Key dates
27th January 1648
Creation of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture).
1666
Creation of the Académie de France à Rome (French Academy in Rome) on the initiative of Charles Le Brun and Jean-Baptiste Colbert. It is now housed at the Villa Médicis, which was acquired in 1804.
28th June 1669
Creation of the Académie royale de Musique (Royal Academy of Music).
30th December 1671
Creation of the Académie royale d’Architecture (Royal Academy of Architecture).
August 1793
The National Convention abolishes all academies and learned societies.
25th October 1795
Representing Republican France, the Institut national des sciences et des arts is created. Its third class, Literature and Fine Arts, heralded the future Académie des beaux-arts.
1795 – 1803
Associated with the literature and archeology, the fine arts lack autonomy and are poorly represented within the Institut de France.
23th January 1803
The Institut de France was given four classes, the last of which, with just 28 members, was reserved exclusively for the Fine arts, distinguished from literature.
1805
The classes of the Institute left the Louvre after it was transformed into a museum and settled at the Collège des Quatre-Nations at the quai de Conti.
1815
A decree increased the number of members of the fine arts class to 40.
1816
The Royal Decree of 21 March 1816 restored the names of the Academies to the sections of the Institute. The Decree established the Académie des Beaux-arts. The newly formed Académie comprised 50 members, 10 foreign associates and 40 correspondents.
1916
Creation of the Casa de Velázquez in Madrid. Inaugurated in 1928, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1959.
11th July 1985
The Académie des beaux-arts creates a new section dedicated to artistic creation in Cinema and audiovisual.
8th June 1998
The total number of members of the Académie des beaux-arts is increased to 55 members, 16 foreign associates and 55 correspondents.
10th May 2005
Creation of the Photography section (two seats). The total number of members of the Académie is increased to 57 members, 16 foreign associates and 57 French or foreign correspondents.
23th December 2015
A decree increases the number of members of the Photography section to four. This brings the total number of members to 59 academicians, 16 foreign associates and correspondents.
9th October 2018
Creation of the Choreography section (four seats). The total number of members of the Compagnie is increased to 63 academicians, 16 foreign associates and 63 correspondents.
10th October 2022
The Engraving section becomes the "Engraving and Drawing section". Its number of members is increased from 4 to 6, as is that of the Photography section. The Académie des beaux-arts is now composed of 67 academicians, 16 foreign associate members and 67 correspondents.
Royal Academies
Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture)
27th January 1648
Creation of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture (Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture) by the young Louis XIV. Initially composed of twelve "elders" around the painter Charles Le Brun, the new Académie, independent of the powerful Guild of Saint-Luc, is placed under the protection of Chancellor Séguier. This important decision led to the emancipation of the artist, who is finally distinguished from the artisans.
1655
The Académie comes under the protection of Mazarin. It is at this time that engravers are welcomed.
1663
The Académie opens its doors without any restrictions other than those of talent and morality: for example, 14 women are elected; Antoine Coypel was elected at the age of 20. Based in the Louvre, the Académie is composed of 180 members.
1666
On the initiative of Charles Le Brun and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the Académie de France is founded in Rome. It is the direct ancestor of the Villa Medici, acquired in 1804.
1673
For the first time, the Académie exhibits its works in public, foreshadowing the spirit of the Salon; from 1725, this exhibition is held in the Salon Carré of the Louvre.
21st August 1791
A decree obliged the Royal Academies, targeted by disaffected artists, to open the Salon to them.
August 1793
The National Convention abolishes all academies and learned societies.
Académie royale de musique (Royal Academy of Music)
28th June 1669
At the suggestion of the composer Pierre Perrin and at the instigation of Colbert, the Académie royale de musique is founded. Jean-Baptiste Lully becomes its director in 1672. Its mission is to produce French-language entertainment for the court, to promote musical taste in the general public and to provide quality teaching. Until 1793, it works closely with the Académie française and the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres to produce librettos.
Académie royale d’architecture (Royal Academy of Architecture)
30th December 1671
Creation of the Académie royale d’architecture inspired by Colbert and the architect Blondel, its first director.
1720
The Académie brings together the most famous French architects and creates, following the example of the Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture, a Grand Prix for architecture, the winners of which are sent to Rome.
August 1793
The National Convention abolishes all academies and learned societies.