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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
Gondolier on a Venetian backwater, oil on canvas, by Antoine Bouvard senior
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Antoine Bouvard (French, 1882–1956) Gondolier on a Venetian Backwater Oil on canvas Signed ‘Bouvard’ (lower left) 21.25 x 32 in. (54 x 81.5 cm) In this tranquil Venetian scene, Anto...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Apollo Marble Bust Sculpture of Grand Tour Mythological subject 1850'
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in white Carrara marble of Apollo bust .
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Marble

Stack, 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: Stack Size: 12" x 17" x 0.8'' inch, ...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

“Puerta Bisagra, Toledo”
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on artist board painting of the historic city of Toledo by the Australian artist, Robert Camm. Signed lower left and titled and dated verso, 1931. Th...
Category

1930s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Original French Abstract Artwork of a Horse in a Forest Setting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Abstract Artwork of a Horse in a Forest Setting Artist: Robert Ladou (French 1929-2014) Medium: Acrylic on paper drawing: 11.5 x 9.5 inches condition: Good pro...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Acrylic

Wild 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: 2019 Style: Impressionism Title: Wild Flowers Size: 20" x 16" x 0.8''...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Woman portrait by Ilse Voigt - Oil on canvas 96x76 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on canvas with wooden frame. Total size with frame is 88x109 cm Ilse VOIGT is an artist born in 1905 and died in 1997. His works have been sold at public auction 24 times, mostl...
Category

1940s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

'Nymph with a Centaur', French School, Academic, Greek Mythological Grisaille
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
'Nymph with a Centaur' by T.M. French School, Academic, Framed Greek Mythological Grisaille --- An exceptionally fine, brush and wash, mythological figural study showing a centaur i...
Category

Early 1900s Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Illustration Board

'Study for a Stained Glass Window', Devotional, Ecclesiastical, Pre-Raphaelite
Located in Santa Cruz, CA
A sensitively drawn and highly-detailed study for a three-panel set of stained glass windows showing the ascension of Jesus by angels and mortals. Initialed, lower right, 'EB-J', an...
Category

1920s Academic Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Gouache

Venice The Lagoon, Painting 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
BACHMANN Alfred Félix August (1863-1956) Venice Lagoon and Doge Palace Oil on canvas signed Low Right Frame gilded with leaves Dim canvas : 73 X 54 cm Dim frame : 78 X 95 cm ...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Hercules Italian Stone Sculpture of Classical Torso with Base
Located in Rome, IT
This reproduction of a classical Hellenistic sculpture of Hercules . A timeless piece for interior and a garden decoration. We can raise with a base on request .
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Limestone

” La Maschera ” 19th Century Antique Realistic Oil Painting On Canvas
Located in Jacksonville, FL
“Mom and Her Kids,” an exquisite oil painting on canvas by Gaetano Chierici, also known as La Maschera, captures a timeless domestic scene with remarkable attention to detail and emo...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Path, 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...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Picnic on the Hudson
Located in New York, NY
Picnic on the Hudson is a significant canvas painted circa 1860 as Whittredge was purposely transitioning his European training and experience into a purely American style and genre....
Category

1860s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Orientalist African Hunter Leaning on His Shield 19th cent. Black Forest, German
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Orientalist African Hunter Leaning on His Shield Black Forest, School Switzerland  19th century Carved Wood 21 inches This is an exceptionally beautifu...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Wood

“Provincetown Harbor”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful original watercolor of Provincetown Harbor in first light by the well known artist John Cuthbert Hare. Signed lower right. Condition is excellent. The watercolor is hou...
Category

1950s Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Seashore, 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: Seashore Size: 16" x 21.5" x 0.8'' i...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Nude back (1978) - Ink on paper 46x63 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
China Ink Signed H. Balslaecj (artist unknown from the gallery) and dated 1978 Pastel wooden frame with plexiglas Total size with frame: 75x57x6 cm
Category

1970s Academic Art

Materials

Ink

Napoléon before the Battle of Moscow
Located in New Orleans, LA
Emperor Napoléon I was and remains one of the most legendary military and political figures in history, having held, for a brief period, the fate of the Western world in his hands. Composed by the French painter Joseph Franque...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Still Life with Grapes and Peaches”
Located in Southampton, NY
Very nicely executed original still life oil painting on fiberboard by the Wales born artist, Edward Pritchard. Signed lower left. Circa 1915. Conditi...
Category

1910s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Fiberboard

Academic French Painting Circle of BOUGUEREAU The grape picker Young girl 19th
Located in PARIS, FR
William Bouguereau (Circle of) La Rochelle, 1825 – La Rochelle, 1905 The Little Grape Picker Oil on canvas 54 x 38 cm (64 x 48 cm with frame) Unsigned Beautiful 19th-century giltwood...
Category

1880s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Autumn Valley, 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: Autumn Valley Size: 15.5" x 22" x 0....
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Flowering Hyacinth & Calla Plants: A Besler Hand-colored Botanical Engraving
Located in Alamo, CA
This is a hand-colored copper plate engraving depicting flowering "Hyacinthus Comosus Spurius" (Hyacinth), "Hyacinthus Anglicus" (Blue Hyacinth), "Palma ...
Category

Early 18th Century Academic Art

Materials

Engraving

Mary Magdalene - Original lithograph
Located in Paris, IDF
Maurice DENIS (1870 - 1943) Mary Magdalene Original lithograph enhanced in pastel Printed signature in the plate On light cream tinted vellum 32,5 x 47 cm (c. 12,7 x 18,5 inch) INF...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Lithograph

Portrait of a woman in red. Famous French painter
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas. Signed upper right. A characteristic work by Henner, renowned for his masterful handling of sfumato and chiaroscuro to evoke atmosphere and depth. His subtle transiti...
Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Cardboard

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 ...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Original Marines World War 1 poster. E-E-E-YAH-YIP Go over with U. S. Marines
Located in Spokane, WA
Original World War One: Go Over With U.S. Marines. E-E-E-YAH-YIP. This charging leather neck holds his Springfield high. The cropped design was influenced by candid photography, ...
Category

1910s Academic Art

Materials

Lithograph

On the Terrace by Antonio Torres Fuster
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antonio Torres Fuster 1847-1945 Spanish On the Terrace Signed "Antonio Torres" (lower left) Oil on canvas Antonio Torres Fuster deftly channels the artistry and spirit of the Pre...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original French Abstract Portrait
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Abstract Portrait Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Acrylic on paper Size: 11.5 (Height) x 15.25 (Width) Signed: No Condition: Good Descriptio...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Acrylic

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...
Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

The Beauty of Becoming Oil on canvas by Francesco Longo Mancini
Located in Gent, VOV
She sits at the threshold of transformation. A young woman, caught in the quiet exultation before her first ball, smiles—not to anyone in particular, but to herself, and to the momen...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Lion & Mouse
Located in New York, NY
Isadore stands as one of the greatest animaliers of all time and this is a playful and endearing example of his work! Especially going forward, these bronzes make a distinctive and...
Category

1870s Academic Art

Materials

Bronze

Portrait of a Lady
By Alexandre-François Caminade
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Alexandre François CAMINADE (1789-1862) Portrait of a Lady Oil on wood signed low right Old frame gilded with leaves Wood size : 22 X 15 cm Frame size : 40 X 30 cm Alexandre-Françoi...
Category

1850s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

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

The Water Carrier by Eugen von Blaas
Located in New Orleans, LA
Eugen von Blaas Italian I 1843-1932 The Water Carrier Signed and dated "E. von Blaas 1891" (lower right) Oil on canvas Eugen von Blaas’ unparalleled skill for genre painting is on...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“Montalcino”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on board painting of the historic town of Montalcino in Italy by the well known American artist, David Buckley Good. Signed by the artist lower left. Titled verso. Gr...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

“Sunset on the River”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautifully painted sunset on the river with a single figure in a punt and cattle crossing by the American artist, George Riecke. Most likely a New Orlea...
Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Sunny Day, 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: 2018 Style: Impressionism Title: Sunny Day Size: 16" x 20" x 0.8'' in...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Italian School of the 17th Century : Saint Jerome with a Lion - Oil Painting
Located in Paris, IDF
Italy : Venetian school of the 17th century Saint Jerome wit a Lion, circa 1620 Oil on panel Unsigned On wood board 49 x 30 cm Good condition, accidents/wear (see photos)
Category

Early 17th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Spring, Figurative Art, 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: 2018 Style: Impressionism Title: Spring, Size: 18" x 24" x 0.8'' inc...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Summer Valley, 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 Signed to lower right Medium: Oil on Linen, Year: 2024 Style: Impressionism Title: Summer Valley,...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

“French Cavaliers”
Located in Southampton, NY
Oil on wooden panel painting of horse riding French cavaliers in battle. Signed lower left. Not dated. Original period gilded frame in fine condition. Painting has been recently professionally cleaned. Painting and frame circa 1875. Overall framed measurements are 16 by 14 inches. Condition of the painting is very good. Provenance: Saint Petersburg, Florida estate. Charles Michel Guilbert D'anelle was a pupil of Horace Vernet ( known for his military paintings...
Category

1870s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

“French Cavaliers”
“French Cavaliers”
$2,200 Sale Price
31% Off
Head of a Monk – Preparatory Study, Atelier of Enrico Reffo
Located in Firenze, IT
Study of a Kneeling Figure, from the Circle of Enrico Reffo Charcoal on lightly toned paper 47 x 32 cm Late 19th – early 20th century From the atelier of one of Reffo’s pupils This ...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Paper, Pencil, Carbon Pencil

“Cordes”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original oil on board painting of the historic village of Cordes-sur-Ciel in France by the well known American artist, David Buckley Good. Signed lower left by the artist. Titled ...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Oil, Board

"Still Life with Cherries, Grapes" Annie L. Morgan, Academic Fruit Still Life
Located in New York, NY
Annie L. Morgan Still Life with Cherries, Grapes, and Pomegranate, circa 1880 Signed lower left Oil on canvas 20 x 16 inches
Category

1880s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fishing Boats, Seascape, 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: Fishing Boats Size: 26" x 35" x 0.8'...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Original French Abstract Study of a Horse and Figure in a Stable
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Title: Original French Abstract Study of a Horse and Figure in a Stable Artist: Robert Ladou (French, 1929-2014) Medium: Watercolor on paper Size: 12 (Height) x 14.75 (Width) Signed...
Category

20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Watercolor

'Classical Seated Female Nude', by Charles G. Bockman, Oil on Canvas Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 38 x 32 inch painting, is an oil on canvas titled 'Female Nude,' by artist Charles G. Bockmann. The painting depicts a 3/4th portrait of a nude woman wh...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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: 19.5" x 23.5" x 0.8'' in...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A Very Fine Danish 19th Century Oil on Canvas "The Sewing Room" (Systue)
Located in LA, CA
Wenzel Ulrik Tornøe (Danish, 1844-1907) A very fine and large oil on canvas titled "Systue" ("The Sewing Room"). The finely executed artwork depicting the interior of a sewing room w...
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Saint Sophia, City, 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: Saint Sophia Size: 12" x 17" x 0.8''...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Evening Colors, 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: Evening Colors Size: 15.5" x 21" x 0...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Ocean Cliff, Seascape, 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: Ocean Cliff Size: 15.5" x 23.5" x 0....
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

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...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still life by Baldo Guberti - Oil on cardboard 32x45 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on cardboard sold with frame Wooden frame with glass Total size with frame 47x60 cm Baldo GUBERTI is an artist born in Italy in 1907 and died in 1974. His works have been sold ...
Category

1960s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Flowers on a white table cloth, 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 Title: Flowers on a white table cloth Size: 24" x 30" x 0.8'' inch, (61x76x2cm), Unframed, Stretched on wooden bar, Ready to Hang, Artist Bio Ara H. Hakobyan is an Armenian artist and art critic, Doctor of Sciences (arts, 2017), professor (2018) and a member of Artist Union of the Republic of Armenia (1999). Ara H. Hakobyan was born in 1973 in Yerevan in the family of art historian Hravard Hakobyan. In 1997 Mr. Hakobyan graduated from the Yerevan State Academy of Arts, Department of Painting. During 1997-2000 Ara Hakobyan...
Category

2010s Academic Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Young woman in evening dress" by Emile Hornung - Drawing 43x57 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Sketch of Pierrot tuning his guitar on the back of the artwork
Category

1910s Academic Art

Materials

Crayon, Graphite

David Slaying Goliath Large Figural Bronze Statue by Antonin Mercie
Located in New York, NY
The base marked "A. Mercie" and "506 F. Barbenienne, Fondeur, Paris" ad "A. Collas" "Reduction Mecanique." The dazzling David, a prolific subject amongst sculpture artists beginning...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Bronze

Lady at the Flower Market
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
LEBAS Léonie (19th-20th) "Lady at the Flower Market in Paris" Oil on wood panel signed low right Old Frame regilded with gold leaves Dim panel : 16 X...
Category

1890s Academic Art

Materials

Oil

Animated landscape
Located in Genève, GE
Work on canvas
Category

19th Century Academic Art

Materials

Oil

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.

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