The Stieglitz Academy was founded in the late 19th century, inspired by the best European universities. Initially named the Central School of Technical Drawing in St. Petersburg, it was built with funds from Baron Stieglitz, a well-known banker and patron.

By decree of Alexander II, the school was established on the site of the eastern wing of the Salt Town, where salt warehouses had previously been located. The main goal of the institution was to train artists, sculptors, and draftsmen for the needs of the arts and crafts industries. It also prepared drawing and drafting teachers for gymnasiums and schools. In modern terms, these were designers and decorators working in an industry that was actively developing at the time.

Construction of the university took place in St. Petersburg from 1878 to 1896. The main building was erected between 1878 and 1881 by architects Alexander Krakau and Robert Gödike. The building of the Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts, located nearby, was constructed from 1885 to 1896 according to the design of Maximilian Messmacher, the future director of the school. Both buildings form a unified architectural ensemble.

The simultaneous construction of universities and museums was popular in the 19th century in countries such as Austria, Great Britain, and Germany, allowing students to learn from specific examples. The official date of the university's establishment is considered to be 1876, and education began even before the completion of construction. Along with the school, a Primary School of Drawing, Drafting, and Modeling for children aged 10 to 14 was established. In 1890, branches opened in other cities, and the school in St. Petersburg became known as Central.

In 1825, a Drawing School was established in Moscow, which was transformed in 1860 into the Stroganov School of Technical Drawing. These two institutions were often compared, but the Stieglitz school was considered more prestigious. A diploma from Stieglitz was highly valued and provided an exemption from military service.

The budget of the Stieglitz school was 180,746 rubles, while that of the Stroganov school was 64,379 rubles. At the Stieglitz school, there were 105 male and 84 female students, as well as 46 free listeners and 69 female free listeners. The Stroganov school had 239 male and 71 female students.

By 1892, 200 students were enrolled in the institution, with departments for painting, carving, stamping, weaving, and printing. Many students came from Latvia, specifically traveling to St. Petersburg. Tuition cost 12 rubles per year, but some applicants received benefits.

The Stieglitz family was a European dynasty of bankers and businessmen who provided banking services to Russian emperors. Ludwig and his son Alexander were the closest financiers to the royal family. The family moved to Russia in the late 18th century and engaged in wine leasing and sheep farming. Their trading houses were known throughout Russia, especially in the southern part of the empire. During the 1812 war, the family supplied food to the Russian army.

In the early 19th century, the Stieglitz family established a trading and banking house that exported timber, grain, weapons, and fodder. They imported tea and fabrics into Russia. Ludwig organized foreign loans for state projects and personally lent money to influential figures. He also maintained the Commercial and Maritime School. His son Alexander inherited the empire and became the head of the State Imperial Bank. The family owned gold mines, factories, and banks and was involved in railway construction.

Baron Stieglitz became a patron of the establishment of the school in St. Petersburg, donating 1 million rubles to the Ministry of Finance for construction and 5.7 million rubles for the creation of the museum and support for the university. Alexander II called this "an act of enlightened charity." In his will, the baron allocated funds for the maintenance of the university after his death. He also supported a children's shelter, the Chesme Military Hospital, an eye clinic, and donated money to the Hermitage and for railway construction.

At the Stieglitz school, both boys and girls studied, which was rare for that time. The university accepted everyone, regardless of class, provided they passed entrance exams. Students received scholarships funded by the patron. To enroll, one had to complete a course at a three-class urban school or the first four classes of a gymnasium. Applicants took exams in drawing complex ornaments and geometric bodies in perspective. The education lasted for 5 years.

The decoration and painting of the museum were carried out by teachers and students. Architect Messmacher slept only four hours a day during construction. In 1897, he participated in the reconstruction of the interior of the Peterkirche and the construction of the Massandra Museum in Crimea. Messmacher was considered a master of eclecticism and one of the most famous St. Petersburg architects. He was invited to the position of director by Stieglitz's son-in-law, Alexander Polovtsev.

Notable students included Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, Arkady Rylov, Matvey Manizer, and Anna Ostroumova-Lebedeva. Marc Chagall attempted to enroll but was not accepted. The university maintained strict discipline, and all art classes were well-equipped. Graduates interned at factories or in decorators' workshops, including at the Fabergé jewelry firm.

The idea of creating a museum of decorative and applied arts arose simultaneously with the academy's plan. Messmacher built the building in a mixed style, with elements of Roman basilicas and 16th-century Italian architecture. The large hall of the museum featured a glass dome for natural lighting. A total of 32 halls were opened with collections of applied arts. Unique exhibits included porcelain tableware and jewelry. The museum has Russian, Venetian, Elizabethan, Flemish halls, and a Papal gallery. The first floor displays 2,000 exhibits, while the collections hold another 35,000 art objects.

A marble statue of Stieglitz by Mark Antokolsky is installed in the museum. During the Soviet era, many rarities from the museum were transferred to the Hermitage and other museums. It is impossible to fully restore the collections.

During the Soviet period, the school was renamed the Petrograd State Art and Industrial Workshops. In the 1920s, the university's focus narrowed to architectural finishing. In the late 1940s, the building was transferred to the Leningrad Higher Art and Industrial School, which was named after Vera Mukhina in 1953. The school suffered greatly during the war and was restored.

In 1994, the university became an academy, and in 2006, it was renamed after its founder. Today, the Stieglitz Academy has a department of decorative and applied arts, as well as departments of design and monumental art. The academy has 1,500 students and remains one of the most prestigious educational institutions in Russia.