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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
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

Klage um Ernst Barlach ( Memorial for Ernst Barlach )
Located in Berlin, DE
Impressive Bronze Relief by Käthe Kollwitz ( 1867-1945, Germany ). Created 1938 in memory of her friend Ernst Barlach. Bronze brown patinated. On the left side signed: Kollwitz. He...
Category

1930s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"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

"Delft Frog 3" - Hand-Painted Resin Cast Miniature Sculpture 2025
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams’ "Delft Frog 3" is a captivating miniature sculpture blending tradition and whimsy. This 2025 resin cast is hand-painted with intricate blue floral motifs reminiscent o...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

"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

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

Warm-up.
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

Early 2000s 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

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

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

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

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

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

"Delft Toad 1" - Hand-Painted Resin Sculpture, Blue and White, 2025
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams' "Delft Toad 1" is a handcrafted resin sculpture, measuring 2 x 2 x 2 inches, featuring intricate hand-painted acrylic gouache patterns in rich Delft blue against a pri...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

Michael Standing
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist EXHIBITIONS California Art Clubs 95th Annual Gold Medal Juried Exhibition April 2 - 23...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Jules Bastien LePage" Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Bas Relief of French Painter
By Augustus Saint-Gaudens
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

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

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

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

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...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Girl at Waterfall
Located in Zofingen, AG
"This is one of my earliest sculptures. I depicted a naked girl at the waterfall. She bathes under jets of water. The fabric of clothing hugs her body and lies down to her feet. The ...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Delft Frog 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Sculpture with Gold Crown, 2025
Located in Denver, CO
Nana Williams' "Delft Frog 2" is a striking, hand-painted resin sculpture measuring 1.50 x 1.25 x 2 inches (3.81 x 3.18 x 5.08 cm). This exquisite piece combines intricate blue flora...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

"Honesty Plant" (2023) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Honesty Plant" (2023) is an original handmade sculpture made from bronze and dyed flamed maple. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual animals and botanical s...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

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

Morning
Located in Zofingen, AG
The author admires the beauty of the female body. Her movement - smooth, graceful and beautiful. The moment of awakening is very sensual. The girl stretches, revealing the beauty of her young body. Realistic manner shows her original beauty. Sculpture shapes create a play of light and shadow, curves, polished and brushed metal. The work is made of bronze- polish and patina. This sculpture was created in the early period of Alex Radionov...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Mouse and Antler (12/15)" (2016) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Mouse and Antler" (2016) is an original handmade bronze sculpture that depicts a mouse standing on a deer antler. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual anima...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Klage um Ernst Barlach ( Memorial for Ernst Barlach )
Located in Berlin, DE
Impressive Bronze Relief by Käthe Kollwitz ( 1867-1945, Germany ). Created 1938 in memory of her friend Ernst Barlach. Bronze brown patinated. On the left side signed: Kollwitz. He...
Category

1930s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Capri
By Carole A. Feuerman
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

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

Mountain Goat
Located in Missouri, MO
Jules Moigniez "Mountain Goat" Bronze approx 11 x 9 x 4 inches Signed Jules Moigniez (1835-1894) Jules Moigniez was born in Senlis sur L'Oise, France ...
Category

1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Horse Playing with a Dog" Pierre Lenordez (1815-1892) circa 1860
By Pierre Lenordez
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Saddled Horse Playing with a Dog"  Pierre Lenordez (1815-1892)  Bronze with green marble base, circa 1860 11 x 7 inches Painter and sculptor, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts ...
Category

1860s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Antique Dog: Bulldog Playing with a Mouse- Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux ca. 1870s
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Bronze Dog Bulldog Playing with a Mouse on Sheaves of Wheat Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux (1815-1881) 6 1/8 x 3 7/5 inches Signed on the terrace Henri Émile Adrien Trodoux (Fre...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

African Boy
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful ca. 1970s sculpture depicting African boy. Carved and stained hardwood. Some splits in wood consistent with age, not damage. Signed indistinctly on back of platform.
Category

1970s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

"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

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

Cat's Cradle
Located in Denver, CO
"Cat's Cradle" is a limited edition sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a figure playing with string. About the artist: Human beings interacting, colliding, cooperating, striving, & achieving are the themes I wish to portray in my sculptures. My observations on the human condition are meant to be both humorous and thought provoking. Bill Starke's "Free Man" is everything that good art should be: technically superb, brilliantly composed, emotionally powerful and visually arresting... like George Stubbs, the 18th century English master...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Carpeaux etnic bronze : Le chinois (1868). N1 (scetch) Observatory fountain
Located in Gent, VOV
JEAN-BAPTISTE CARPEAUX 1827 - 1875 Le Chinois N°1 (study for Asia) (1868). Model from the observatory fountain. Sketch Height ca.60 cm A similar copy auctioned on June 22, 2023, at ...
Category

1860s 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

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

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

" THE LAST DROP " Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) BRONZE SCULPTURE 1903 WESTERN
Located in San Antonio, TX
Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) New York / New Jersey Artist Image Size: 12" x 18.50" x 5" Medium: Bronze Sculpture 1903 "The Last Drop" Charles Schreyvogel (1861-1912) New York / Ne...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

PAULA BLACKMAN Seated Cat Bronze Sculpture Black Patina 2017 FEMALE ARTIST
Located in Rancho Santa Fe, CA
“Bast” is A limited edition bronze sculpture of a seated black cat on a black marble base. Black patin From the limited edition of 8. Signed 1/8 Paula Blackman has been a bronze scu...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Bust of a young woman / - Beauty of youth -
Located in Berlin, DE
Anonymous, Bust of a young woman, c. 1900, artificial marble and gray onyx marble. 37 cm (height) x 37 cm (width) x 22 cm (depth), weight 17.2 kg. Signed “GURRINI” on the reverse. -...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Climbers - Large
Located in Denver, CO
"Climbers I" is a limited edition (TBD/75) sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a figure climbing a rope. "Climbers I" has 1 in stock. Quantities over 1 will take 5-6 weeks t...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other Medium

Mountain Goat
Located in Missouri, MO
Jules Moigniez "Mountain Goat" Bronze approx 11 x 9 x 4 inches Signed Jules Moigniez (1835-1894) Jules Moigniez was born in Senlis sur L'Oise, France ...
Category

1870s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Horse Playing with a Dog" Pierre Lenordez (1815-1892) circa 1860
By Pierre Lenordez
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Saddled Horse Playing with a Dog"  Pierre Lenordez (1815-1892)  Bronze with green marble base, circa 1860 11 x 7 inches Painter and sculptor, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts ...
Category

1860s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Catrina en Día de Muertos - Ceramic Sculpture - Mexican Folk Art - Cactus Fine A
By Alvaro de la Cruz Lopez
Located in Jesus del Monte, MX
MASTERPIECE Made with natural ceramic. Hand-modeled technique and cooked in a wood-fired oven. LISTING =================================== 1 Ceramic Catrina =======================...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Clay

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

Bamboo reeds screen, inside or outdoor wrough iron sculpture unique piece
By Luciano Zanoni
Located in Milan, IT
The proposed sculpture is composed of 5 strands of bamboo, forged, with incredible softness, and fixed on a steel base. They are bolted, in total safety, and then covered with a laye...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Iron

"In My Dreams I Can Fly, " Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Bill Starke's "In My Dreams I Can Fly" is a limited edition, cast and patinated aluminum sculpture created by Bill Starke depicting a male figure free falling through the air. ( 3/99 ) Note: Images 4 and 5 depict additional available patinas. About the artist: Human beings interacting, colliding, cooperating, striving, & achieving are the themes I wish to portray in my sculptures. My observations on the human condition are meant to be both humorous and thought provoking. Bill Starke's "Free Man" is everything that good art should be: technically superb, brilliantly composed, emotionally powerful and visually arresting... like George Stubbs, the 18th century English...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Other Medium

Stanczyk-original figurative bronze jester 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. This evocative bronze sculpture presents Stańczyk, the iconic ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Angry Father, family sculpture in bronze
Located in Greenwich, CT
A lively and important work that would bring animation to any interior. Though he has been called “the world’s best public sculptor,” by art critic Ken Johnson, Tom Otterness’ playfu...
Category

1980s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Scultura in marmo italiana ritratto di fanciulla religiosa del XIX secolo
Located in Florence, IT
Il busto marmoreo, datato 1890, appartiene alla sua età adulta, nello specifico all’ultimo anno della sua vita, quando era molto richiesto e aveva uno studio molto prolifico a Firenz...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble

"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

"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

"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

Acrylic Polymer, Resin

Joan of Arc / - The Liberating Power of Faith -
Located in Berlin, DE
Eugène Laurent (1832 Gray - 1898 Paris), Joan of Arc, around 1880. Brown patinated bronze on a cast rectangular plinth with tree trunk and distaff. 40 cm (height) x 15.5 cm (length) x 15.5 cm (depth), weight 6.1 kg. Signed “E.[ugène] Laurent.” on the plinth and inscribed “HZ” on the reverse. - somewhat stained due to patina, traces of oxidation behind the distaff, slightly rubbed in places, overall still in very good condition for its age - The Liberating Power of Faith - At the age of 13, Jeanne, a peasant girl born in Lorraine around 1412, heard the voices of Saints Catherine and Margaret and the Archangel Michael telling her that she had been chosen to liberate France from English occupation. By 1428, Henry VI's troops had advanced to the Loire and besieged Orléans, a strategic city for the further conquest of France. Joan of Arc went to the exile of Charles VII and, with the king's consent, led the French army into battle against the besiegers. After four days of fighting, the English were defeated and Orléans was liberated. Other victorious battles followed, until in 1430 she fell into the hands of the enemy, who had her executed as a witch by the Inquisition. In May 1431, Joan of Arc was burned at Rouen. After the final expulsion of the English, the "Maid of Orleans" was rehabilitated by the Church in 1456. She was finally canonized in 1920. By then, Joan of Arc had become a national heroine and the patron saint of France. After the French Revolution, the strengthening of the nation-state and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, Joan of Arc was again venerated and depicted in numerous bronze statues. Eugène Laurent depicts the young girl listening to the voices of the saints who reveal her destiny. With her eyes wide open, she gazes at the sky as if she were looking at the revealed future. Her hands are clasped in prayer, indicating her willingness to face her destiny. Leaning against a tree trunk, she treads with one foot on a raised stone, which, together with her upward gaze, gives her an upward movement that announces her higher mission. At the same time, however, she steps down from the stone to the earth, emphasizing her earthly mission, for which she has already taken the first step. In doing so, she steps over the discarded distaff, which refers to her "lower" origins and belongs to the life she has now left behind. Laurent manages to capture the fateful emotion that makes us look at Joan of Arc in awe, even though she is a simple peasant girl. Even if the design is aimed at the overall impression, the artist has nevertheless worked out certain details, such as the tied waistcoat, very realistically and, in addition to the skin, has particularly depicted the material quality of the textiles. About the artist Eugène Laurent studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he won a prize in 1860. He then joined the studio of Jacques Antoine Theodore Coinchon. As a freelance artist, he supplied the Paris Salon with statues, portrait busts, and medallions from 1861 to 1893. He also created large sculptures such as the monument to Jacques Callot in Nancy (1877) and the statue of François Boucher at the Paris City Hall. GERMAN VERSION Eugène Laurent (1832 Gray - 1898 Paris), Jeanne d’Arc, um 1880. Braun patinierte Bronze auf mitgegossener rechteckiger Plinthe mit Baumstamm und Spinnrocken. 40 cm (Höhe) x 15,5 cm (Länge) x 15,5, cm (Tiefe), Gewicht 6,1 kg. Auf der Plinthe mit „E.[ugène] Laurent.“ signiert und rückseitig mit „HZ“ bezeichnet. - patinabedingt etwas fleckig, Oxidationsspuren hinter dem Spinnrocken, stellenweise leicht berieben, insgesamt in einem altersgemäß noch sehr guten Zustand - Die befreiende Kraft des Glaubens - Als 13jähige vernahm das um 1412 in Lothringen geborene Bauernmädchen Jeanne Stimmen der Heiligen Katharina und Margarete und des Erzengels Michael, die ihr verkündeten, auserwählt zu sein, Frankreich von der englischen Besatzung zu befreien. 1428 waren die Truppen von Heinrich VI. bis zur Loire vorgerückt und belagerten die für eine Weitereroberung Frankreichs strategisch wichtige Stadt Orléans. Jeanne d’Arc begab sich ins Exil Karls VII. und führte mit der Einwilligung des Königs das französische Heer gegen die Belagerer ins Feld. Nach viertätiger Schlacht unterlagen die Engländer und Orléans war befreit. Es folgten weitere siegreiche Kämpfen bis sie 1430 in die Hände des Feindes fiel, der bei der Inquisition ihre Hinrichtung als Hexe erwirkte. Im Mai 1431 wurde Jeanne d’Arc in Rouen verbrannt. Im Anschluss an die endgültige Vertreibung der Engländer wurde die „Jungfrau von Orléans“ 1456 von der Kirche rehabilitiert. 1920 erfolgte schließlich ihre Heiligsprechung. Inzwischen galt Jeanne d’Arc als Nationalheldin und Schutzpatronin Frankreichs. In der Nachfolge der Französischen Revolution, dem Erstarken der Nationalstaatlichkeit und dem Deutsch-Französischen Krieg von 1870/71 erfuhr Jeanne d‘Art eine neue Verehrung und wurde in zahlreichen Bronzestatuen dargestellt. Eugène Laurent zeigt das junge Mädchen wie sie die Stimmen der Heiligen vernimmt, die ihr das von der Vorsehung bestimmte Schicksal offenbaren. Mit weit geöffneten Augen blickt sie gen Himmel als ob sie die offenbarte Zukunft schauen würde. Dabei hat sie die Hände in Gebetshaltung geschlossen, was zugleich vom Willen kündet, sich ihrem Schicksal zu stellen. An einen Baumstamm gelehnt, tritt sie mit dem einen Fuß auf einen erhöhten Stein, was ihr – zusammen mit dem aufwärts gerichteten Blick – eine von ihrer höheren Mission kündende Aufwärtsbewegung verleiht. Zugleich tritt sie aber auch von dem Stein auf die Erde herab, wodurch ihre irdische Mission hervorgehoben wird, zu der sie bereits den ersten Schritt getan hat. Dabei steigt sie über den abgelegten Spinnrocken hinweg, der auf ihre ‚niedere‘ Herkunft verweist und zum nun abgelegten Leben gehört. Laurent gelingt es, die schicksalhafte Ergriffenheit zur Darstellung zu bringen, die uns Jeanne d‘Arc, obwohl sie ein einfaches Bauernmädchen ist, ehrfürchtig betrachten lässt. Auch wenn die Gestaltung auf den Gesamteindruck zielt, hat der Künstler doch einzelne Details, wie die zugebundene Weste, äußerst realitätsnah herausgearbeitet und neben der Haut insbesondere die stoffliche Qualität der Textilien zur Darstellung gebracht. zum Künstler Eugène Laurent studierte an der Pariser École des Beaux-Arts und wurde 1860 von der Akademie mit einem Preis ausgezeichnet. Anschließend trat er in das Atelier Jacques Antoine Theodore Coinchon ein. Als freischaffender Künstler beschickte er von 1861 bis 1893 den Pariser Salon mit Statuen, Porträtbüsten und Medaillons. Zudem schuf er Großplastiken wie das Denkmal Jacques Callots in Nancy (1877) und die Statue...
Category

1890s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

5th Avenue Q
Located in PARIS, FR
"5th Avenue Q" by David Gerstein is a vibrant wall sculpture that captures the dynamic energy of New York City's iconic 5th Avenue. Using bold colors and layered shapes, Gerstein bri...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Metal

Psyche / - Fulfilled longing -
Located in Berlin, DE
Jan Jozef Jaquet (1822 Antwerp - 1898 Brussels), Psyche, 1847. Black-brown and brown patinated bronze on a cast base. 30 cm (height) x 22 cm (width) x 12 cm (depth), weight 5 kg. Ver...
Category

1840s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"Seated Frog Fountain" (2024) By Tony Hochstetler, Original Bronze Sculpture
Located in Denver, CO
Tony Hochstetler's "Seated Frog Fountain" (2015) is an original handmade bronze sculpture that depicts a frog sitting on a rock. TONY HOCHSTETLER is a sculptor of unusual animals an...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Wrestlers. Patinated bronze, h 39 cm + 4 cm pedestal, w 46 cm l 27 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Wrestlers. Patinated bronze, h 39 cm + 4 cm pedestal, w 46 cm l 27 cm Ferdinand Barbedienne (1810–1892)
Category

1850s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Marble, 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

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

"Mother & Child", Frederick Hart, Acrylic Sculpture, 24x18x10 in., 43x150, white
Located in Dallas, TX
"Mother and Child" by Frederick Hart is an acrylic figurative sculpture of a woman and her baby numbered 43/150. Inspired by the birth of his own child, Frederick Hart masterfully ce...
Category

1990s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Acrylic Polymer, Resin

Defi a Newton
Located in Palm Beach, FL
ARMAN 1928 - 2005 Bronze sculpture, 2004 Polished bronze with black patina, 2004, stamped with foundry stamp and numbered, published by Venturi Arte, Bologna Signed and numbered...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Bronze, Gold Leaf

"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

Portrait of Ni-Polog
Located in New York, NY
Signed, dated, and inscribed on the verso: Malvina Hoffman/ Den Pasar/ “Nipolog”-/ © 1932/ Bali Provenance: The artist; her estate. Literature: Mal...
Category

1930s Realist Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

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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