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.
Pair Italian Limestone Garden Sculptures with Cornucopia
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in limestone with Cornucopia associated with the harvest, prosperity, or spiritual abundance. Excellent condition. Measurements: Statue cm 160, ba...
Limestone
Portrait of a Lady With Hat
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
WATELET, Charles Joseph (1867 - 1954) Portrait of a Lady with Hat Oil on oval canvas signed up right and dated 1909 Old frame gilded with leaves Dim canv...
Oil
Rochefort Harbour in early 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Richard FAXON (1816 - 1875) Rochefort Harbour with Galleons Oil on canvas signed low right New golden frame Size canvas 73 X 50 cm Size frame 69 X 95 cm FAXON Richard (1816-1875) ...
Oil
Pair Italian Limestone Garden Sculptures with Cornucopia
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in limestone with Cornucopia associated with the harvest, prosperity, or spiritual abundance. Excellent condition from an estate of Veneto. Measur...
Limestone
Yesterday's Love, Love can Be True. The Heart can Betray
Located in Miami, FL
Classic illustration for a romanace novel from the 1950's in England. Recently these charming works have been the source of interest and even parody. Unsigned, unframed. Vale Studi...
Gouache, Pencil
Landscape of Mountains
By MOSNY Henry
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
MOSNY Henry (19th Century) Landscape of Mountains Oil on canvas signed below and dated 1882 Black and Golden wood Frame Dim canvas : 73 X 92 cm Dim Frame : 92 X 112 cm MOSNY Henry (...
Oil
Central Park Heroic Statue
Located in Miami, FL
Signed and dated on lower right, numbered on verso, 2/15 , other size available, unframed
Photographic Paper
Actress June Knight
Located in Miami, FL
Celebrity portrait sketch of actress June Knight but James Montgomery Flagg on card stock in two colors. Signed and inscribed lower right. The work is unframed. There is a slight cr...
Crayon, Pencil
19th century antique Tuscan mythological figurative drawing with putti
Located in Florence, IT
The small but exquisite drawing, made in a mixed technique of pencil and gray watercolor, depicts a mythological scene in which a group of naked putti are seen dancing and holding ha...
Paper, Pencil
Winter Landscape by the River
By Jean Eugene Clary
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
CLARY Jean Eugène (1856-1930) Winter Landscape by the River Oil on canvas signed low right Frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 46 X 80 cm Dim frame : 68 X 103 cm CLARY Jean Eugèn...
Oil
Portrait of a boy 1865
By Carl Gutsch
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Carl GUTSCH (19th Century) Portrait of a young Boy Oil on canvas signed low right and dated 1865 Old Original frame gilded with Leaves Dim canvas : 127 X 84 cm Dim Frame : 157 X 114 ...
Oil
Plate 15: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Dinning Room
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 14: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Green Salon Second view
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 12 : Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Red Salon
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 8: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Smoking Room
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 7: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Anteroom of the Smoking Room
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 6: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Second View
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the sixth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 5: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, Passing Room
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the fifth plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
Plate 3: Vienna, Palais Erzherzog Friedrich, First Anteroom
Located in New York, NY
This photogravure is the third plate presented in Josef Folnesics publication "Alte Innenräume österreichischer Schlösser, Paläste und Wohnhäuser" (Old interiors of Austrian Castles,...
Photogravure
After Dinner Rest Awhile - Quintessentially British Domestic Scene
Located in London, GB
Margaret Dovaston (1884–1955) After Dinner, Rest Awhile Oil on Canvas Signed M Dovaston (lower right) 46 x 61 cms / 18 x 24 inches This finely detailed scene by British artist Marga...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
The Twelve Princesses
Located in New Orleans, LA
The greatest triumph of the artist’s career, this extraordinary and monumental oil on canvas by Gustave-Max Stevens perfectly represents the highly detailed compositions and richly h...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Sandringham - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Royal Homes, Sandringham House
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Sandringham by HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be associated with the artworks of HRH The P...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Petite Mendiante By William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Located in New Orleans, LA
William Bouguereau French 1825-1905 Petite Mendiante (Little Beggar) Signed “W. Bouguereau 1880” (center left) Oil on canvas William Bouguereau's faithful images of young women a...
Canvas, Oil
Au Bord Du Ruisseau By William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Located in New Orleans, LA
William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905 French Au Bord du Ruisseau Signed and dated “W-Bouguereau-1888” (upper left) Oil on Canvas “Bouguereau’s paintings of children allowed for th...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Young girl from Tetouan, Morocco
Located in New Orleans, LA
Young girl from Tetouan, Morocco Signed (center right) Oil on canvas In this important oil on canvas, French Orientalist painter Charles Landelle captures the engaging visage of a young Moroccan woman in a moment of tranquil contemplation. Seated on the floor of what is almost certainly an opulent riad, the young woman wears an intricately embroidered Moroccan kaftan and headdress. The sumptuous patterns on the floor and in the background lend an additional warmth to the strikingly vivid red hues which dominate the composition and are a hallmark of Landelle’s work. The symbols behind the young woman may represent either the Jewish Star of David or the Islamic Seal...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Balmoral - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Royal Homes, Balmoral Castle, British
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Balmoral by His Majesty King Charles III (formerly known as HRH Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales) - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be associated with the artworks of HRH The Prince of Wales for over 25 years. Anna Hunter, gallery owner, wrote a handwritten letter to the Prince asking him if he would consider making signed lithographs from his beautiful watercolours which could be sold in aid of his charities. The gallery subsequently worked with the Prince for over 10 years publishing some 18 different editions and raising over £4million for the Prince’s Charitable Foundation. Lithographs were made from the Prince’s original watercolours under the guidance of Stanley Jones – a celebrated printmaker who had previously worked with Henry Moore for 30 years, and with Elizabeth Frink, David Hockney and others. Each one is hand-signed. “…One thing I have discovered in the course of my painting efforts is that Balmoral Castle...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Highgrove - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Royal Homes, Highgrove House, British
By His Majesty King Charles III
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Highgrove by His Majesty King Charles III - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be associate...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Windsor Castle - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Royal Homes, Architecture
By His Majesty King Charles III
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Windsor Castle by HM King Charles III - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be associated with the artwo...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Windsor Castle North Aspect - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Royal Home, British
By His Majesty King Charles III
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Windsor Castle by His Majesty King Charles III - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be asso...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Overlooking Wadi, Saudi Arabia - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Mountains, Asir
By His Majesty King Charles III
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Overlooking Wadi, Asir Province, Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia by His Majesty King Charles III, (created when he was HRH The Prince of Wales) - ...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Hong Kong from HMY Britannia - Signed Lithograph, Royal Art, Union Jack,
By His Majesty King Charles III
Located in Knowle Lane, Cranleigh
Hong Kong From HMY Britannia by HM King Charles III - Hand Signed Limited Edition Lithograph. Belgravia Gallery has been honoured to be associated ...
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Rosetta
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas Signed This painting is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Tohu-bohu” is a series of paintings by French-American painter John Bailly that explores the o...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Los Hermanos Islets
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas Signed This painting is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “When two worlds collide, mayhem or genius can ensue. Consider the freestyle fellowship that ha...
Canvas, Oil
Price Upon Request
Paris
Located in New York, NY
Mixed media on paper Signed This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “When two worlds collide, mayhem or genius can ensue. Consider the freestyle fellowship t...
Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
Miami
Located in New York, NY
Mixed media on paper Signed This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “When two worlds collide, mayhem or genius can ensue. Consider the freestyle fellowship t...
Mixed Media
Price Upon Request
Palazzo Doria Pamphilij Roma
Located in New York, NY
Palazzo Doria Pamphilij, Roma C-print Signed, titled, dated and numbered edition of 5 on artist's label on verso. 39.5 x 47.5 inches, edition of 5 47.5 x 59 inches, edition of 5 7...
C Print
Biblioteca Real Gabinete de Leitura, Rio De Janeiro-Brasile
Located in New York, NY
Biblioteca Real Gabinete de Leitura, Rio De Janeiro-Brasile C-print Signed, titled, dated and numbered edition of 5 on artist's label on verso. 39.5 x 47.5 inches, edition of 5 47....
C Print