JACKSONVILLE, FLA.- The Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens’ newest exhibition Academic Splendor: Nineteenth- Century Masterworks from the Dahesh Museum of Art, is on display January 27 through April 16, 2017. More than 40 stunning paintings and sculptures tell the story of a century that tried to balance deep-rooted artistic traditions while creating new ones. “We are thrilled to welcome such a world-class collection to Jacksonville” says Holly Keris, Chief Operating Officer & Chief Curator.

In the 19th century, Paris was the center of academic art, and home of the French Academy, which ran the premier art school – the École des Beaux-Arts. The Academy also oversaw the official exhibition known as the “Salon”, one of the most attended cultural event in the city. By following the Academy’s path, artists gained entry into a world of fame, awards, and commissions. Some of the best known artists to emerge from the Academy system include Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824-1904), Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889), and William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1904).

The changing artistic climate, shift in collector’s taste, and booming art market encouraged academic artists to explore different genres while upholding the principles of ideal beauty seen in Classical and Renaissance art. Depictions of rural life, religious imagery, and landscapes coexisted with historical scenes. As travels became easier, artists visited the vast area now referred to as the Middle East, present-day Turkey, and North Africa. They naturally drew inspiration from the region’s landscape, architecture, and culture, often creating highly staged scenes, blurring the lines between documented and fabricated realities.

The Museum welcomes visitors to view Academic Splendor and experience premier examples of European art from the 19th century.