as copies of Antique and Renaissance sculpture. Regarded as one of the most talented sculptors of h...
Marble
$1,120Sale Price|30% Off
Summer Field, 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: Summer Field Size: 15.5" x 21.5" x 0...
Canvas, Oil
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
19th century color lithograph hares animal nature print wildlife
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Townsend's Rocky Mountain Hare" is an original color lithograph by John James Audubon. This artwork features two gray hares in a muted, cool-colored landscape. 5 1/2" x 8 1/4" art...
Lithograph
$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
$543Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of a Horse's Eye's and Nose
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Pencil Study of a Horse's Eye's and Nose Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil on Paper Size: 20 (Height) x 13.75 (Width) Signed: ...
Pencil
$1,500
Dodo, Abstract Signed Screenprint with Gold Leaf by Lebadang (aka Hoi)
By Hoi Lebadang
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Lebadang, Vietnamese (1922 - 2015) Title: Untitled - Dodo Medium: Silkscreen, signed in pencil Edition: EA Size: 31 x 31 in. (78.74 x 78.74 cm)
Screen
Woman offering corn, Coastal, 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: 2016 Style: Impressionism Title: Woman offering Corn Size: 22" x 28" ...
Canvas, Oil
$687Sale Price|20% Off
Boulevard Parisino - Late 20th Century Framed Pastel Drawing
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
$325Sale Price|34% Off
“Paris-London”
Located in Southampton, NY
Very nice original hand colored copper plate etching (aquatint) by the Hungarian born artist, Marianne L. Almasy. Depicts London with its double buses in the foreground and scenes of Paris in the background. Handwritten bottom left in pencil, original etching 206/295. Handwritten in pencil lower right, L. Marianne. Condition: Very good to excellent. Provenance: Sarasota, Florida estate. Certificate of authenticity verso (see photo). Professionally matted with a one inch solid oak frame in a medium walnut stain. Overall 24 by 19 inches. Marianne Almasy...
Archival Paper, Etching
$1,100
Color-full Winter, Landscape Impressionism, Original Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Acrylic on Canvas Year: 2022 Style: Impressionism Title: Color-full Winter Size: 19.5" x 27.5...
Oil, Acrylic
"Haystack Butte, Montana" De Cost Smith, Desert Landscape, American West, Sky
Located in New York, NY
De Cost Smith Haystack Butte, Montana, September 1884 Oil on canvas and graphite 11 7/8 x 14 7/8 inches Provenance Gerald Peters Gallery, New Mexico Private Collection, California B...
Canvas, Oil, Graphite
"Saddled Horse" De Cost Smith, American West, Equine, Interior Scene, Elegant
Located in New York, NY
De Cost Smith Saddled Horse Oil on board 11 3/8 x 15 5/8 inches Provenance Gerald Peters Gallery, New Mexico Private Collection, California Benny and the Bear Fine Art, California ...
Oil, Board
Stanley Spencer drawing 'Clasped hands' from estate of the artist, British
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Stanley Spencer (British, 1891 – 1959) Clasped hands Not signed Pencil on paper 16.3/4 x 11.3/8 in. (42.5 x 29 cm.) Provenance: From the estate of Sir Stanley Spencer Clasped Hands ...
Pencil
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Car in a Village by Benjamin II Vautier - Graphite on Paper - 26x17 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
$500
Cold Winter, Impressionism, Landscape, 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: Cold Winter Size: 14" x 18" x 0.8'' ...
Canvas, Oil
$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
$352Sale Price|20% Off
Portrait of a man by Hans Berger - Drawing 38x50 cm
By Hans Berger
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper
Crayon, Engraving
$400Sale Price|20% Off
Tree by Otto Vautier - Graphite on paper - 21x29 cm
By Otto Vautier
Located in Geneva, CH
Otto Vautier (1863-1919) was a German artist active during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born into a family with artistic roots, as the s...
Paper, Graphite
$1,374Sale Price|36% Off
"Et in Arcadia Ego Academic Drawing, Pencil on Paper, Signed J. Miró"
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
$240Sale Price|20% Off
Carriage to the Church by Benjamin II Vautier - Graphite on paper - 20x15 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
$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
$29,774
Arena
Located in PARIS, FR
Original bronze numbered on 8 + 4 AP
Bronze
Winter Evening, City, 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 Subject: Winter Evening Size: 16" x 20" x 0...
Canvas, Oil
"Branded Horse" De Cost Smith, American Artist, Equine, Elegant Horse, Animal
Located in New York, NY
De Cost Smith Branded Horse Oil on board 11 1/4 x 15 1/2 inches Provenance Gerald Peters Gallery, New Mexico Private Collection, California Benny and the Bear Fine Art, California ...
Oil, Board
Dante & Virgilus - Etching, (Ed. Goupil, 1897)
Located in Paris, IDF
ARTISTE: after Auguste RODIN TITLE : Dante & Virgilus MEDIUM : Etching/photogravure after the original drawing SIGNATURE : Unsigned YEAR : 1897 PAPER : Vellum SIZE : 13 x 10" INFOR...
Etching
French 19th Century Romantic Period 1830s Parisian Lady Portrait Madame Seguin
Located in Norwich, GB
A stunning portrait of a Parisian beauty from the romantic period by Adele Grasset (active ca 1830-1850). With her intelligent eyes and determined look, doesn't this lady bear great resemblance to Chopin's paramour George Sand? The sitter is Jeanne Marie Vidal, wife of Claude Auguste Seguin, from a prominent family in Avignon, as the family tree attached to the back for the frame indicates. Research in old annals has also revealed that Madame Seguin was a modern and independent lady: she worked in lady's fashion in Paris, and patented wrapping mechanism that protected lady's hats during their transport! As often with woman artists of the 18th and 19th century, there is little biographical information available on the artist, Adèle Grasset. We do know however, that she had studied with the highly prominent artist François Gérard (1770-1837) , known also as the Baron Gérard...
Paper, Charcoal
$950Sale Price|36% Off
“Innocent Captivation Amusement Pastorale”
By Anthony Cardon
Located in Southampton, NY
Original stipple engraving on a verge type of hand laid paper. The overall size of the engraving is 15.75 inches by 12.75 inches The image size of the engraving is 14 inches by 12 i...
Engraving, Laid Paper
Seascape, 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: Seascape Size: 23.5" x 35.5" x 0.8'...
Canvas, Oil
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Evening View, 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: Evening View, Size: 11" x 14" x 0.8...
Canvas, Oil
$50,000
Rare Antokolsky “Mephistopheles” Bronze. Barbedienne, Dark Gilt Patina, Signed
Located in New York, NY
Signed in the base, Antocolsky, bronze stamped with foundry mark F. Barbedienne. Fondeur. Paris. Gilt patinated bronze mounted on polished stone. 85 cm tall (including base). A scar...
Stone, Bronze
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
$2,875
Chamomile & Safflower: A 17th-18th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Chamemelum Romanum flore simplici (Chamomile), Cincus Sativus (False saffron, Safflower), Chamaemelum Romanum Flore (Roman Chamomile)", depicting flowering Chamomile, Safflower and Roman Chamomile plants respectively from Basilius Besler's landmark work, Hortus Eystettensis (Garden at Eichstatt), first published in 1613 in Eichstatt, Germany near Nuremberg and later in 1640 and 1713. This beautiful colorful engraving is printed on thin laid chain-linked paper with wide margins. There are a few small spots and some irregularity of the lower edge. There is some bleed-through of text from the verso. The print is otherwise in excellent condition with striking hand-coloring. The sheet measures 22.25" high and 17.38" wide. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...
Engraving
Emerald Waves, Impressionism 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: 2024 Style: Impressionism Title: Emerald Waves Size: 8.5" x 12" x 0.8...
Canvas, Oil
$543Sale Price|20% Off
Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Skeletal Structure
By Robert Ladou
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Anatomical Study of Horse's Skeletal Structure Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Pencil and Coloured Pen on Paper Size: 19.75 (Height) x 12.75 (...
Pencil, Pen, Color Pencil
$716Sale Price|20% Off
Original Leipziger Messe International Leipzig Trade Fair vintage poster
Located in Spokane, WA
Original German vintage poster: International Leipzig Trade Fair Leipziger Messe in NYC. Beginning Feb. 28th, 1937. Held in New York City. Th...
Lithograph
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