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Academic Sculptures

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
Painted Cast-Metal Tiger circa 1900
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Painted Cast-Metal Tiger Continental School, circa 1900 8.75 x 19.5 inches Ex. Collection Interior Designer Joseph Cicio Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Joseph Cicio followe...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Polo Player Bookends in Bronze
Located in Brookville, NY
Polo Bookends in bronze for the sporty library. These were purchased from the collection of a polo player on Long Island who had a beautiful library of sporting books. He also owne...
Category

1960s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Herbivore fossil
Located in Oswestry, GB
This shallow relief sculpture is of a 135 million years old fossil of a unknown herbivore discovered in India from the jurassic period. Davies chose this fossil amongst a plethora of...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Four Season Extraordinary Set of Italian Stone Caryatids Sculptures
Located in Rome, IT
Four Caryatids sculptures with classically draped figures and their distinguishing symbols. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Measures: Height with square form bases cm 220. Time...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

ORPHEUS Neoclassical White Marble Sculpture 19' Century
Located in Rome, IT
Unique Carrara white marble finely carved sculpture of Orpheus , Mythological personification of the eternal love and art. Henry Dasson French 1825 - 1896 Orpheus white marble, on a gilt bronze base 75.5cm., 29 3/4 in. overall The renowned Parisian maker of gilt-bronze mounted furniture, Henry Dasson, began his career as a bronze sculptor. Occasionally marbles with his signature have appeared on the art market. It is likely that these were made in his workshop at 106, rue Vielle du Temple, which specialised in the production of bronze artifacts and clocks. Dasson's success was such that he was made a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur in 1883 and was awarded the Grand Prix Artistique at the Paris 1889 Exposition Universelle. In the Greek myth Orpheus, son of the muse Calliope and Apollo – or of the king of Thrace, Eagro – is the poet par excellence, the personification of song. With his lyre and his words he manages to seduce men, animals of all species and even trees, stones and the sea. With the strength of his verses he moves, softens, excites, touches the soul and the fibers of those who have the opportunity to listen to him. Orpheus falls in love with the nymph Eurydice and marries her. Yet the fate of the two lovers...
Category

19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

“Knife Wrestlers”, After The Statue By J. P. Molin, Stockholm 1867
Located in PARIS, FR
Rare and imposing reduction of the famous statue of JP Molin, inaugurated in 1867 in front of the National Museum of Stockholm. This version in black enamelled stoneware was produced...
Category

1860s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Sandstone

Set of Extraordinary Italian Stone Statues Representing the Four Seasons
Located in Rome, IT
Monumental classically draped female figures and their distinguishing symbols on a square base. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Measures: Height of the sculptures cm 190 with squ...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Marble Sculpture of Roman Mythological subject Apollo
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in white Carrara marble of Apollo head .
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

28” Orpheus Antique Bronze Sculpture Male Nude with Lyre by George Mattes 1900
Located in New York, NY
For sale is the great looking large male nude bronze sculpture of Orpheus by German Artist Professor George Mattes (1874-1945). Orpheus is seen along ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Italian Stone Garden Sculptures of Roman Mythological subject of Apollo
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in Vicenza limestone of Apollo in Excellent condition from an estate of Veneto. Timeless decoration for your interior or garden. Measurements: St...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture of Diana Goddess of the Hunt Signed B. Boschetti.
Located in Rome, IT
Grand Tour Fine Group of Sculpture in Bronze after a Louvre Diana of Versailles or Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. Diana is represented at the hunt, hastening forward, as if in pursui...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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...
Category

1880s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Large 19th Century Antique Marble Bust of Apollo of Belvedere
By Pietro Bazzanti
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...
Category

1860s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

American Bronze Sculpture of Male Nude Athlete during Shot Put.
Located in New York, NY
Clemente Spampinato, born in 1912 in Calabria, Italy, was a versatile artist and sports enthusiast. He created Bronze Trophies and Medallions for the Olympics and Italian sporting ev...
Category

1950s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Ataraxia
Located in Southampton, NY
A sculptural depiction of 'Luna', feral child who figures in many of the artist's works including vast paintings. This piece is a clever lamp that throws a soft shadow of the girl on...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Mixed Media, Resin

James Pradier, Phryne
Located in Tricase, IT
Phryne by James Pradier 1790-1852 Beautiful bronze representing "Phryne" a very pretty courtesan of ancient Greece covered with his peplo. Susse frères stamp, signed on the terrace...
Category

1820s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Fabulous Neoclassical Marble Sculpture of Bathing Venus 1880'
Located in Rome, IT
Late 19th century French finely carved white Carrara marble figure of Bathing Venus . The marble base is not included in the price. AFTER CHRISTOPHE-GABRIEL ALLEGRAIN (FRENCH, 1710-1795): A 19TH CENTURY MARBLE FIGURE...
Category

1880s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

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 Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Sir Winston Churchill Memorial By Ivor Roberts-Jones
Located in New Orleans, LA
Ivor Roberts-Jones 1916-1996 | British Sir Winston Churchill Memorial Bronze This exceptional and iconic sculpture of Sir Winston Churchill is the original maquette for the renown...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Signed Milo (France) - Tennis player
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in France
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Signed Milo (France) - Boxers
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in France
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Ila
Located in Milano, MI
Giuseppe Bergomi was born in Brescia in 1953. After attending the Brera Academy of Fine Arts, he held his first solo exhibition as a painter in his ho...
Category

2010s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

“The Four Seasons of Life” Set of large wall reliefs Bisque Royal Copenhagen
By Bertel Thorvaldsen
Located in PARIS, FR
A rare complete set of “Four seasons of life” in Bisque porcelain, in an outstanding diameter 34cm without frame and 46 cm framed. After Bertil Thorvaldsen’ marble médaillons...
Category

1860s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Bronze Signed Milo (France) - Polar bear
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in France
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

“Diana the Huntress” bronze after J. A. Houdon , France circa 1870
By Jean-Antoine Houdon
Located in PARIS, FR
Beautiful reduction of the famous marble masterpiece by J.A. Houdon, exhibited at the Goulbekian Foundation in Lisbon. The cast bronze, probably from NapoleonIII period, is heavy and...
Category

1860s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Signed Milo (France) - Cheetah
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in France
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Ariane on Panther, Statue Alabaster, after J. H. Dannecker, end 19th cent.
Located in PARIS, FR
“Ariane on Panther” is the most worldwide known work of the German sculptor Johann Heinrich Dannecker, born 1758 and died 1841 in Stuttgart , pupil of Pajou and Canova. The original ...
Category

1890s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Italian Limestone Garden Sculptures of Aria a Roman Goddness
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in Lecce limestone of Aria a Roman Goddness . Excellent condition from an estate of Veneto. Measurements: Statue cm 160, base cm 85.
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

TORSO OF YOUNG BRONZE MAN
Located in Nice, FR
Bust of a young man with green bronze patina.
Category

1960s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Signed F. Paris (Austria) - Ballerina Dancer
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in Austria
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Signed Milo (France)- Young man to the rose
Located in Geneva, CH
Bronze signed with hallmark of authenticity Made in France
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Daytime, marble sculpture
Located in PARIS, FR
"Daytime" by James PRADIER (1790-1852) Rare sculpture made in white Carrara marble France circa 1840 height 100 cm diameter of base 29 cm Listed in "Catalogue raisonné, James Pradi...
Category

1840s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Arletty, Leonie Bathiat by Mario Napoli - Bronze 50x60x28 cm
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 1/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Marlène Dietrich by Mario Napoli - Bronze 50x60x28 cm
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 7/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

James Dean by Mario Napoli - Bronze 60x50x28 cm
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 1/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Jean Cocteau by Mario Napoli - Bronze 60x50x28 cm
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 1/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Orson Wells by Mario Napoli - Bronze 60x50x28 cm
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 6/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Greta Garbo by Mario Napoli - Bronze 50x60x28 cm
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 7/8
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

ORPHEUS Neoclassical White Marble Sculpture 19' Century
Located in Rome, IT
Unique Carrara white marble finely carved sculpture of Orpheus , Mythological personification of the eternal love and art. Henry Dasson French 1825 - 1896 Orpheus white marble, on a...
Category

19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Standing ballerina
Located in Sempach, LU
Sculpture from the Ballet series. The series is dedicated to classical ballet and includes over 30 sculptur...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, 18th Century Half Length Sculpture
Located in London, GB
Plaster, raised pins and later coloured to simulate terracotta Height: 32 3⁄4 inches (83.5 cm). Full of elegance and liveliness, it conveys the consummate ability of the artist. Be...
Category

19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Plaster

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 Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Pan and Siringa
Located in Roma, RM
Jafet Torelli (active in Florence in the second half of the 19th century), Pan and Siringa Terracotta sculpture 54 x 22 x 22 cm signed Torelli Firenze on the base.
Category

19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Shell of the Gods: Italian Carrara Marble, Sculpture
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Description This sculpture by Bela Bacsi was inspired by a Hellenistic marble based on the shape of a shell found in the...
Category

2010s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

THE SPRING
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful La Belle Epoque marble in nive vintage condition. Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912) was a French sculptor in the academic style. He was born in Dijon, first exhibited in the 1848 Salon, and finally received a medal of honor...
Category

1890s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

“Diana”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful golden brown patina bronze of Diana, the goddess of the moon by the French sculptor, Emmanuel Villanis. Signed on her shoulder. Impressed foundry stamp on base, “Society de...
Category

1880s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Marble Sculpture of Roman Mythological subject Apollo
Located in Rome, IT
Finely carved mythological subject in white Carrara marble of Apollo head . Measurements: Statues cm 150, base cm 85.
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

“Enlevement des Sabines”
Located in Southampton, NY
Here for your consideration is a beautiful highly detailed bronze done in the forth quarter of the nineteen century after the work of Jean Boulogne, known as Giambologna. Boulogne’s sculpture was done in marble and was completed between 1579 and 1583. The sculptor of this bronze is Antonin Mercie, a well known French sculptor born in 1845. The bronze represents the Rape of the Sabine Women (Latin: Sabinae raptae), also known as the Abduction of the Sabine Women or the Kidnapping of the Sabine Women, was an incident in Roman mythology in which the men of Rome committed a mass abduction of young women from the other cities in the region. It has been a frequent subject of artists and sculptors, particularly during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance eras. Signed on base “Mercie” for Antonin Mercie.. In very good condition wirh original brown patina. The base which depicts rocks is bronze and has been painted a matt black. Provenance:: A Sarasota estate. Mercié, (Marius Jean Antonin Mercie...
Category

1880s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture of Diana Goddess of the Hunt Signed B. Boschetti.
Located in Rome, IT
Grand Tour Fine Group of Sculpture in Bronze after a Louvre Diana of Versailles or Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. Diana is represented at the hunt,...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Set of Extraordinary Italian Stone Statues Representing the Four Seasons
Located in Rome, IT
Monumental classically draped female figures and their distinguishing symbols on a square base. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Measures: Heig...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Rare Patinated Bronze Sculpture of Benjamin Franklin, by A. Carrier-Belleuse
Located in New York, NY
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse (France, 1824-1887) A rare seated bronze statue of Benjamin Franklin holding his walking stick and hat, with a book in his ri...
Category

19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique 19th cent. Dog Portrait Jack Russell Terrier by Pierre-Albert Laplanche
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog Portrait of a Terrier Pierre-Albert Laplanche (French, 1826-1873) Signed in script to base "Laplanche" Stamped "E.V 3753" 8 x 2.75 x 8 1/4 inches This is a super...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

The Spring
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful La Belle Epoque marble in nive vintage condition. Mathurin Moreau (1822-1912) was a French sculptor in the academic style. He was born in Dijon, first exhibited in the 1848 Salon, and finally received a medal of honor...
Category

1880s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Four Season Extraordinary Set of Italian Stone Caryatids Sculptures
Located in Rome, IT
Four Caryatids sculptures with classically draped figures and their distinguishing symbols. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Measures: Height wi...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

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...
Category

20th Century Academic Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Victory - Athletic Young Man in Classical Pose, ( Female Sculptor )
By Evelyn Beatrice Longman
Located in Miami, FL
Evelyn Beatrice Longman was a trailblazing female artist getting major commissions at the very begining of the 20th century. Having lived in New York City, I used to walk by the li...
Category

Early 1900s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Odyssey
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Exhibited California Art Club's 110th Annual Gold Medal Exhibition, Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University, Orange County...
Category

2010s Academic Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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 Sculptures

Materials

Limestone

Academic sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic sculptures 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. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Mathurin Moreau, Arthur Waagen, Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, and Bela Bacsi. Frequently made by artists working with Metal, and Bronze 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 sculptures, so small editions measuring 3.55 inches across are also available. Prices for sculptures 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 $316 and tops out at $598,500, while the average work sells for $8,622.

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