Skip to main content

Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

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. 

to
139
190
74
36
5
2
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
86
194
26
10
28
7
7
12
4
3
8
4
3
1
7,435
7,232
5,058
3,111
926
641
540
414
412
316
250
211
61
47
185
114
6
212
123
101
85
84
36
34
31
26
25
19
16
15
13
12
12
12
9
9
9
133
122
121
115
56
36
15
6
5
5
145
44
193
113
Style: Academic
“Figures on Camelback along the Nile”
Located in Southampton, NY
Wonderful original orientalist gouache by the well known French artist, Paul B. Pascal. Signed lower right. Circa 1885. Condition is excellent. The scene depicts figures on camelback along the Nile with pyramids in the background. Newly professionally matted and framed in antique style frame. Under glass. Overall framed measurements are 11 by 13 inches. Provenance: A Sarasota, Florida estate. Paul B. Pascal (1839–1905) was a French landscape painter. He did landscape paintings of the Middle East and the Mediterranean coast with gouache. After he emigrated to the United States in 1893, he did paintings of the American wilderness...
Category

1880s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Gouache, Archival Paper

Portrait of John Torcapel by Alexandre Blanchet - Pastel on paper 27x35 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Horse sketch by Otto Vautier - Drawing on paper 31x37 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on cardboard Otto Vautier is a renowned Swiss painter, born in 1863 in Düsseldorf. He was influenced by a family of artists and developed his style ...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Color Pencil

At the market by Jean Ducommun - Drawing 30x42 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper without frame Signed
Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

At Paulette s by M. Opériol - Drawing 32x41 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on canton paper
Category

1970s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Anatomy Drawing of a Horse - Original French Artwork Equestrian Anatomy Study
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: 11.75 x 14.5...
Category

20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Charcoal, Crayon, Watercolor, Pencil, Color Pencil

Mrs John Torcapel by Alexandre Blanchet - Sketch 35x47 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Total dimension with the passe-partout: 63 x 48 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

Portrait of a woman by Stefanie Guerzoni - Charcoal on paper 50x65 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Charcoal

Sketch woman portrait by Stephanie Guerzoni - Sketch on paper 26x37 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

Biedermeier Period Academic Life Study Male Nude Half Kneeling Pose Circa 1826
Located in Sutton Poyntz, Dorset
Eduard Braun. German ( b.1798 - d.1876 ). Academic Life Study Of A Male Nude Half Kneeling Pose. Pencil & Charcoal On Paper With Heightening. Paper size 2...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal, Pencil

Sketch of man by Otto Vautier - Pencil on paper 22x45 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Stamp of the workshop of O. Vautier Dimension of the passe-partout framing 52.5 x 38 cm Otto Vautier is a renowned Swiss painter, born in 1...
Category

Early 19th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

Dancer in Seated Gesture 2, by James Cobb, Chalk and Conté on Paper, 2021
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This 11.25 x 15.25 work on paper features a lone, seated, female dancer viewed from the back. The figure is twisting toward the viewer as she begins to look over her right shoulder. Her legs are pulled toward her body with the left leg crossed over the right. The isolation of the seated figure within the ground of the page lends a vulnerable quality to the work. The 16 x 20 dark brown mat has a window size of 11.25 x 15.25. Bio: Jim Cobb, until recently was hanging his work on Canyon Rd in Santa Fe, New Mexico. One-man shows have been hosted in Taos, New Mexico, Norman, Oklahoma and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. When the Oklahoma Art...
Category

2010s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Conté, Paper, Chalk

“Cape Neddick Light”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor on archival paper of the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York, Maine. Signed lower right. Circa 1950. Condition is very good. Several tiny spots of foxing. The wa...
Category

1950s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Boulevard parisino - Dibujo a pastel
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado por el artista en la parte inferior Se presenta bien enmarcada la obra (no hay cristal para evitar posibles roturas del cristal en el transporte) y comentar que el marco pre...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

"Dressing" by Otto Vautier - Pencil on paper 19x12 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Stamp of the workshop of O. Vautier Dimension of the "passe partout" frame 52.5 x 38 cm Otto Vautier is a renowned Swiss painter, born in 1...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

Portrait of a lady by Stephanie Guerzoni - Pastel on paper 38x51 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper sold with frame (white wooden frame with glass). The total size with frame is 46,5 x 56,5 cm Stéphanie Guerzoni is a Swiss and Italian painter born April 15, 1887 in ...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon, Pastel

Sketch of woman by Stephanie Guerzoni - Drawing 31x48 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper with a white wooden frame and glass. The total size with frame is 45,5 x 54,5 cm Stéphanie Guerzoni is a Swiss and Italian painter born April 15, 1887 in Vienna (Aust...
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

Pensive young woman by Emile Hornung - Pastel on paper 37x29 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Work on paper Sketch on the back of the work
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

Young woman lying on the sofa
Located in Genève, GE
Stamp of the workshop lower right Work on paper Golden wood frame with glass pane 35.5 x 41 x 3.5 cm
Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Crayon

“European Village”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor on archival paper laid down to heavy card stock by the American artist, Edward Loyal Field. The watercolor is of a European scene, perhaps Holland when the artist...
Category

1870s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Fire s Boat
Located in Dallas, TX
Eleanor Jones Harvey, Chief Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, writes about Bob Stuth-Wade: “Over the course of his career, Bob Stuth-Wade has examined his responses to...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Graphite

Stella Maris and Down Patrick Head
Located in Dallas, TX
Eleanor Jones Harvey, Chief Curator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, writes about Bob Stuth-Wade: “Over the course of his career, Bob Stuth-Wade has examined his responses to...
Category

Early 2000s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Mystery Signed Pen and Ink Floral
Located in San Francisco, CA
Up for sale another mystery piece. This wonderfully executed pen and ink is signed lower right but I cannot decipher it. Obviously drawn by a very well trained artist. This floral pi...
Category

Mid-20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Ink

Elegancia en París - Dibujo a pastel
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado en la parte inferior por el artista Se presenta sin enmarcar la obra Medidas obra: 55 cm. de altura x 42 cm. de ancho Buen estado de conservación el de la obra ::::::::::...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

French Woman with a Officer - Ink drawing - 1916
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) French Woman with a Officer Original India ink and pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Very good co...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Color Pencil

Omnibus in Paris - Handsigned Original Watercolor Painting
Located in Paris, IDF
Francis GARAT Omnibus in Paris Original watercolor painting Handsigned in ink On vellum, 30 x 40 cm (c. 11,8 x 15,7 inch) Excellent condition
Category

Early 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

Summertime
Located in Dallas, TX
“Anne Weary, who grew up as a Texas cowgirl, is at home in the outdoors and knows its ways and its language. There is a sort of very quiet but very powerful mysticism in her work, a ...
Category

2010s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Conté

Academic drawing: L Écorché by Houdon. Italian school. 19th century. 59x44cm
Located in Firenze, IT
Academic drawing: L'Écorché by Houdon. Italian school. 19th century. 59x44cm This represents the statue of the écorché by the French sculptor Houdon. Sculpture - Anatomical model o...
Category

Mid-19th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

“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 ...
Category

1820s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Naked woman facing a little devil - Pencil drawing - circa 1914
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Naked woman facing a little devil Original pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Good condition, paper...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pencil

Samson and Deliah
Located in Roma, IT
OLAMILEKAN ABATAN Samson and Delilah, 2024 Charcoal pencil, acrylic paint and fabric on paper 156 × 107 cm - unique work Published on the cover of the official exhibition cat...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Cotton, Paper

Tribute to Degas Ballerina : Sitting female nude - Ink drawing - circa 1916
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Tribute to Degas Ballerina : Sitting female nude Original India ink and pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Pencil

Secretary in the Subway - Pencil drawing - circa 1913
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Secretary in the Subway Original pencil and color pencils drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Good conditio...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil

Gentle Evening - Pencil drawing - circa 1914
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Gentle evening Original pencil and color pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Very good condition, pa...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil

Accademic Study of girl’s head. By Enrico Reffo
Located in Firenze, IT
Academic studi of girl’s head. Charcoal on colored paper. By Enrico Reffo. This artwork is part of a collection of approximately twenty preparatory drawings, figure studies, and ske...
Category

Late 19th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Pencil

English Mansion by the Cemetery - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
English Mansion by the Cemetery - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper Dramatic and detailed landscape by Lucy Cooper (British, 1853-1929). A large home is shown on the left, with a red r...
Category

1890s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Warm Evening Solitude"
By John P. Nicolson
Located in Southampton, NY
For your consideration here is a wonderful original watercolor by the Scottish born artist John P. Nicolson also known as John Nicolson. Executed circa 1915 in the style of Winslow H...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

"Wooden River Bridge"
By Shigesaburo Ishida
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1940 Signed lower left Sight size 19 x 26 in Overall 27.5 x 34.5 in original period frame
Category

1940s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

Fishing Party - Pencil drawing - circa 1914
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Fishing Party Original pencil and color pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Very good condition, pap...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil, Color Pencil

Study of female nude and a couple - Pencil drawing - circa 1914
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Study of female nude and a couple Original pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Good condition, paper...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pencil

Study of woman in bathing suit - Ink drawing - circa 1916
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Study of woman in bathing suit Original India ink and color pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10.4 x 7.8 in) Ver...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink, Color Pencil

Nineteenth-century Coachman - Ink drawing - 1916
Located in Paris, IDF
Georges CONRAD (1874-1936) Nineteenth-century Coachman Original India ink and pencil drawing Signed with the stamp of atelier On paper 26.5 x 20 cm (c. 10,4 x 7.8 in) Very good co...
Category

1910s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

India Ink

“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...
Category

1810s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor, Ink, Gouache

Stone Steps by the River - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper
Located in Soquel, CA
Stone Steps by the River - Late 1800s Watercolor on Paper Dramatic and detailed landscape by Lucy Ellen Cooper (British, 1853-1929). On the right side of the composition, a set of t...
Category

1890s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

“Indian Prince with Rose”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original gouache and watercolor on archival paper of an Indian prince holding a pink rose. The pink rose signifies love and appreciation. No visible signature. Artist unknown. The ...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper

Retrato de un Militar - Dibujo a pastel
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado en la parte inferior por el artista Se presenta sin enmarcar la obra Medidas obra: 55 cm. de altura x 46 cm. de ancho Buen estado de conservación el de la obra ::::::::::...
Category

Late 20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pastel

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...
Category

20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Pencil

Jules Coignet (1798-1860) Lago di Guarda, 1837, fine drawing
Located in Paris, FR
Jules Coignet (1798-1860) Lago di Guarda, 1837, Inscribed "Lago di Guarda 9 8bre 1837" Graphite on paper 24 x 35 cm Framed : 37 x 48 cm Provenance : Galerie Paul Prouté, Autumn 1...
Category

1830s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Carbon Pencil

“Moonlight Sail”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful, serene sepia watercolor of a moonlight sail on archival paper attributed to Robert Montgomery. Signed lower left. Condition is excellent. Re...
Category

1890s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

“Moonlight Sail”
“Moonlight Sail”
$481 Sale Price
45% Off
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.
Category

20th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

“Portrait of a Head”
Located in Southampton, NY
Late 18th century mixed media portrait of the head of an old man, perhaps the biblical figure Moses. Italian school . Composed of graphite, colored chalk, watercolor and gouache on ...
Category

1780s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Chalk, Graphite, Paper, Watercolor, Gouache

“Portrait of a Head”
“Portrait of a Head”
$1,440 Sale Price
20% Off
"Serene Village"
By Samuel R. Chaffee
Located in Southampton, NY
Circa 1900 Signed lower right Sight size 12 x 18 in Overall size matted with period gold leaf frame 22 x 27.5 in
Category

Early 1900s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Paper

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...
Category

1880s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

LAURENS French romantic Drawing 19th century pencil Departure children mountain
Located in PARIS, FR
Jules LAURENS Carpentras (Vaucluse), 1825 - Saint-Didier (Vaucluse), 1895 Pencil 29 x 23 cm (36 x 30 cm with frame) Signed and dated lower left "JL / 52" Modern frame Excellent condi...
Category

1850s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Pencil

“Afternoon Stroll”
Located in Southampton, NY
Original watercolor of a hunter and his dog taking a late afternoon stroll in the countryside. Signed middle bottom and dated 1852 or 1853 J. Hamilto...
Category

1850s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

Circa 1930 full length portrait painting of an African American woman in a dress
Located in Colfax, CA
This watercolor by Asheville, NC artist Emma Clary Webb Peoples is a great example of the the artist's work. Peoples is known for her depictions of African-American people she enc...
Category

1930s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor

“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. ...
Category

1940s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper, Graphite

“Seaside Italian Villa”
Located in Southampton, NY
Beautiful, original watercolor on archival paper of an Italian seaside villa with figures. Executed in 1902 by the American artist, George Washington Nicholson...
Category

Early 1900s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

“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...
Category

1840s Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Watercolor, Archival Paper

19th Century drawing attributed to John Flaxman of a classical maiden
By John Flaxman
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
Attributed to John Flaxman (British, 1755- 1826) Study of a classical maiden Pen and ink on paper 5.1/2 x 3.1/8 in. (14 x 8 cm.)
Category

19th Century Academic Drawings and Watercolor Paintings

Materials

Paper, Ink, Pen

Academic drawings and watercolor paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Academic drawings and watercolor paintings 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 drawings and watercolor paintings created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, purple, orange and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Georges Conrad, Jean Baptiste Édouard Detaille, and Ben Fenske. Frequently made by artists working with Paper, and 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 drawings and watercolor paintings, so small editions measuring 2.56 inches across are also available. Prices for drawings and watercolor paintings 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 $288,500, while the average work sells for $754.