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Academic Art

ACADEMIC STYLE

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. 

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Style: Academic
Bur Reed & Water Hemlock: A 17th-18th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Bur Reed & Water Hemlock: A 17th-18th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving

Bur Reed & Water Hemlock: A 17th-18th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving

Located in Alamo, CA

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Orobanche, Cicuta Maxima, Sparganium (Bur Reed, Water Hemlock, Broomrape) ", depicting a flowering Bur Reed, Water Hemlock, Broomrape plants 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 us spotting and some discoloration, most prominently in the upper and lower margins. There is irregularity and some loss along the right paper edge. The print is otherwise in excellent condition with striking hand-coloring. The sheet measures 21.5" high and 17.25" 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...

Category

Early 18th Century Academic Art

Materials

Engraving

Academic Study of young saint Inspired by Perugino, Tuscan School, cm 40x28
Academic Study of young saint Inspired by Perugino, Tuscan School, cm 40x28

Academic Study of young saint Inspired by Perugino, Tuscan School, cm 40x28

Located in Firenze, IT

Head with Halo, Academic Study Inspired by Perugino, Tuscan School, 40 × 28 cm Mid-19th century Pencil on paper Academic drawing depicting a youthful head with a halo and upward gaz...

Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Pencil, Carbon Pencil

Young Mother Contemplating Two Embracing Children by William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Young Mother Contemplating Two Embracing Children by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Young Mother Contemplating Two Embracing Children by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

By William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Located in New Orleans, LA

William-Adolphe Bouguereau 1825-1905 French Jeune mère contemplant deux enfants qui s'embrassent (Young Mother Contemplating Two Embracing Children) Signed “W-Bouguereau” (bottom ...

Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Okinawa, Typhoon of Steel by John Steven Dews
Okinawa, Typhoon of Steel by John Steven Dews

Okinawa, Typhoon of Steel by John Steven Dews

By John Steven Dews

Located in New Orleans, LA

John Steven Dews b. 1949 British Okinawa, Typhoon of Steel, 1st April 1945 Signed “J. Steven Dews” (lower right) Oil on canvas This powerful canvas by John Steven Dews captures t...

Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of Lady
Portrait of Lady

Portrait of Lady

Located in London, GB

John Westbrooke Chandler 1763- 1807 Oil on canvas Image size: 30 x 25 inches (76 x 63.5 cm) Original gilt swept frame This portrait is marked by its loose brushwork, which creates a...

Category

Late 18th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Cardinal with Elegant Company by Angelo Zoffoli
Cardinal with Elegant Company by Angelo Zoffoli

Cardinal with Elegant Company by Angelo Zoffoli

Located in New Orleans, LA

Angelo Zoffoli 1860-1910 Italian Cardinal with Elegant Company Signed "A. Zoffoli Roma" (lower right) Oil on canvas A sumptuously dressed cardinal enjoys the company of a fabulou...

Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent
La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent

La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent

By John Singer Sargent

Located in New Orleans, LA

John Singer Sargent 1856-1925 American Stamped by artist's estate (en verso) Oil on canvas John Singer Sargent, widely regarded as one of history's most distinguished portraitists...

Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“The Potato Peelers”
“The Potato Peelers”

“The Potato Peelers”

By German School

Located in Southampton, NY

Original oil on canvas painting of a man and a woman intently peeling potatoes at a table. No visible signature. Old gallery label in German verso that is dated 1934 Condition is go...

Category

1930s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Venetian Scene by Martin Rico y Ortega
Venetian Scene by Martin Rico y Ortega

Venetian Scene by Martin Rico y Ortega

By Martin Rico y Ortega

Located in New Orleans, LA

Martin Rico y Ortega 1833-1908 Spanish Venetian Scene Signed "Rico" (lower left) Oil on canvas Spanish artist Martin Rico y Ortega captures a charming view of a canal in Venice ...

Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Aurora in white toga smelling a flower.  Goddess of Dawn Mythology scene
Aurora in white toga smelling a flower.  Goddess of Dawn Mythology scene

Aurora in white toga smelling a flower. Goddess of Dawn Mythology scene

By Jean Louis Hamon

Located in Miami, FL

Jean Louis Hamon artfully presents the mythological subject: Aurora the Goddess of Dawn. She is dressed in a flowing toga, standing on a large leaf and smelling the sweetness of a flower in bloom. Surrounded by lush plants in an idyllic setting of pinks and blues, one would not think that this peaceful and beautiful work was painted in 1864 at the time of the American Civil War. Hamon meticulously renders the scene with the academic precision of Bouguereau. The closer you get, the more detail you discover. Two butterflies sit atop Aurora's head. Droplets of water gracefully roll down her hair. There was a hand colored steel plate...

Category

1860s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Tree by Otto Vautier - Graphite on paper - 21x29 cm
Tree by Otto Vautier - Graphite on paper - 21x29 cm

Tree by Otto Vautier - Graphite on paper - 21x29 cm

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Graphite

Flowering Peppermint Plants: A 17th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Flowering Peppermint Plants: A 17th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving

Flowering Peppermint Plants: A 17th C. Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving

Located in Alamo, CA

This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving entitled "Pulegium Cervinum, Pseudo Pulegium Struthium, Pulegium Regium", depicting flowering Peppermint, Weld and Pennyroyal 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. There are subtle creases in the right upper corner, very common with Besler's relating to the drying of the paper during its production. The right margin is thinner than the others. The print is otherwise in excellent condition with striking hand-coloring. Basilius Besler (1561–1629) was an apothecary and botanist. He was curator of the Willibaldsburg Castle garden of Johann Konrad von Gemmingen, prince bishop...

Category

1640s Academic Art

Materials

Engraving

Exceptional Pair of Italian Neoclassical Leons Carrara Marble Statues
Exceptional Pair of Italian Neoclassical Leons Carrara Marble Statues

Exceptional Pair of Italian Neoclassical Leons Carrara Marble Statues

Located in Rome, IT

Outstanding pair Italian Neoclassical Leons Carrara Marble sculptures. A timeless piece for your garden or interior decoration. Good condition, with visible signs of wear and ...

Category

1790s Academic Art

Materials

Marble

Shooting Engraving After George Stubbs, Late 18th Century Style
Shooting Engraving After George Stubbs, Late 18th Century Style

Shooting Engraving After George Stubbs, Late 18th Century Style

Located in GB

William Woollett (1735–1785) William Woollett was one of the most accomplished British engravers of the 18th century, renowned for his technical precision and his ability to translate the subtleties of painting into the language of print. Born in Maidstone, Kent, Woollett trained under John Tinney in London and quickly established himself as a master of landscape and historical engraving. He became particularly celebrated for his engravings after works by artists such as Richard Wilson, Claude Lorrain, and Benjamin West — notably The Death of General Wolfe (after West), which became one of the most famous British prints of its age. Woollett’s exceptional skill in combining line engraving with etching allowed him to reproduce painterly effects of light, texture, and atmosphere with remarkable delicacy. Elected an Associate Engraver of the Royal Academy in 1775, Woollett elevated the status of printmaking to that of a fine art. His works, characterized by technical brilliance and tonal richness, remain benchmarks of 18th-century British engraving. George Stubbs (1724–1806) George Stubbs is regarded as one of Britain’s greatest animal painters, celebrated for his scientific observation, anatomical accuracy, and artistic sensitivity. Born in Liverpool, he studied anatomy independently, dissecting horses to understand their musculature and structure — research that culminated in his celebrated publication The Anatomy of the Horse (1766). Stubbs’s paintings...

Category

Late 18th Century Academic Art

Materials

Engraving

Anatomy Drawing of a Horse - Original French Artwork Equestrian Anatomy Study
Anatomy Drawing of a Horse - Original French Artwork Equestrian Anatomy Study

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...

Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Charcoal, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil

A Pompeian Lady
A Pompeian Lady

A Pompeian Lady

By John William Godward

Located in New Orleans, LA

John William Godward 1861-1922 British A Pompeian Lady Signed and dated "J.W. Godward 1904" (lower right, partially covered by frame) Oil on canvas One of the last and greatest Victorian neoclassical painters, John William Godward is celebrated for his flawlessly executed images of graceful women posed in idealized ancient settings. In this work, entitled A Pompeian Lady, a classical beauty is caught idling in a moment of quiet, solitary reflection. Godward's elegant subjects are depicted with a degree of technical mastery that remains unsurpassed, and the work's dramatic palette, luxurious fabrics and classical vision are all characteristics of his unique take on the neoclassical style. Godward was unmatched in terms of his technical skill and attention to detail. A master of contrasting textures, he paints a diaphanous gown draping against the model’s smooth, milky white skin, which sits against the painstakingly rendered individual hairs of a tiger’s pel. Scintillating color permeates the canvas as well, energizing the otherwise static scene. Each element is given careful attention, and the overall effect is one of both immaculate technique and sensual tactility. Along with his contemporary and mentor, Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, Godward set the tone for the Victorian neoclassicist movement. He built his career upon creating images of idealized feminine beauty infused with a Greco-Roman-inspired style. Though greatly influenced by Alma-Tadema, Godward distinguished himself through his predilection for the solitary female figure. His fame rose dramatically in the first few years of the 20th century, when the present work was completed, due to the burgeoning strength of the British Empire and the Victorian society’s preoccupation with ancient Rome. To many of the newly affluent, Roman society was, as Iain Gale writes, “a flawless mirror of their own immaculate world.” The sensuality and mystery of Godward’s maidens, combined with his impressive antique backdrops...

Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Flowers in a Big Vase by Albert Duplain - Oil on canvas 62x74 cm
Flowers in a Big Vase by Albert Duplain - Oil on canvas 62x74 cm

Flowers in a Big Vase by Albert Duplain - Oil on canvas 62x74 cm

Located in Geneva, CH

Albert Duplain (1890-1978) was a Swiss painter known for his depictions of Swiss landscapes and scenes of everyday life. His works, characterized by vibrant colors and a strong conne...

Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Cats in interior
Cats in interior

Cats in interior

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

LE ROY Jules Gustave (1853 - 1922 ) Cats in Interior Oil on canvas signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Size canvs : 41 X 33 cm Size frame : 51 x 63 cm LE ROY Jules Gustave (1853 - 1922 ) 19th-20th century - French painter Jules Le Roy or Jules Leroy was born the 22th of December 1853. Dead in 1922 according to the Roubaix Museum Wildlife artist. He mainly painted cats...

Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

The Empress Theodora at the Coliseum
The Empress Theodora at the Coliseum

The Empress Theodora at the Coliseum

Located in New York, NY

Benjamin Constant was an important figure in the Academic painting world in Paris and one of the leading French Romantic artists of the time. He is in all the museums of France and ...

Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Woman with cameo
Woman with cameo

T. RichardWoman with cameo

$2,681Sale Price|20% Off

Woman with cameo

Located in Genève, GE

Work on canvas Original frame This portrait of a woman with a cameo is a beautiful example of 19th-century classical painting, showcasing the refinement and elegance of its time. The...

Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

“India, 1912”
“India, 1912”

“India, 1912”

Located in Southampton, NY

Original watercolor and gouache on paper of a busy street scene in India done in 1912 by the American artist, William Henry Drake. Copyrighted signed and dated 1912 lower left. Condition is good. Recently professionally matted. Unframed. Overall matte size is 12 by 16 inches. Provenance: A Long Island, New York estate. William Henry Drake Born: 1856 New York Died: 1926 Los Angeles Nationality: American Education: Académie Julian, Art Students League of New York Known for: Painting, illustration Awards: National Academy Biography: Drake studied at the Académie Julian in Paris, with Jean-Joseph Benjamin-Constant and Henri Lucien Doucet. Back from Europe, he studied at the Cincinnati School of Design, and would often go to the zoo, where he could draw the animals. He was then employed by the Museum of Natural History. He continued to study at the Art Students League of New York. In 1878 he worked as a freelance pen-and-ink artist for such periodicals as Century or Harper’s with animal studies...

Category

1910s Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

“View of Bay of Naples”
“View of Bay of Naples”

“View of Bay of Naples”

Located in Southampton, NY

Very well executed original gouache on archival paper of a group of figures on an overlook viewing the Bay of Naples by the Italian artist, Maria Ada Gianni...

Category

1920s Academic Art

Materials

Gouache, Archival Paper

Baroque Interiors of Castel
Baroque Interiors of Castel

Baroque Interiors of Castel

Located in Saint-Ouen, FR

PURRMANN, Karl (1877-1966) Baroque interiors of Castle Oil on wood panel signed and dated 1947 Low left Framed by Gault (Paris) Dim wood : 52 X 66 cm PURRMANN, Karl (1877-1966) Ger...

Category

1940s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

1980 Fauno e Ninfa Faun and Nymph Pencil on Paper Figurative Drawing
1980 Fauno e Ninfa Faun and Nymph Pencil on Paper Figurative Drawing

1980 Fauno e Ninfa Faun and Nymph Pencil on Paper Figurative Drawing

Located in Brescia, IT

This delicate drawing of the dance between a Faun and the Nimph, looks following the Jean Cocteau clean line drawings. We can see in this scene, the grace and simplicity of the Neoc...

Category

1980s Academic Art

Materials

Paper

British, early 20th Century oriental scene by female artist Katie Blackmore
British, early 20th Century oriental scene by female artist Katie Blackmore

British, early 20th Century oriental scene by female artist Katie Blackmore

Located in Petworth, West Sussex

Katie Blackmore (British, 1890 – 1957) Oriental fantasy Ink and gouache on paper Signed ‘K Blackmore’ (lower right) 9 x 8.3/8in. (22.8 x 21.2 cm.) A Scottish figurative and decorative artist, Katie Blackmore was closely associated with both Jessie Marion King...

Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Ink, Gouache

Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat 19th Century Large Antique Oil Painting on Canvas
Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat 19th Century Large Antique Oil Painting on Canvas

Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat 19th Century Large Antique Oil Painting on Canvas

Located in Jacksonville, FL

Study for Ruth Gathering Wheat The Painting is monogrammed bottom left side Provenance: Notes: This is the full scale version of Ruth in Pharoah's Fields exhibited at the Royal Academy (now lost). Exhibited at the Bristol Art Museum, Birmingham UK Private Collection, Detroit, MI Description: Sir Edwin Long (1829-1891) was a renowned British painter known for his historical and Orientalist artworks. Born in Bath, England, Long displayed exceptional artistic talent from an early age. He received formal training at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, where he honed his skills and developed his distinctive style. One of Long’s oil paintings...

Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Red Poppies and Grapes”
“Red Poppies and Grapes”

“Red Poppies and Grapes”

Located in Southampton, NY

Here for your consideration is a circa 1920’s still life of red poppies and purple grapes. Oil on artist canvas board . Signed lower right but artis...

Category

1920s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Immaculate Conception Oil on Canvas Painting, Academic Style, Signed
Immaculate Conception Oil on Canvas Painting, Academic Style, Signed

Immaculate Conception Oil on Canvas Painting, Academic Style, Signed

Located in Sitges, Barcelona

Title: Immaculate Conception Author: Anonymous Period: 20th Century Technique: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 25.6 x 21.3 in Signature: "Karmel" (lower right) Condition: Good Descr...

Category

1980s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Boulders
Boulders

Boulders

By Newell Convers Wyeth

Located in Greenville, DE

Original landscape oil on canvas by American illustrator N.C. Wyeth. Painted in his hometown of Chadds Ford, PA c. 1911-12. The work is unsigned but is included in the artist's catal...

Category

1910s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Homeward with Dog and Burden
Homeward with Dog and Burden

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...

Category

1860s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

“Rough Seas”
“Rough Seas”

“Rough Seas”

By Franklin D. Briscoe

Located in Southampton, NY

Here for your consideration is a very well executed luminous oil on artist board painting by the American artist, Franklin Dullin Briscoe. Signed and dated by the artist lower righ...

Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Academic art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic art available for sale on 1stDibs. Works in this style were very popular during the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artists have continued to produce works inspired by this movement. If you’re looking to add art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of purple, blue, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Karen Darbinyan, Owen Jones, Paul Jones b.1921, and Mark Beard. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Academic art, so small editions measuring 1.5 inches across are also available. Prices for art made by famous or emerging artists can differ depending on medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $11 and tops out at $700,000, while the average work sells for $1,444.