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Realist Figurative Sculptures

REALIST STYLE

Realist art attempts to portray its subject matter without artifice. Similar to naturalism, authentic realist paintings and prints see an integration of true-to-life colors, meticulous detail and linear perspectives for accurate portrayals of the world. 

Work that involves illusionistic techniques of realism dates back to the classical world, such as the deceptive trompe l’oeil used since ancient Greece. Art like this became especially popular in the 17th century when Dutch artists like Evert Collier painted objects that appeared real enough to touch. Realism as an artistic movement, however, usually refers to 19th-century French realist artists such as Honoré Daumier exploring social and political issues in biting lithographic prints, while the likes of Gustave Courbet and Jean-François Millet painting people — particularly the working class — with all their imperfections, navigating everyday urban life. This was a response to the dominant academic art tradition that favored grand paintings of myth and history. 

By the turn of the 20th century, European artists, such as the Pre-Raphaelites, were experimenting with nearly photographic realism in their work, as seen in the attention to every botanical attribute of the flowers surrounding the drowned Ophelia painted by English artist John Everett Millais.

Although abstraction was the guiding style of 20th-century art, the realism trend in American modern art endured in Edward Hopper, Andrew Wyeth and other artists’ depictions of the complexities of the human experience. In the late 1960s, Photorealism emerged with artists like Chuck Close and Richard Estes giving their paintings the precision of a frame of film.

Contemporary artists such as Jordan Casteel, LaToya Ruby Frazier and Aliza Nisenbaum are now using the unvarnished realist approach for honest representations of people and their worlds. Alongside traditional mediums, technology such as virtual reality, artificial intelligence and immersive installations are helping artists create new sensations of realism in art.

​​Find authentic realist paintings, sculptures, prints and more art on 1stDibs.

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Style: Realist
Cheval Libre (Free Horse)
Located in San Francisco, CA
Artist: After Pierre Jules Mene (French, 1810-1879) Title: Cheval Libre (Free Horse) Year: 1868 Medium: Cast bronze sculpture with dark brown patina Edition: Unknown Size: Inclu...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. "Hippocampus" by Andrzej Szymczyk is a captivating bronze scul...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Horse Bronze Portrait of a Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901) Cast bronze mounted on a rectangular plinth with dark brown patina, Signed: I. BONHEUR 17 x 11 3/4 A brilliant exploration of a stallion in full trot. The patina is a deep, warm walnut brown with honey-colored tones. Isidore Bonheur was best known and the most distinguished of the 19th century French animalier sculptors. Isidore, the younger brother of Rosa Bonheur and older brother of Auguste, began his studies of painting initially with his father, who was friends with Francisco Goya. By 1848 he debuted at the Paris Salon having discontinued animal and landscape painting to concentrate on creating sculptures and in 1849, Bonheur enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He won medals at the Paris Salon in 1859 and did so again in 1865 and in 1869. After entering the Exposition Universelle 1855, he won the Gold Medal in 1889. In the 1870s exhibited in the London at the Royal Academy of Arts where he earned great prestige and won the coveted Medaille d’Or. After winning numerous other medals and prizes, Bonheur was awarded the Legion d' Honneur in 1895 and he was Knighted in Portugal, Spain and France. Bonheur continued exhibiting at the Paris Salon until 1899. Many of his bronzes were fabricated at the foundry owned by Hippolyte Peyrol, Bonheur's brother-in-law by marriage to Isidore’s youngest sister Juliette Bonheur. The Peyrol casts for both Rosa and Isidore are exceptionally well executed which suggests a strong working relationship between the founder and sculptor. There is little doubt that Isidore Bonheur was an acute observer of nature; his animals were not anthropomorphized but modelled to catch movement or posture characteristics of the particular species he was sculpting. He achieved this most successfully with his sculptures of horses which are usually depicted as relaxed rather than spirited. These figures are among his most renowned works and his equestrian models became very popular, particularly among the British aristocracy. An acute observer of nature, his sculptures reflect his commitment to the Realist school - with precise detailing of the movements of animals in their natural habitats. Ultimately, His naturalistic studies of animals are now some of the most highly sought after works by any of the animalier. He was possibly inspired by his many visits to the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show...
Category

1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Deer, Large Patinated Bronze Sculpture
Located in Long Island City, NY
This bronze sculpture of a deer is a realistic rendering of the majestic animal. Deer have been the center of literature and art for many cultures across the world. They have also ...
Category

20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Sudbourne Premier: Suffolk Punch Stallion" Herbert Haseltine, 1927 Bronze
Located in New York, NY
Herbert Haseltine Sudbourne Premier: Suffolk Punch Stallion, 1927 Signed left side: © HASELTINE / MCMXXVII Bronze, dark brown patina, parcel gilding ...
Category

1920s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

The Victorious David / - The melancholy of the radiant hero -
Located in Berlin, DE
Henri Honoré Plé (1853 Paris - 1922 Paris), The Victorious David, around1890. Red-brown and brown patinated bronze with terrain plinth mounted on a round base. 42 cm (total height) x...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Horse Playing with a Dog (The Good Companions) Pierre-Jules Mene (1810-1879)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Horse Bronze  "Horse  in the Stable Playing with a Dog (The Good Companions)" Jument à l'écurie jouant avec un chien Pierre-Jules Mene (French, 1810-1879) Bronze 19 x 10 inc...
Category

1860s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Horse
By Aga Ousseinov
Located in Long Island City, NY
This bronze sculpture, from 1996, is a powerful rendering of a horse rearing. It is not uncommon to see stallions rearing; it is a tactic that can be used to dislodge a predator, to...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Alfred Dubucand (1828-1894): Two hunting dogs
Located in Berlin, DE
Dubucand Alfred 1828-1894 Two Hunting Dogs, Bronze on a Marble Base The Bronze with the monogram 'E.V.' and the number '2958' Two Hunting Dogs, Group Signed Alfred Dubucand, Fren...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

The Victorious David / - The melancholy of the radiant hero -
Located in Berlin, DE
Henri Honoré Plé (1853 Paris - 1922 Paris), The Victorious David, around 1890. Red-brown and brown patinated bronze with terrain plinth mounted on a round base. 62 cm (total height) ...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 1" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams’ "Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 1" is a captivating resin sculpture that merges delicate craftsmanship with intricate surface decoration. This 2024 original work is a resin cast, hand-painted with acrylic gouache, standing at 5.50 x 2 x 3.50 inches (13.97 x 5.08 x 8.89 cm). Inspired by the elegance of fine porcelain, the piece mimics the timeless beauty of blue-and-white ceramic motifs...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

Dancer, bronze, 40x46x12 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Ferdinand Preiss(1882-1943)
Category

Early 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

A la fontaine
By Émile Nestor Joseph Carlier 1
Located in Mc Lean, VA
Nice 19th-century cast with rich, brown patina by French sculptor Emile-Joseph-Nestor Carlier. Carlier frequently created large, multi-figural group sculptures. These are dramatic an...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Portrait of a Man
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Francisco Vazquez Diaz, known as Compostela (1898-1988). Portrait of a Man, 1949. Carved mahogany, measuring 18.75 inches h, 8.5 inches w, 11 in...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Mahogany

"The Farewell Kiss"
Located in Southampton, NY
This is a beautiful original bronze casting by the foremost Russian sculptor of his day Evgeny Lanceray. Artist signed on the base in Cyrillic (image 5) and is also inscribed on the ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Girl holding a Mirror, Painted Bronze Sculpture by Richard Shiloh
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Richard Shiloh, Polish/Israeli (1949 - ) Title: Girl holding a Mirror Year: Circa 1975 Medium: Bronze with Painted patina, signature inscribed ...
Category

1970s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Venus
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this work, the author turned to classical mythology and created the image of the goddess Venus. Goddesses of youth, beauty and love. He created the classical female torso on a marble basement. Кeferring to the classical works of antiquity, the sculptor created his own version of the Venus statue...
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1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete
Located in New York, NY
This artwork is offered by ClampArt, located in New York City. “Bruce Sargeant is a mythic figure in the modern art movement. He embodies a world that is in many ways lost to us; he...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Promise of the Prairie, 36"high Bronze Sculpture
Located in Loveland, CO
George Wayne Lundeen (American, born 1948) NSS “Promise of the Prairie” Museum Quality Cast Bronze, Limited edition of 21, signed and marked, G.W. Lundeen ©1983 20/21 on the top/back...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Deer battle
By Thomas Francois-Cartier
Located in Riga, LV
Deer battle France, bronze, marble, h 29.5 x 66.5 x 18 cm base size 64x20 cm
Category

1940s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Sculpture, "Icarus Ascending"
Located in San Diego, CA
This is a limited edition figurative realistic sculpture by San Diego artist, Peter Dingli. It is made of bronze. Its dimensions are 21" x 35" x 15". A certificate of authenticity wi...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Bronze Walking Elephant By Rembrandt Bugatti (1884 - 1916)
Located in Gent, VOV
Elephant walking Bronze statue of a "large Indian elephant walking" after Rembrandt Bugatti (Italian, 1884-1916). This bronze was cast using the...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

VALTON Charles. The Griffin Marco. Patinated bronze. Marble base. Signed.
Located in Paris, FR
The Griffin Marco. Patinated bronze. Marble base. Signed and titled. Charles Valton was a French sculptor known for his works created in the animalier style, a 19th-century movement ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams’ "Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" is a captivating resin sculpture that merges delicate craftsmanship with intricate surface decoration. This 2024 original work is a resin cast, hand-painted with acrylic gouache, standing at 5.50 x 2 x 3.50 inches (13.97 x 5.08 x 8.89 cm). Inspired by the elegance of fine porcelain, the piece mimics the timeless beauty of blue-and-white ceramic motifs...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

Florentine singer / - The Renaissance of the Renaissance -
By Paul Dubois
Located in Berlin, DE
Paul Dubois (1829 Nogent-sur-Seine - 1905 Paris), Florentine singer, 1865. Light brown patinated bronze with cast round plinth mounted on a square marble base (3.5 cm high). Total height 53 cm. Bronze dimensions: 49.5 cm (height) x 20 cm (length) x 10 cm (width), weight 5.6 kg. Inscribed on the plinth "P.[aul] DUBOIS", dated "1865", with the foundry's mark "F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR" and the signet "REDUCTION MECANIQUE A. COLLAS". - Patina very occasionally darkened, lute with loss of one tuning peg, otherwise in excellent condition. - The renaissance of the Renaissance - The bronze is a precisely executed and masterfully cast contemporary reduction of Paul Dubois 155 cm tall masterpiece "Florentine Singer", which is exhibited in the Musée d'Orsay and for which the artist was awarded the Medal of Honor at the Paris Salon in 1865. The work acted as a beacon, and was followed by a plethora of depictions of juveniles. Inspired by Donatello and Luca della Robbia, but also by painters such as Piero della Francesca, Benozzo Gozzoli, and Pinturicchio, the "Florentine Singer" is not an epigonal work that pays homage to a vanished era, but a successful attempt to draw vitality from the art of the past and thus give it new life. The effect of vitality is the core of Italian Renaissance art theory. In order to fulfill itself as art, art had to appear like nature. This naturalism also characterizes the "Florentine Singer". The young man appears to have been taken from life, which is reinforced by the momentary nature of his action. He has just struck a now fading chord. In addition, the natural appearance is enhanced by the detailed shaping of the figurative details, such as the laces with the slightly curved leather of the shoes, the belt buckle, or the ornamentation on the body of the lute. Even the fingernails are clearly defined. Unlike the Renaissance, however, the effect of liveliness here is not based on the "discovery" of nature and the human body, but primarily on the rediscovery of the art of the Quattrocento. The liveliness of the artwork is therefore at the same time a revitalization of this art, so that we can speak of a Renaissance of the Renaissance, just as the Pre-Raphaelites in England at the same time transferred the Quattrocento to contemporary art. Dubois takes on the most difficult of all subjects, the depiction of singing through silent sculpture. He was preceded in this by Luca della Robbia and Donatello with their pulpits of singers created in the 1430s in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo in Florence. Compared to these works, the physiognomy of Dubois singer is far less animated, yet he also depicts singing in a convincing manner. He uses the whole body. He takes the ancient contrapposto, which was essential to Renaissance sculpture, and transforms the standing leg-playing posture into a late medieval S-swing, giving the body an elegant beauty and at the same time setting it in melodic motion. In the equally elegant finger position, the music is expressed in a much more literal way with the beating of the lute. Finally, the musicality of the sculpture culminates in the face with the mouth open to sing. Through the act of singing, which is a great challenge to the artistic will to depict perfect beauty, the gracefulness of the classical face is not diminished, but enhanced. Starting from the face with the singing mouth and the gaze absorbed by the sounds, the inner vitality spreads, giving the bronze sculpture an intense aura, enhanced by the music. Dubois transfers the beauty of the Renaissance to the musical, sublimating the visible sculpture to the invisible of music. He took up the challenge of transcending the Renaissance with the Renaissance, thus responding to the Querelle des Anciens et des Modernes, which arose at the end of the 17th century around the French Academy and remained virulent into the 19th century, in which antiquity was regarded either as an unattainable ideal or as a standard to be surpassed. With his work, Dubois proved that the Renaissance, which had championed the art of the ancients, could lead to a new renaissance of art. About the artist Paul Dubois' great-uncle was the famous French Baroque sculptor Jean-Baptiste Pigalle, in whose footsteps the talented great-nephew followed. When he debuted at the Paris Salon in 1858, he signed his work "Dubois-Pigalle". At his father's request, however, he first studied law before devoting himself to sculpture under the tutelage of François Christophe Armand Toussaint in 1856 and entering the École des Beaux-Arts in 1858. From 1859 to 1863, he lived in Rome and traveled to Naples and Florence. Inspired by Florentine art of the quattrocento, Dubois initiated a school-forming neo-Florentine style that combined the elegantly simple forms of youthful grace with a precise wealth of detail.Two purchases by the French state (“envois de Rome”) were made during his stay in Rome, which brought him recognition in Paris. After his return there, he quickly became an internationally sought-after artist. Dubois was also active as a creator of monuments. His most famous work is the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc (1896) on the forecourt of Reims Cathedral. He was also a sought-after portraitist who produced around 50 busts and - Dubois was also a passionate painter - around 100 portraits in oil. From 1873 to 1878 he was curator of the Museum du Luxembourg, in 1876 he became a member of the Institut de France and from 1878 to 1905 he was director of the École des Beaux-Arts. In 1865, Dubois was awarded the Paris Salon Medal of Honor for his “Florentine Singer”. In 1867 he became Chevalier, in 1874 Officier, in 1886 Commandeur of the Légion d'honneur, which awarded Dubois the Grande Croix in 1896. Selected Bibliography Stole, Elmar: Paul Dubois. In: Saur. Allgemeines Künstlerlexikon, vol. 30, Munich - Leipzig 2001, pp. 677-678. GERMAN VERSION Paul Dubois (1829 Nogent-sur-Seine - 1905 Paris), Florentinischer Sänger, 1865. Hellbraun patinierte Bronze mit gegossener runder Plinthe auf quadratischem Marmorsockel montiert (3,5 cm Höhe). Gesamthöhe 53 cm. Maße der Bronze: 49,5 cm (Höhe) x 20 cm (Länge) x 10 cm (Breite), Gewicht 5,6 kg. Auf der Plinthe mit „P.[aul] DUBOIS“ bezeichnet, auf „1865“ datiert, mit dem Gießereistempel „F. BARBEDIENNE FONDEUR“ und dem Signet „REDUCTION MECANIQUE A. COLLAS“ versehen. - Patina sehr vereinzelt nachgedunkelt, Laute mit Verlust eines Stimmwirbels, ansonsten ausgezeichnet erhalten. - Die Renaissance...
Category

1860s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Union", Frederick Hart, Bronze Figurative Sculpture, 19x11x7 in., Woman & Man
Located in Dallas, TX
"Union" by Frederick Hart is a figurative female and male figure bronze sculpture with the edition number 299/350. Inspired by The Creation Sculptures of the Washington National Cathedral...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

The Blacksmith of Solingen / - The Double-edged Sword -
Located in Berlin, DE
Wilhelm Albermann (1835 Werden an der Ruhr - 1913 Cologne), The Blacksmith of Solingen, after 1895. Bronze-color patinated zinc cast on plinth, 47 cm (height) x 20 cm (width) x 16 cm (depth), weight 5.5 kg. Signed “Albermann.” on the plinth and identified as a cast by “AKT.[TIEN] GES.[ELLSCHAFT] GLADENBECK BERLIN”. Dedication on the front: “Mr. Ing. F. Kuhlmann to the wedding. Management and officials of the Hannoversche Waggonfabrik. Aircraft construction department". - The zinc showing through in spots, the patina somewhat stained, the right upper arm under the sleeve retouched in black. - The Double-edged Sword - The figure is a reduction of Wilhelm Albermann's 1895 fountain figure of the armourer of Solingen, who has always been identified with the historical blacksmith Peter Hahn. In 1839, Karl Simrock wrote the poem “The Blacksmith of Solingen" and thus coined the legendary figure. The first and penultimate verses read: A blacksmith spoke to Solingen With every bayonet, That came to his diligence: "Oh, that Fritz had it!" The war took its course, Many battles were fought, Which often made him fearful and anxious In his soul. The blacksmith had given up his trade to fight for Frederick the Great. Not least because of his strength and will to fight, the battles were won. With his fountain sculpture, Albermann has given the legendary blacksmith a figurative form and at the same time created a landmark for the city of Solingen, which was once famous for the art of sword forging and today still stands for the production of high-quality knives. During the bombing raid in November 1944, the fountain was destroyed along with the entire old town of Solingen. Only the head remained. The broad-shouldered blacksmith stands securely behind his anvil, his leather apron tied around him, and has just finished a sword blade with his own "weapon" - the blacksmith's hammer. His entire body shows the strength with which he wields the hammer, but also the strain of this activity, as evidenced by the wide open shirt, the somewhat 'untidy' apron, and especially the furrowed face. However, the blacksmith does not look at the finished work, but resolutely and at the same time thoughtfully into the distance, in line with the quoted verse from Simrock's poem that the battles "often made him fearful and anxious in his soul". There is certainly something melancholy in his gaze, fed by the knowledge of the necessity of forging swords and taking up arms and their deadly use - experiences Albermann had to make during his own war missions. The flowing full beard gives his gaze into the distance an almost prophetic character. In keeping with the craft of the perfectly formed art of blacksmithing, the detailed casting reproduces the respective materials depicted in perfect form: the leather apron convincingly conveys the impression of leather and lies - also in the back view - like a second formed layer over the body, while the shirt and trousers illustrate their own textile qualities. Due to its masterful execution and profound content, the “Blacksmith of Solingen”, which has survived in its cast reproductions, remains Albermann's most famous work to this day. About the artist The son of a carpenter, Wilhelm Albermann began an apprenticeship as a joiner, but then followed his artistic calling and trained as a sculptor in Elberfeld. In 1855, at the age of twenty, he was drafted into the army in Berlin, where he served until 1857. Albermann attended the Berlin Art Academy on the side and began regular studies after his service. While still a student, he completed commissioned works for his teachers August Fischer and Hugo Hagen. His first independent commissions followed, enabling him to establish a flourishing sculpture studio in Cologne in 1865. His artistic activities were repeatedly interrupted by military service, and he took part in the German-Danish War in 1864, the war against Austria in 1866, and the Franco-Prussian War in 1870/71. After his last war service, Albermann, already a respected artist, founded a commercial drawing school at the request of the city government, where he taught the modeling class and served as director until 1896. In 1890 he also worked for the "Society for the Promotion of Sculpture in the Rhineland and Westphalia". Albermann was one of the most prolific sculptors in Cologne in the second half of the 19th century. He created numerous monuments, fountains, tomb sculptures, architectural ornaments, and domestic statues. At its peak, his workshop employed up to thirty sculptors and stonemasons at a time. GERMAN VERSION Wilhelm Albermann (1835 Werden an der Ruhr - 1913 Köln), Der Schmied von Solingen, nach 1895. Bronzefarben patinierter Zinkguss auf gegossener Plinthe, 47 cm (Höhe) x 20 cm (Breite) x 16 cm (Tiefe), Gewicht 5,5 kg. Auf der Plinthe mit „Albermann.“ signiert und als Guss der „AKT.[TIEN] GES.[ELLSCHAFT] GLADENBECK BERLIN“ ausgewiesen. Schauseitige Widmung: „Herrn Ing. F. Kuhlmann zur Vermählung. Direktion und Beamte der Hannoverschen Waggonfabrik. Abt. Flugzeugbau“. - Punktuelles Durchscheinen des Zinks, Patina etwas fleckig, der rechte Oberarm unter dem Ärmel schwarz retuschiert. - Die Zweischneidigkeit des Schwertes - Die Figur ist eine Reduktion von Wilhelm Albermanns 1895 geschaffener Brunnenfigur des Waffenschmieds von Solingen, der seit jeher mit dem historischen Schmied Peter Hahn identifiziert wurde. 1839 hatte Karl Simrock das Gedicht „Der Schmied von Solingen“ verfasst und damit die legendäre Figur geprägt. Die erste und die vorletzte Strophe lauten: Zu Solingen sprach ein Schmied Bei jedem Bajonette, Das seinem Fleiß geriet: »Ach, daß der Fritz es hätte!« Der Krieg ging seinen Gang, Man schlug noch viele Schlachten, Die oft ihm angst und bang' In seiner Seele machten. Der Schmied hatte sein Handwerk ruhen lassen, um selbst für Friedrich den Großen zu kämpfen. Nicht zuletzt durch seine Kraft und seinen Kampfeswillen verliefen die Schlachten siegreich. Dem legendären Schmied verlieht Albermann mit seiner Brunnenskulptur eine bildliche Gestalt und schuf damit zugleich ein Wahrzeichen der Stadt Solingen, die einst für die Kunst des Schwerterschmiedens berühmt war und bis heute für die Herstellung qualitätvoller Messer einsteht. Beim Bombenangriff im November 1944 wurde mit der gesamten Solinger Altstadt auch der Brunnen zerstört. Einzig der Kopf blieb erhalten. Mit sicherem Stand und umgebundener Lederschürze steht der breitschultrige Schmied hinter seinem Amboss und hat gerade mit seiner eigenen ‚Waffe‘ – dem Schmiedehammer – eine Schwertklinge fertiggestellt. Seinem gesamten Körper ist die Kraft abzulesen, mit der er den Hammer führt, aber auch die Anstrengung dieser Tätigkeit, wovon das weit geöffnete Hemd, die etwas ‚unordentlich‘ arrangierte Schürze und vor allem das zerfurchte Gesicht zeugen. Der Schmied schaut aber nicht auf das vollendete Werk, sondern entschlossen und zugleich sinnierend in die Ferne, entsprechend der zitierten Zeile von Simrocks Gedicht, dass die Schlachten „oft ihm angst und bang‘ in seiner Seele machten“. Der Blick hat durchaus etwas Melancholisches, dass sich aus dem Wissen um die Notwendigkeit, Schwerter zu schmieden und zu den Waffen zu greifen und deren tödlichem Einsatz speist – Erfahrungen, die Albermann bei seinen eigenen Kriegseinsätze machen musste. Der wallende Vollbart verleiht dem in die Ferne schauenden Blick einen beinahe prophetischen Charakter. Dem Handwerk der formvollendenden Schmiedekunst entsprechend, gibt der detaillierte Guss die jeweils dargestellten Materialien in vollendeter Ausformung wieder: Die Lederschürze vermittelt überzeugend den Eindruck des Leders und liegt – auch in der Rückenansicht – wie eine zweite ausgeformte Schicht über dem Körper, während das Hemd und die Hose...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

"Le Rieur Napolitain" by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827–1875)
Located in Edinburgh, GB
A stunning bronze bust "Le Rieur Napolitain" by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827–1875), a master of 19th-century French sculpture. This piece captures the joyful expression of a young Neapolitan boy, reflecting Carpeaux’s signature realism and dynamic movement. Details: Artist: Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux Title: Le Rieur Napolitain (The Laughing Neapolitan) Material: Bronze Dimensions: Height 27 cm, Width 19 cm, Depth 12 cm Period: 19th century Condition: Good, with a beautiful natural patina Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827–1875) was a leading French sculptor of the 19th century, known for his ability to infuse lifelike movement and emotional depth into his works. Le Rieur Napolitain (The Laughing Neapolitan) is a striking example of his dynamic and expressive style, embodying his fascination with naturalism and human vitality. This bust is part of Carpeaux’s series of Neapolitan figures...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Black unique iron wrought Magnolia tree - monumental outdoor indoor sculpture
Located in Milan, IT
Monumental Wrought Iron Magnolia Tree Sculpture by Zanoni - Unique Handcrafted Masterpiece Description: A breathtaking fusion of art, symbolism, and masterful Italian craftsmanship, this one-of-a-kind monumental magnolia tree sculpture is a tribute to nature's enduring grace. Created by the celebrated Italian artist Zanoni, known for his exceptional work in wrought iron, this piece stands as a singular work of art-both sculptural and soulful. Forged entirely by hand, each petal and leaf of the magnolia is shaped with remarkable detail, imbuing the iron with an organic softness that belies its strength. Towering in presence yet delicate in expression, this magnolia tree becomes not just a decorative element, but a powerful symbol in any space. In the language of flowers, the magnolia represents candour, fidelity, purity, perseverance, and dignity-qualities beautifully embodied in this sculpture. Its timeless message, coupled with its commanding form, makes it ideal for grand interiors, gardens, cultural spaces, or luxury hospitality environments seeking a poetic and bold statement. Details: Artist: Zanoni Origin: Italy Material: Hand-forged wrought iron Dimensions: Monumental scale (exact measurements upon request) Unique Piece: One-of-a-kind, signed by the artist Symbolism: Magnolia - candour, fidelity, purity, perseverance, and dignity Finish: Weather-resistant patina for outdoor placement (optional custom finishes available) Placement: Suitable for both indoor and outdoor settings Style: Sculptural, botanical, timeless elegance Despite its size, the work is easily transportable thanks to an ingenious system developed over decades by the artists. The branches can be dismantled and reassembled very easily (please see the video). This piece is more than a sculpture-it's a living legacy in iron, carrying both the strength of the material and the poetry of nature. For collectors and admirers of extraordinary craftsmanship, the Zanoni Magnolia is a rare and meaningful acquisition. Zanoni's biography Based in Caldes (Trentino, Italy), Zanoni is heir to a family tradition of blacksmithing passed down from his father, Luciano Zanoni, who famously forged a monumental four-meter olive tree sculpture...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

"Herself", Frederick Hart, Acrylic Female Sculpture, 17x16x6 in., 176/350, white
Located in Dallas, TX
"Herself" by Frederick Hart is an acrylic figurative sculpture of a woman's face numbered 176/350. Hart began to equate light and spirit, the medium itself conveying the meaning, bey...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic Polymer

Antique Bronze Portrait Draft Horse by Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Portrait of a Draft Horse Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901) Circa 1840s Cast bronze mounted on a rectangular plinth atop a marble s...
Category

1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Dos Mujeres Mayas (Two Mayan Women)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork titled "Dos Mujeres Mayas (Two Mayan Women)") 1983 is an original Mixograph cast paper bas relief by Costa Rican/Mexican artist Francisco...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other Medium

Debora Lima-original figurative female dancers bronze sculpture-contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Bronze , Limited edition of 8 "Debora Lima" stands as a capti...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Cameleon -original modern wildlife animal bronze sculpture - contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Bronze , Limited edition of 12 Step into the world of camoufl...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Chevre Allongee (Reclining Goat)
Located in San Francisco, CA
This artwork "Chevre Allongee (Reclining Goat)" c. 1860, is bronze sculpture after renown French artist Antoine Louis Barye, 1796-1875. Signature is impressed in the bronze. The subject size is 4.25 x 7 x 3.35 inches, including marble base is 5.25 x 4 x 7.75 inches. It is in excellent condition. About the artist: Antoine-Louis Barye lived his entire life in Paris and may never have left France. He was born in 1795 (a date revised in the 1990s from 1796 as a result of Martin Sonnabend's recalculation of the Revolutionary calendar). He is reported to have had minimal formal schooling even in reading, and to have acquired his extensive liberal-arts education on his own. His initial professional training was in metalwork: first with his father, a goldsmith from Lyons, then with a metal engraver in military equipment, and finally with Martin-Guillaume Biennais (active 1800-1832), then master goldsmith to Napoleon. After serving in the army from 1812 to 1814, Barye trained in the fine arts with sculptor François-Joseph Bosio (1768-1845) and painter Baron Gros (1771-1835). He then studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts from 1818 to 1823. His miniature medallion, Milo of Crotona Devoured by a Lion, won an honorable mention in metal engraving in 1819, but he failed to win the Prix de Rome. He worked as a craftsman for the goldsmith Jacques-Henri Fauconnier (1779-1839) from 1823 to 1831 and made his Salon debut in 1827 with a selection of busts. Barye made his critical and public mark as a sculptor four years later, in the Salon of 1831, with groups representing predatory violence in the wild. His first government commission came soon after, precisely for such a subject. The Minister of the Interior purchased Barye's monumental plaster Lion (since called Lion Crushing a Serpent), shown in 1833, and had it cast in bronze by Honoré Gonon and shown in 1836, before placing it in the public Tuileries Gardens (now Musée du Louvre, Paris). In 1834 Barye was chosen for a project that was never executed, the colossal eagle as the crowning element of the triumphal arch at the Etoile. Around 1836 the government commissioned him to execute the emblematic animal decoration on the July Column at the place de la Bastille, inaugurated in 1840. He produced a monumental effigy of Saint Clotilde for the Church of the Madeleine, Paris, in the early 1840s. In 1846 the government commissioned a pendant Seated Lion for the Tuileries Lion Crushing a Serpent (1847, bronze, Portal, Pavillon de Flore, Palais du Louvre, Paris). During these same years the royal family began buying and commissioning small-scale works from Barye for their private collections. Around 1834, the duc d'Orléans commissioned a highly publicized surtout de table representing hunts of different regions and historical periods, possibly one of several tabletop projects that he ordered from Barye. The duc's sister Marie d'Orléans allegedly commissioned a lost-wax bronze of Barye's Charles VI Surprised in the Forest of Le Mans (location unknown; later serial variants), a model first shown in the Salon of 1833; his brother, the duc de Montpensier, apparently commissioned a pair of figurative...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Capri
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Carole A. Feuerman is an American sculptor and author known for co-founding the Superrealist movement in the 1970s. After having developed works linked to the poetics of the fragment...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin

"Eagle with a Snake"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
This sculptural work depicts a dramatic scene of a struggle between a mighty eagle and a snake. The eagle, a symbol of strength, courage and victory, has spread its wings wide, demon...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Vigilant Sitting German Shepherd / - The Epitome of the German Shepherd -
Located in Berlin, DE
Albert Pierre LaPlanche (1854 Sainte-Menehould - 1935 Chäteau-Thierry), Vigilant sitting shepherd dog, around 1915. Brown patinated bronze on cast terrain plinth. 45 cm (height) x 45...
Category

1910s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Model Girl
Located in Zofingen, AG
Classic female torso inspired by examples of high Greek sculpture. Sculptor explores the lines and shapes of the female body, embodied the diversity, slightly changed the poses. Thi...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Bronze

"Jules Bastien LePage" Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Bas Relief of French Painter
Located in New York, NY
Augustus Saint-Gaudens Jules Bastien LePage Bronze 14 1/4 x 10 1/8 inches Augustus Saint-Gaudens was born in 1848 in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Bern...
Category

1880s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Henry IV child, King of France, after the original from Francois Joseph Bosio
Located in Riga, LV
Henry IV child, King of France, after the original from Francois Joseph Bosio (1768-1845). Bronze, silver plated.
Category

19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Caduceus", James Muir, Monumental Bronze Fountain Sculpture Allegory, Medical
Located in Dallas, TX
"Caduceus", recognized as a universal medical symbol, in this bronze representation by James N. Muir has become an Angel of Healing bringing love and peace to the earth and all of it...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Life Size Sculpture of Male Head in Terracotta Clay "Giorgi"
Located in New York, NY
Terracotta life-size male head. Rushton sculpts all of his busts using live models over the course of multiple sittings. While realistic and classical in character, his sculptures ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

"Cowrie Shell" (2024) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Cowrie Shell" (2015) is an original handmade bronze sculpture that depicts the shell of a cowrie. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual animals and botanical...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Rare, Antique, Life-Size Dog Bronze of a Chihuahua "Lydie" Charles Valton. 1890s
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog Sculpture Chihuahua "La Petite Belle Lydie" Charles Valton (French, 1851-1918) Circa 15 1/2 x 10 1/4 x 7 Lydie is a Chihuahua making her a very rare image from ...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Ballerina on a cube
Located in Zofingen, AG
"Classical ballet was my main source of inspiration. Grace and beauty of ballerinas combining with extremely hard work they do. This combination is shocking and inspiring in the same...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Pecheur / - Full of anticipation -
Located in Berlin, DE
Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863-1928), Pecheur, c. 1900. Brown patinated bronze with rectangular cast plinth on a green marble base (3 cm high), total height with hinge 37 cm, width 9 cm, depth 8 cm, weight 2.9 kg, signed “Lavergne” on the plinth. - Base with old drilling and a few oxidized areas, patina occasionally rubbed, somewhat stained in the folds. - Full of anticipation - This bronze is the larger, highly detailed version of the fisherman that made Parisian artist Adolphe Jean Lavergne famous. In preparation for fishing, the boy prepares his rod before heading out to sea. The attachment of the iron ring and the rope behind him suggest a quay wall and a boat moored there. However, the depiction is entirely focused on the actual action of the young fisherman: With equal skill and concentration, he bends a hook to connect it to the fishing line. The contrast with his casual clothing, the loose-fitting trousers, the open shirt with its "wild" folds, and, last but not least, the sun hat boldly perched on his neck, reinforces the impression of the attentive care with which he goes about his work. His gaze makes him appear absorbed, as if he has forgotten the world around him and yet he is visibly filled with anticipation of fishing. GERMAN VERSION Adolphe Jean Lavergne (1863-1928), Pecheur, um 1890. Braun patinierte Bronze mit rechteckiger gegossener Plinthe auf grünem Marmorsockel (3 cm Höhe), Gesamthöhe mit Angel 37 cm, Breite 9 cm, Tiefe 8 cm, Gewicht 2,9 kg, auf der Plinthe mit „Lavergne“ signiert. - Sockel mit alter Bohrung und wenigen oxidierten Stellen, Patina mitunter berieben, in den Falten vereinzelt etwas fleckig. - Voller Vorfreude - Die Bronzefigur ist die größere äußerst detaillierte Ausführung des Fischers, mit dem der Pariser Künstler Adolphe Jean Lavergne bekannt geworden ist. In Vorbereitung auf das Fischen präpariert der Junge die Angel...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Crusader with shield and mace / - Ready to strike -
Located in Berlin, DE
Josef Moest (1873 Cologne - 1914 Rath), Crusader with shield and mace, around 1910. Bronze on a black marble pedestal (19 cm high). 57.5 cm (total height) x 21 cm (width) x 12 cm (de...
Category

1910s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Sifaka Lemur -original modern wildlife bronze sculpture - contemporary Art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. Bronze , Limited edition of 12 Enter the enchanting world of ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

MINIATURE DOUBLE DIVER
Located in Aventura, FL
Bronze sculpture with 24K gold leaf caps on granite base. Variant of 48. Artwork in Excellent Condition. Certificate of Authenticity is included. Please do not hesitate to ask us any further questions. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Carole A. Feuerman (American, born 1945) is a Hyper-Realist sculptor. Along with artists like Duane Hanson and John DeAndrea...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

St Paul's Cathedral
Located in Santa Monica, CA
A new work by the artist
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Mixed Media, Archival Paper

"Poodles: Nora and Sheila" Herbert Haseltine, Bronze Dogs Animals Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
Herbert Haseltine Poodles: Nora and Sheila, 1944, cast 1945 Signed and dated on base Bronze with green patina 11 inches high x 17 inches wide x 6 inc...
Category

1940s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Spear Fighter / - The Fighter's Concentration -
Located in Berlin, DE
Ludwig Eisenberger (active in Berlin between 1895-1920), Spear Fighter, around 1910. Brown patinated bronze with residual gilding on a cast terrain plinth with marble base (8 cm high...
Category

1910s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

20th Century Solid Bronze Nude Ballet Dancer 'Preparation' by Benson Landes
Located in Shrewsbury, Shropshire
'Preparation' is a 20th Century Solid Bronze ballet Dancer by Benson Landes. For Benson Landes, sculpture was most definitely a passion. His oeuvre of cast bronzes is populated wit...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Troubetzkoy Paulo (1866 - 1938)+ Bronze Cowboy Sculpture
Located in Gent, VOV
This striking bronze cowboy sculpture by renowned artist Paolo Troubetzkoy depicts a cowboy riding a bucking bronco. Cast in bronze and featur...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Field worker with rake / - The Humility of the Farm Worker -
Located in Berlin, DE
Paul Ludwig Kowalczewski (1865 Mieltschin - 1910 Berlin), Field worker with rake, around 1900. Brown and brown-greenish patinated bronze with ...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Masked
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Description Masked suggests a sense of mystery and eccentricity, and begs the question: Who is the man behind the mask? ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Carrara Marble

"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3", Frederick Hart, Figurative Bronze Sculpture, 43x31x18 in
Located in Dallas, TX
"Ex Nihilo Fragment 3" by Frederick Hart is a figurative bronze with the edition of 61/65. I saw Ex Nihilo (Out of Nothingness) as a single expression of creation, as the metamorphosis of divine spirit and energy. The figures emerge from the nothingness of chaos, caught in the moment of eternal transformation — the majesty and mystery of divine force in a state of becoming. -Frederick Hart Ex Nihilo, Fragment No.3. Detail from the full-scale plaster for the final stone sculpture of Ex Nihilo, commissioned as part of The Creation Sculptures at Washington National Cathedral...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Faces (1/1)" (2023), Bronze Wall Installation by Bill Starke
Located in Denver, CO
"Faces" is a single edition bronze wall sculpture created by Bill Starke, depicting three finely carved human heads from differing perspectives. "Faces" is a single edition install...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Wild Running Horse Three-Dimensional Painting on Wood 40H X 30" W
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wild Running Horse Three-Dimensional Painting on Wood 40H X 30" W 2019 in Los Angeles Collaborative Artwork - Irena Orlov-Zeev Orlov SPECIFICATIONS: Combines Painting and Sculptur...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Alabaster

Realist figurative sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist figurative sculptures 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 figurative sculptures created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of blue, orange, pink and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Frederick Hart, Gary Alsum, SOPHIE MARTIN, and W Stanley Proctor. Frequently made by artists working with Metal, and Bronze and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Realist figurative sculptures, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for figurative sculptures 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 $550 and tops out at $935,000, while the average work sells for $7,833.

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