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.
French Contemporary Art by Franck Bailleul - Luxe, Calme & Volupté
Located in Paris, IDF
Franck Bailleul is a French painter born in 1964 who lives & works in Abbeville, Normandy, France. He has exhibited nationally as well as in the United States and China. His wor...
Canvas, Oil
$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
"Still Life with Figure"
Located in Southampton, NY
This painting is an oil on canvas mounted to a wood panel. It is signed with his monogram signature JTA lower right. The work is unframed. Axton was born in Fort Leavenworth, Kan...
Oil, Canvas
$9,500
"John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn" Eastman Johnson, Prominent Gentleman Portrait
Located in New York, NY
Eastman Johnson John Van Schaick Lansing Pruyn, 1883 Initialed and dated lower left Oil on canvas 28 x 18 inches For many years the foremost genre painter in the United States, Eas...
Canvas, Oil
Gentry People in The Park in 18th century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEVIGNE Théodore (1848-1912) "Genre scene in 18th century" Oil on canvas signed low right Old original frame Dim canvas : 72 X 100 cm Dim frame : 103 X 127 cm LEVIGNE Théodore (1848...
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...
Watercolor, Pencil
"Frawg Hollow, Virginia" Corwin Knapp Linson, Southern Country Landscape
Located in New York, NY
Corwin Knapp Linson Frawg Hollow, West Virginia Signed and titled lower left Oil on canvas 24 x 28 inches Provenance The artist Artist's family by descent Corwin Knapp Linson was ...
Canvas, Oil
$2,500Sale Price|21% Off
“Seaside Picnic”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on canvas painting of a bucolic seaside picnic with a mother and her young children. Signed by the artist, F. G. Grust lower left. Condition is very good. The painting is housed in a period style gold leaf frame in fine condition. Overall framed measurements are 31.5 by 41.75 inches. Provenance: A California estate. F. G. Grust was a Dutch painter born in 1889 who was best known for his domestic interior and exterior scenes of a mother with her young children. He is the son of artist Theordor Grust (1859 - 1909), who also painted Dutch genre...
Canvas, Oil
$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
$3,217
Bonaventure LAURENS Landscape painting View GRENOBLE from mountain French 19th
Located in PARIS, FR
Jean Joseph Bonaventure LAURENS (Attributed to) Carpentras, 1801 – Montpellier, 1890 View of Grenoble from the heights Oil on canvas mounted on cardboard 35.5 x 42.5 cm (46.5 x 54.5 ...
Oil
$760Sale Price|20% Off
“William Shakespeare”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original high profile wax cameo of William Shakespeare. Unsigned. Composed of natural and colored wax. Condition is very good. Most likely of British origin. Original shadow box fra...
Wax
"View on Long Island" James Henry Cafferty, Hudson River School Summer Landscape
Located in New York, NY
James Henry Cafferty Landscape and Figures (New Jersey or Long Island), 1845 Signed lower right Oil on canvas 21 x 17 1/4 inches Provenance The artist John L. Schoolcraft, Albany, N...
Canvas, Oil
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
"The Working Man"
By R.V. Rowe
Located in Southampton, NY
34 x 28 overall Canvas laid down on artist board Signed lower right Overall in gold leaf frame 30x24 inches R.W. Rowe Circa 1970’s
Canvas, Oil
Rescued - Archival fine art print, Black white, Montreal, City Vintage photo
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 g/m² paper, a photography of a street scene featuring a man on a Side-car, in Montreal cerca 1930 entitled ' Rescued ' ....
Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
$520Sale Price|20% Off
“Mallards 2”
By Alan Farrell
Located in Southampton, NY
Miniature watercolor painting on arches paper of a pair of mallards done by the very well known miniature artist, Allan Farrell. Exhibited at the Royal Miniature Society exhibition i...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$297Sale Price|30% Off
“The Hunter”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings of a solitary hunter in the field by the British artist, George Anderson Short. Signed bottom right. ...
Watercolor, Archival Paper, Graphite
$1,280Sale Price|20% Off
“Villagers”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor with graphite tracings by the well known German artist, Peter Von Halm. Signed in pencil lower right. Condition is good. Several tiny foxing spots with small areas of mild wrinkles on the outer corners. Matted but not framed. He was the son of an innkeeper and brewer. Initially, he wanted to become an architect and, in pursuit of that goal, attended the Technische Universität Darmstadt. After 1875, he studied copper engraving with Johann Leonhard Raab and general art subjects with Ludwig von Löfftz, at the Munich Academy. From 1883 to 1885, he lived in Berlin at the invitation of his friend, Karl Stauffer-Bern, where he created graphic versions of the Old Masters for Wilhelm von Bode...
Watercolor, Archival Paper, Graphite
$24,500Sale Price|30% Off
'Peau d’Âne' Large 19th-Century French Allegorical Pastoral Painting
Located in New York, NY
Pastoral Scene with Young Woman and Turkeys Oil on canvas 118.5 × 153.5 cm Original period giltwood frame Signed low-right This large-scale and finely executed oil on canvas by Erne...
Canvas, Oil
$2,200Sale Price|21% Off
“House by the Lake”
Located in Southampton, NY
Finely executed watercolor and gouache landscape with figures by the Swiss artist, Louise Clauseau (Swiss). Signed under the mat by the artist and dated June, 1852. The watercolor ...
Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper
'Hart Laubs Duck' by British ornithologist Sir Peter Markham Scott
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Sir Peter Markham Scott CH CBE DSC FRS FZS Hart Laubs Duck Watercolour on paper 4.3/8 x 6.1/2 in. (11.2 x 16.5 cm.) Provenance: Painted by Scott as a visual record for a bird spotte...
Paper, Watercolor
$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
$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
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
“View of Porta San Paolo, Rome”
Located in Southampton, NY
Brown ink and wash drawing with touches of watercolor and gouache by the French artist, Francois-Marius Granet. Signed lower left. Condition: Good. Pr...
Paper, Watercolor, Ink, Gouache
$1,800Sale Price|36% Off
“Child in White Dress”
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1890 Signed verso on stretcher bar Original period gold leaf frame Overall size framed 21 x 18 in
Canvas, Oil
$1,360Sale Price|20% Off
“Cottage”
Located in Southampton, NY
Graphite and watercolor on paper stock drawing by the Russian Federation artist, Carl Ivanovitch Kollmann. Circa 1830. Condition: Good. Actual drawing diameter is 6.5 inches. Impr...
Paper, Watercolor, Graphite
$1,480Sale Price|20% Off
“Home Life”
Located in Southampton, NY
Watercolor on paper by the Swiss artist, Simon Daniel Lafond. Signed and dated lower right, 1820. In very good condition, wth minor toning. Colors are strong with incredible detail ...
Paper, Watercolor
$520Sale Price|20% Off
“Mallards at Salthouse”
By Alan Farrell
Located in Southampton, NY
Miniature watercolor painting on arches paper of three mallards at Salthouse (Norfolk, UK) done by the very well known miniature artist, Alan Farrell. Exhibited at the Royal Miniatur...
Watercolor, Archival Paper
$1,200Sale Price|50% Off
“Dead Gull”
By John Duncan
Located in Southampton, NY
In original gold leaf pierced frame Signed and dated lower right 1902 Sight size 7.5 x 9.5 in
Paper, Watercolor
Ponte Rialto in Venice Landscape Painting Oil on Canvas with Frame
Located in Rome, IT
Early 20' Century large cityscapes of Venice oil on canvas with a finely carved gilt wood frame. Rialto Bridge painting is beautiful reminder of Venice, Italy's iconic bridge. The...
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
"Royal Mail Steam Packet Thames"
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1880 Unsigned Thames was commissioned in 1842 Overall size with frame 8 x 11 in.
Watercolor, Paper
Set of 4 watercolours, mid 20th Century British by Harold Dearden, farm helpers
By Harold Dearden
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Harold Dearden (British, 1888 – 1962) Farm helpers sorting a farm crop Set of four watercolours 16.3/4 x 17.1/8in.
Paper, Watercolor
Landscape With Washerwoman
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEVIGNE Théodore (1848-1912) Landscape With Washerwoman Oil on canvas signed low right Old Frame regilded with leaves Dimensions canvas : 55 X 73 cm Dimensions frame : 70 X 85 cm LE...
Oil
$6,500
19th century engraving figurative landscape Victorian urban city scene signed
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"SEESAW--Gloucester, Massachusetts" is an original wood engraving after Winslow Homer. The artist initialed the piece in the lower right. This print depicts six children on a seesaw ...
Engraving
$3,275Sale Price|20% Off
Mythological Painting begining 19th oval Bacchus Apollon children
Located in PARIS, FR
Italian school from the beginning of the 19th century ? Oil on canvas (2) 99 x 65 cm (103 x 78 cm with the frame) Old frames with gadroons and palmette decoration Very good condition...
Oil
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
$994Sale Price|57% 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
Sir Beauchamp, 1880-90 - oil paint, 73x62 cm, framed
Located in Nice, FR
Oil on canvas with its original frame.
Oil
$28,450Sale Price|36% Off
Pair 19th Century French Whimsical Oil on Canvas "Cherubs and Putti Children"
Located in LA, CA
Charles Joshua Chaplin (French, 1825-1891) A Very Fine and Charming Pair of 19th Century French Whimsical Oils on Canvas of Cherubs and Putti, after François Boucher (French, 1703–17...
Canvas, Oil
$24,000
North African Orientalist Scene, Original Watercolor on Paper by Giulio Rosati
Located in Long Island City, NY
North African Orientalist Scene (Horseman and Nomadic Traders) Giulio Rosati, Italian (1857–1917) Date: circa 1880 Watercolor on Paper, signed lower righ...
Watercolor
$781Sale Price|30% Off
On a Ferris wheel - Archival fine art print, Black white, graphical photo
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 g/m² paper of a photograph by Harry Sutcliffe (1878- 1942) entitled ' On a Ferris wheel ' Graphic scene taken on a Fer...
Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
$1,615
1974 oil painting still life of squashes and grapes by British George Weissbort
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
George Weissbort (Belgian / British, 1928 – 2013) A SQUASH, A BUNCH OF GRAPES AND A GLASS OF WINE Oil on canvasboard 18.1/8 x 22 in. (46 x 55.7 cm.) George Weissbort was born in ...
Oil, Board
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
Stanley Spencer study for The Apotheosis of Hilda, British, 20th Century
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Stanley Spencer (British, 1891-1959) Study for The Apotheosis of Hilda Pencil 19.3/4 x 30 in. (50 x 76 cm.) Provenance: Christie’s South Kensington, Stanley Spencer studio sale, 1998...
Paper, Pencil
Bust of Diana
Located in New York, NY
Among Falguière’s greatest works, his figure of the huntress Diana emerged as a masterpiece, the bust of which stands out as one of the most successful and recognizable idealized hea...
Bronze
$1,009
Scottish early 20th Century watercolour painting of a sitting girl by Lamont
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
John Charles Lamont ARSA (Scottish, 1894-1948) “The sitting girl” Pencil, watercolour, body colour and pastel Signed ‘LAMONT’ (lower-right) 23. 3/4. X 14. 3/4 in (60.5 x 37.5 cm)
Pastel, Watercolor, Pencil
$1,300
Flowers, Impressionism, Original oil Painting, One of a Kind, Ready to Hang
Located in Granada Hills, CA
Artist: Ara H. Hakobyan Work: Original Oil Painting, Handmade Artwork, One of a Kind. Medium: Oil on Canvas Year: 2024 Style: Impressionism Title: Flowers Size: 27.5" x 31.5" x 0.8''...
Canvas, Oil
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: 2024 Style: Impressionism Title: Coastal Size: 31.5" x 39.5" x 0.8''...
Canvas, Oil
$440Sale Price|20% Off
Lady in Tunic by Benjamin II Vautier - Graphite on Paper - 21.5x19 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
$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
William Russell Flint mixed media, 'Ray mounted on Pegasus', British
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
William Russell Flint (British, 1880 – 1969) Ray mounted on Pegasus Mixed media Signed ‘W Russell Flint’ (lower right), further signed and titled on the reverse 10.1/2 x 14.1/2 in. (...
Mixed Media
$982Sale Price|30% Off
Benoit Fils - Archival fine art print, Black white, Montreal, Clydesdale truck
Located in Sant Cugat del Vallès, Barcelona
An archival pigment print on Hahnemühle Photo Rag® Baryta 315 g/m² paper, a photography of a delivery of foodstuffs from a shop of seeds, flour and provisions in Montreal cerca 1920 ...
Black and White, Giclée, Pigment, Archival Pigment, Digital Pigment
$304Sale Price|20% Off
Duel Between Gentlemen 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
$1,050
Autumn, Fall, figurative, 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: Autumn Size: 19.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,200
Conversation, figurative, 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: Conversation Size: 19" x 23" x 0.8''...
Canvas, Oil
Roses, Impressionism, Still Life, 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: 19.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' in...
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
"Faistenau" oil painting of snow covered landscape Salzkammergut steeple
Located in Sag Harbor, NY
Plein-air landscape painting of Faistenau, in Austria. A snow covered foreground meets a structure filled horizon, a church tower reaches upward, dissecting the blue sky. Frame opt...
Oil, Panel
Portrait of Mother and Daughter - Lithograph
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice DENIS (1870 - 1943) The Woman in the Green Coat, 1918 Lithograph On vellum 47 x 36,5 cm (c. 18,5 x 14,3 inch) INFORMATION : Edited by Louis Rouart in Paris, from a drawing ...
Lithograph
Study of a Praying Woman - Lithograph Signed
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice DENIS (1870 - 1943) Study of a Praying Woman, 1918 Lithograph enhanced with pastel Printed signature in the plate On vellum 48.5 x 26.5 cm (c. 19,1 x 10,4 inch) INFORMATION...
Pastel, Lithograph