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Old Masters Animal Paintings

OLD MASTERS

Encompassing centuries of change in Europe between 1300 and 1800, from booms of prosperity to bloody revolutions, Old Masters describes a wide range of artists. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked during this era.

The 15th century’s expansive trade and commerce spread culture across borders. A vibrant period of art emerged, bolstered by studies of anatomy and nature that influenced a new visual realism. From Raphael and Michelangelo in the Renaissance to Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer in the Dutch Golden Age, artists expressed emotion, naturalism, color and light in new ways. El Greco and Paolo Veronese were leaders in the dramatic style of Mannerism, while Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens demonstrated the movement and meticulous detail of Baroque art.

Historically, most attention was concentrated on male artists, but recent research and exhibitions have elevated the impactful work of women such as Rachel Ruysch and Artemisia Gentileschi. In late-18th-century France, female artists like Adélaïde Labille-Guiard and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun were prominent names. Nevertheless, access to the academies and guilds was highly restricted for women, and even those able to establish practices were expected to adhere to portraits and still lifes rather than the grand history paintings being created by men.

Find a collection of Old Masters prints, paintings, drawings and watercolors and other art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Old Masters
Military Camp Scene and Battle. Pietro Graziani (XVII/XVIII century), entourage
Located in Firenze, IT
Military Camp Scene and Battle. Pietro Graziani (XVII/XVIII century), entourage. A pair ( two) of small paintings. Antique XIX century frames in gilt wood.  In good condition. Oi...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

18th Oil Painting Horses Feeding at the Stables
Located in London, GB
James Seymour (1702–1752) Feeding Time in the Stables Oil on canvas 32 x 38 inches inc. frame Provenance: Private Collection, Lambourn James Seymour (1702–1752) was an English painter, widely recognized for his equestrian art. Seymour was born in London. His father was an amateur artist and art dealer, whose other business dealings (as a banker, goldsmith, and diamond merchant) afforded young Seymour the leisure time to study art on his own, either his father's or the art at the Virtuosi Club of St. Luke - a gentleman's club his father belonged to, specializing in art. In a short time the boy was a self-taught artist, familiar with many of the prominent artists of the period. Seymour's love of art was matched only by his love of horses. He began spending time at racetracks early on, and before long found himself absorbed in the sport - drawing, painting, owning, breeding, and racing horses. His art proved popular among the prominent sporting families of the day, eventually garnering Seymour patrons in Sir William Jolliffe and Charles Seymour, 6th Duke of Somerset...
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18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Rabbits Dove and Guinea Pig in an Interior - Italian Old master art oil painting
Located in London, GB
This superb Italian 17th century Old Master animal oil painting is attributed to Baroque artist Giovanni Agostino Cassana. Painted circa 1650 the composition is of two rabbits, a guinea pig and a dove in an interior. The two rabbits, one brown one grey are in the immediate foreground, head to head eating something and the dove is standing to their right. The brown and white guinea pig is sitting above and behind them. As the background is dark the animals really stand out and there is superb detail in their respective fur and feathers. This is a charming Italian Old Master animal oil painting and an excellent example of Cassana's work. Provenance. Scottish estate. Condition. Oil on canvas, 24 inches by 20 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a ebonised frame, 32 inches by 28 inches, in good condition. Giovanni Agostino Cassana (c.1658 – 6 May 1720) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was a son of Giovanni Francesco Cassana and an elder brother of Niccolò and Giovanni Battista. He was born at Venice, and was initially instructed by his father. In 1670 he worked at the court of Ferdinando de' Medici in Florence and travelled regularly between the two cities, but spent at least the years 1718–1720 in Genoa, where he later died. He painted portraits with some success, but preferred painting animals in the style of Antonio Maria Vasallo, Benedetto Castiglione, and Joannes Fyt, a style which he learned from Jacques van de Kerckhove...
Category

1650s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Wolf
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: The Marchesi Strozzi, Palazzo Strozzi, Florence Sale, Christie’s, London, May 20, 1993, lot 315, as by Carl Borromaus Andreas Ruthart...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Paper, Oil

19th Century Oil painting of horses - Mares and Foals in a Landscape
Located in London, GB
Daniel CLOWES (1774-1829) after George Stubbs Mares and Foals in a Landscape oil on canvas 29 x 33 inches, inc.frame Daniel Clowes lived and worked in Chester all his life and ...
Category

19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

19th century landscape farmyard scene horses oil painting John Frederick Herring
Located in York, GB
Charming 19th century landscape oil painting of a Farmyard scene by john Frederick Herring depicting a number of different animals including horses, chickens, goats, ducks and cows along with a farmer and his homestead. Oil on canvas, in heavy gilt frame behind glass with oval mount. Size of canvas, Height: 51cm Width: 61cm. Framed overall size Height: 81cm Width: 90cm approximately This painting is in overall good condition. There is some age related craquelure throughout as to be expected (close up pics available on request) The original frame/slip shows some signs of age as to be expected including age related cracks and some minor losses which have been colour matched and regilded. This in no way detracting from this fine painting This painting is heavy and may need crating if shipping,this would need to be custom made and may cause delay in shipping John Frederick HERRING (1815-1907) John Frederick Herring Junior (1815 - 1907) was an English painter who is best known for his equine art. John F. Herring Jr...
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19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

The Infant St John the Baptist with Lamb - Italian Old Master art oil painting
Located in London, GB
This beautiful 18th century Italian Old Master oil painting is something rather special. Painted circa 1750 the subject matter is Saint John the Baptist as a very young child. He is ...
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1750s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Boy with Guinea Pig - British Victorian animal art male portrait oil painting
By Henry Turner Munns
Located in London, GB
This charming British Victorian genre oil painting is by noted exhibited artist Henry Tuner Munns. It was painted in 1865 in realist palette with superb detail in the young boy's fac...
Category

19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Standing Leap at a Gate
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Seymour (1702-1752) A Standing Leap at a Gate Mezzotint with hand colouring Image size 10 x 14 in Framed size 16 1/2 x 20 in James Seymour was an English artist renowned for h...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Mezzotint

Cattle and Drover in a Landscape - British Victorian art landscape oil painting
Located in London, GB
This gorgeous oil on canvas Victorian Old Master painting is by British artist Henry Jutsum. Painted circa 1850 the painting depicts a drover on horse back bringing up the rear behin...
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19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

An Eighteenth Century Pastoral Scene by Jan van Gool, 1719
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Jan van Gool (Dutch, 1685-1763/65) Pastoral Scene, 1719 Oil on panel, 15 x 21 3/4 inches FRAMED: 23 x 29 1/2 (Approx.) Signed and dated at lower left: "J V G...
Category

1710s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

Shepherd with Animals in Landscape - Dutch Old Master art pastoral oil painting
By Nicolaes Berchem
Located in London, GB
This lovely Dutch Old Master oil painting is attributed to noted Dutch artist Nicholaes Berchem. Painted circa 1665 it is a charming pastoral scene of a shepherd and his animals including sheep, goats, donkey and cows and of course his trusty dog. They are all resting beneath trees while he looks on attentively. The light in the sky and the light and shadows on the animals is beautiful. A really superb example of Dutch Old Master art with great detail. Provenance. Surrey estate. Christies stamp verso. Condition. Oil on canvas, 38 inches by 32 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in a complementary gilt frame, 46 inches by 30 inches and in good condition. Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces. He was a member of the second generation of "Dutch Italianate landscape" painters. These were artists who travelled to Italy, or aspired to, in order to soak up the romanticism of the country, bringing home sketchbooks full of drawings of classical ruins and pastoral imagery. His paintings, of which he produced an immense number, (Hofstede de Groot claimed around 850, although many are misattributed), were in great demand, as were his 80 etchings and 500 drawings. His landscapes, painted in the Italian style of idealized rural scenes, with hills, mountains, cliffs and trees in a golden dawn are sought after. Berchem also painted inspired and attractive human and animal figures (staffage) in works of other artists, like Allaert van Everdingen, Jan Hackaert, Gerrit Dou, Meindert Hobbema and Willem Schellinks. Born in Haarlem, he received instruction from his father Pieter Claesz, and from the painters Jan van Goyen, Pieter de Grebber, Jan Baptist Weenix, Jan Wils and Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert. According to Houbraken, Carel de Moor told him that Berchem got his name from two words "Berg hem" for "Save him!", an expression used by his fellows in Van Goyen's workshop whenever his father chased him there with the intent to beat him. No trip or Grand Tour by Berchem was documented by Houbraken though he mentioned another story about the "Berg hem!" nickname which came from Berchem's conscription as a sailor; the man in charge of impressment knew him and sent him ashore with the words "Save him!". Today his name is assumed to come from his father's hometown of Berchem, Antwerp. According to the RKD he traveled to Italy with Jan Baptist Weenix, whom he called his cousin, in 1642–5. Works by him are signed both as "CBerghem" and "Berchem". In 1645 he became a member of the Dutch reformed church and married the year after. According to Houbraken he married the daughter of the painter Jan Wils, who kept him on a short allowance, but to finance his collection of prints he would borrow money from his pupils and colleagues and pay them back from the proceeds of paintings that he didn't tell her about. Around 1650 he travelled to Westphalia with Jacob van Ruisdael, where a dated piece showing Burg Bentheim is recorded. Maybe Berchem went to Italy after this trip and before he moved to Amsterdam - he is not clearly documented in the Netherlands between 1650 and 1656. Around 1660 he worked for the engraver Jan de Visscher designing an atlas. In 1661-1670 he is registered in Amsterdam and in 1670 he moved back to Haarlem, but was living back in Amsterdam by 1677, where he died in 1683. He was a popular teacher and his pupils were Abraham Begeyn, Johannes van der Bent, his son Nicolaes, Isaack Croonenbergh, Simon Dubois, Karel Dujardin, Johannes Glauber, Pieter de Hooch, Jacob van Huchtenburg, Justus van Huysum...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

19th century English portrait of a Gun dog, hound in an English garden landscape
By George Stubbs
Located in Woodbury, CT
Follower of George Stubbs (British, 18th–early 19th century) English Gun Dog in a Landscape, ca. 1800 Oil on canvas Set against a serene English countryside, this striking portrait ...
Category

Early 1800s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Antique oil painting, Boy Fleaing a Dog, Gerard ter Borch, Dutch golden age
Located in DEVENTER, NL
Gerard ter Borch (II) (1617-1681), copy after, around 1700 'Boy Fleas a Dog' Oil on canvas Professionally restored (cleaned and relined) In modern frame in 17th century style Dimensions excl. frame: 33 x 27,5 cm. Dimensions incl. frame: approx. 50 x 45,5 cm. Depcited is a boy busy fleaing a dog. The boy sits on a chair with the dog on his lap. On a table on the right there is a book and a pen. On a wooden bench lies the boy's hat. What is unique about this painting by Ter Borch, is the relationship that is depicted between human and animal. Mostly animals like dogs where depicted as an attribute in paintings in the 17th century, and sometimes used to symbolize certain character traits. This boy is lovingly caring for his dog, which he is giving his full attention. Another interesting detail is that Ter Borch's brother Moses, was probably the model for this painting. Ter borch often used family members as models for his paintings. Moses was also a very talented painter and draughtsman. Several copies of this work by Ter Borch are known. One of these copies is in the collection of the Dutch Rijksmuseum (Image included in the image gallery (last image)). The original painting is in the collection of the Alte Pinakothek museum in Munich, Germany. Gerard ter Borch, also known as Gerard Terburg, was a Dutch genre painter who lived in the Dutch Golden Age. He influenced fellow Dutch painters Gabriel Metsu...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

19th Century Landscape Oil Painting - Deer by the Banks of a Lake
By Jacob Thompson
Located in London, GB
Jacob THOMPSON (1806 – 1879) Deer by the Banks of a Lake 1842 oil on canvas 18.9 x 27.6 inches; 22.5 x 31 inches Inc. frame Jacob Thompson (1806–1879) was an English landscape-pa...
Category

1840s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

19th century landscape oil painting COCKEREL AND HENS by J L VAN LEEMPUTTEN
Located in York, GB
19th century landscape oil painting COCKEREL AND HENS by J L VAN LEEMPUTTEN Here we have a fine small oil painting on board .An exquisitely painted scene by Jef Louis Van Leemputten ...
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19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A Tompe l'oeil still life of hanging birds
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
English School, c. 1800 Still life of hanging birds Oil on panel Panel size - 8 x 6 in Framed size - 12 1/2 x 10 1/2 in This trompe-l'œil still life is a striking example of illusio...
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19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Animal painting of a 'Tamanuâguacû (Ant-eater)' late 17th/18th century, Brazil
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Follower of Zacharias Wagener (1614-1688) Tamanuâguasû (Giant Anteater) On Italian 17th or 18th-century paper, H. 28 x W. 43.5 cm ​The present painting is a copy after Wagener’s painting of the anteater, Tamanduá-bandeira, which is illustrated in his “Thier Buch”, with 109 drawings of Brazilian fish, birds and mammals, published in Amsterdam c. 1641, in German. ​ Zacharias Wagener, or Wagenaer in Dutch, (Dresden 1614 – Amsterdam 1668) was a real adventurer who became Opperhoofd on Deshima and Governor of the Cape of Good Hope in the service of the VOC. During the Thirty-Year War in Germany Wagener tried his luck in Amsterdam where he worked for the map-maker Willem Blaeu. In 1634 he joined the WIC and left for Dutch Brazil where he worked as writer and painter, together with Frans Post...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Paper, India Ink, Gouache

17th century By Dutch Maestro Still life with bird, carp & lobster Oil on canvas
Located in Milano, Lombardia
17th Century Dutch Maestro Title: Still life with bird, carp & lobster Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: without frame 116 x 97 cm - with frame 153 x 133,5 cm Antique frame "a casset...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

A horse being led from a stable
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Seymour (1702-1752) A horse being led from a stable Mezzotint by Thomas Burford Image size 10 x 14 in Framed size 13 x 17 in James Seymour was an English artist renowned for h...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Mezzotint

TWO TORTOISESHELL GUINEA PIGS, Italian Old Master Painting 17th C Oil Canvas
Located in New York, NY
Giovanni Agostino Cassana Venice, c. 1658 – 1720 Genoa Two Tortoiseshell Guinea-Pigs Oil on canvas 10 1/2 x 12 1/2 inches (26.7 x 31.7 cm) Framed: 16 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches Giovan...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Large 17th Century Dutch Old Master Oil Painting Figures Animals Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Follower of Dirck van Berghen (Dutch School, 17th Century) Pastoral Landscape with a Shepherdess and Livestock Oil on canvas, framed in a French Empire period gilt frame canvas dimen...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Parrot, Snake, Lizard and Ducks, 17th Century Genoese School
Located in Blackwater, GB
Parrot, Snake, Lizard and Ducks, 17th Century Genoese School Fine Large 17th Century Italian Old Master from the Genoese School of a parrot, ducks a lizard and snake, oil on canva...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

17th Century Oil Painting Still Life: Turtles & Fish with a Ship in Stormy Seas
Located in London, GB
A Still Life of Turtles, An Eel, Pike, Lobsters and other Fish on the Shore, A Ship in the Stormy Seas Beyond Signed and dated lower left 1640 Inscribed with inventory number lower right: no. 44 Oil on canvas Framed 29.5 x 37.9 inches Provenance Anonymous sale, London, Sotheby's, 15 April 1999, lot 87, (as 'Circle of Giuseppe...
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17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

'Digging for the Fox' & 'Death of a Fox'
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
James Seymour (1702-1752) Digging for the Fox Death of the Fox A pair of Mezzotints Image size 10 x 14 in Framed size 12 1/2 x 16 1/2 in James Seymour was an English artist renowned...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Mezzotint

John Sanderson Wells , oil, horses, horse riding country scene
By John Sanderson-Wells
Located in York, GB
A fine oil painting by the renowned artist John Sanderson Wells " Returning from a Country Ride" This painting captures beautifully the image o...
Category

Early 20th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

A saddled hunter tethered to a stable door, a landscape beyond
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Jacques-Laurent Agasse (1767-1849) A saddled hunter tethered to a stable door, a landscape beyond Oil on canvas Canvas Size - 17 x 21 in Framed Size -25 x 28 1/2 in Provenance with ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Fine 18th Century Old Master Oil Painting Dead Game in Landscape
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Still Life with Dead Birds 18th Century Italian School oil painting on canvas, framed framed: 16 x 20 inches canvas: 13 x 17 inches provenance: privat...
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18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Romantic Light 18th Century Dutch Oil Pastoral Scene Bergers Cattle by River
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Pastoral Landscape Dutch painter, 18th century oil on canvas, framed in antique frame framed: 22 x 25 inches canvas: 18.5 x 22 inches Provenance: Private collection, France Condition...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

Sheep In A Landscape, 19th Century, Follower Of Eugene Verboeckhoven
Located in York, GB
A fine painting of sheep in a landscape setting follower of the talented Belgium painter of animals Eugene Verboeckhoven. Housed in a 19th century gilt frame. The size overall being 55 cm x 48 cm whilst the painting is 38 x 29 cm. The sheep have been beautifully captured especially their faces. An oil on board study ready to hang Eugene Joseph Verboeckhoven...
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19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

The new comers
Located in Genève, GE
Artwork on canvas Empire style frame in plaster and gilded wood 49.7 x 58 x 5.5 cm
Category

Late 19th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Oil

"A Triumphant Cockerel Crowing Over His Victory" Melchior Hondecoeter (after)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"The Victor (A Triumphant Cockerel Crowing Over His Victory...)" After Melchior de Hondecoeter (Flemish, 1636-1695) Oil on canvas Unsigned 40 1/2 x 34 1/4 (frame) inches This much copied painting is a masterfully executed portrait of a strutting and triumphant rooster painted...
Category

Early 1900s Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Study of a dog
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Study of a dog Oil on paper laid down on panel, 17.5 x 25.5 cm Provenance Private collection, the Netherlands Note: We are grateful to Mr Fred Meijer for his attribution to Ludolf de Jongh Ludolf de Jongh was the son of a shoemaker. When his father moved to Rotterdam, the young Ludolf decided to learn art rather than shoemaking and became a pupil of Cornelis Saftleven. Later he studied under Anthony Palamedes in Delft and still later with Jan van Bijlert in Utrecht. In 1635 he travelled to France with Francis Bacon. Seven years later, in 1642, he returned to the Netherlands when he heard that his mother had fallen ill. He set up a shop in Rotterdam, and his earliest signed paintings date from that year. According to Houbraken, his travels had caused him to speak French so fluently, that his parents had to learn French in order to speak with him. De Jongh’s work shows a strong influence from the Utrecht school of Caravaggio admirers, especially Jacob Duck...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Paper, Oil, Wood Panel

Study of a dog
Study of a dog
Price Upon Request
The Inappetent Owl - Grotesque Scene with Owl and Swan - Late 17th Century
Located in Roma, IT
Two masterpieces by the Master of the Fertility of the Egg, nearly impossible to find in homogeneous pairs on the private market, both in terms of style and dimensions. They represen...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Animal Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Old Masters animal paintings for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Old Masters animal 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. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Charles Towne, James Barenger, Henry Bernard Chalon, and William Albert Clark. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil 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 Old Masters animal paintings, so small editions measuring 6.75 inches across are also available. Prices for animal 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 $386 and tops out at $339,912, while the average work sells for $9,075.

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