Encompassing centuries of change in Europe between 1300 and 1800, from booms of prosperity to bloody revolutions, Old Masters describes a wide range of artists. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked during this era.
The 15th century’s expansive trade and commerce spread culture across borders. A vibrant period of art emerged, bolstered by studies of anatomy and nature that influenced a new visual realism. From Raphael and Michelangelo in the Renaissance to Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer in the Dutch Golden Age, artists expressed emotion, naturalism, color and light in new ways. El Greco and Paolo Veronese were leaders in the dramatic style of Mannerism, while Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens demonstrated the movement and meticulous detail of Baroque art.
Historically, most attention was concentrated on male artists, but recent research and exhibitions have elevated the impactful work of women such as Rachel Ruysch and Artemisia Gentileschi. In late-18th-century France, female artists like Adélaïde Labille-Guiard and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun were prominent names. Nevertheless, access to the academies and guilds was highly restricted for women, and even those able to establish practices were expected to adhere to portraits and still lifes rather than the grand history paintings being created by men.
Find a collection of Old Masters prints, paintings, drawings and watercolors and other art on 1stDibs.
$5,811Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of 19th century scagliola sculptures (Italian Neoclassicism) - Roman figure
Located in Varmo, IT
Pair of scagliola sculptures - Roman figures. Italian manufacture, 19th century. 51 x 26 x h 118 cm (left) - 41 x 28 x h 118 cm (right). Made entirely of scagliola. Depicting two f...
Plaster
Oedipus before the Temple of the Furies at Colonus
Located in London, GB
Terracotta 19 x 25 ½ inches; 480 x 650 mm Signed and dated: ‘W Tyler Excu. 1765’ Collections: Cyril Humphris, London; Humphris sale, Sotheby's, New York, 10-11 January 1995, lot 74...
Terracotta
Antique Sculpture Female Moor Venice 19th Century Gold Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Antique sculpture of a female Moor with flowering cornucopia Venice, 19th century Carved, lacquered and gilded/silvered wood Total height 202 cm (column base 82 cm, figure 120 cm) ...
Gold
Classical Torso (Female)
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classical female torso, polished walnut.
Wood, Walnut
$10,828Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpture Nativity Spain 16th Century Wood Old master
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
High relief sculpture depicting the Nativity Spain (Seville) - second half of the 16th century Carved and engraved wood, polychrome with gold finishes Dimensions: 94 x 71 cm. ...
Wood
Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar
By Nathaniel Choate
Located in Fresno, CA
Ashford Fine Art is the exclusive source for this limited edition bronze, entitled Hercules and the Erymanthian Boar, by the distinguished American sculptor, painter, and designer, ...
Bronze
$1,452Sale Price|33% Off
Early 19th century Empire figure bronze sculpture - woman's bust
Located in Varmo, IT
Small bronze ornament - Bust of a woman. Italy, early 19th century. 8 x 8 x h 29 cm, without base h 23 cm (not signed). Made entirely of patinated and gilded bronze. Depicting a fe...
Marble, Bronze
Italian master - 18th century figure sculpture - Virgin Pity - Carved Wood Paint
Located in Varmo, IT
Carved and painted wooden sculpture - Pietà - Italy, 18th century. 13 x 7 x h 22.5 cm. Entirely made of carved and polychrome painted wood. Condition report: Good state of conserv...
Wood, Paint
Late 15th-century Old Master Burgundian Netherlands carved walnut figure
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful late 15th-century Burgundian Netherlandish portrait of a woman. Carved walnut. Original polychrome has been removed with traces at base and lower portions of figure. Minor ...
Walnut
Virgin of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá with Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Andre
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: Private Collection, Uruguay, for the last 90 years. Dated 1673 on the reverse (Fig. 1), this exceptional relief is an early example of a distinctly Spanish American art...
Alabaster
Eustace-Hyacinthe Langlois, called Langlois de L'Arche
Located in London, GB
Plaster 480 mm; 19 inches diameter Inscribed: ‘H. Langlois du Pont de l’Arche Archeologue Peintre Graveur par son ami P. J. David (D Angers) 1838’ Collections: Sotheby’s, 22nd May...
Plaster
$21,750Sale Price|25% Off
Erotic Sexual Mythological Marble Figural, Nude woman, Bacchante and Satyr Herm
Located in Miami, FL
Bacchic revelry. A sexy and nude curvaceous young Nymph/Bacchante makes amorous advances to a Herm - whose facial expression reflects her erotic touch. The Herm is stylized where his...
Marble
$32,252Sale Price|20% Off
Late 15th Century By Florentine School Madonna with Child Bas-relief
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Late 15th Century Florentine School Madonna with Child Bas-relief Pietra serena (a blue-gray sandstone) 85.5 x 60.5 cm Provenance: - via Stefano Bardini purchased in 1896 by Prince ...
Sandstone
Pair Carved Gilded Mirrors Gold Wood Venice 18th Century Italy Quality Baroque
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Pair of carved and gilded mirror cabinets 'in the manner of Sansovino' Venetian (or Tuscan) carver active in the 18th century Carved and gilded wood Total frame measurements: 86 x 6...
Gold
$6,571Sale Price|20% Off
Wooden Sculptures Roman Soldiers Rome 18th Century Italy Art Gold
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Wooden sculptures depicting a pair of full-length Roman soldiers Rome, 18th century Carved and gilded wood (walnut?) Dimensions: Maximum height (at lance) 62 cm./ Maximum width: 28 ...
Gold
Study in Green with Pearls, 2021, Matt Smith
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
MATT SMITH (BRITISH) Study in Green with Pearls, 2021 Black Parian, Found Ceramic, Freshwater Pearls 29 x 14 x 14 cm 11 1/2 x 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 in. (MS206) £ 4,000.00 UK-born Matt Smit...
Ceramic, Found Objects
Nude Male Runner Bronze patinated Classical After the Antique
Located in Miami, FL
Beautifully proportioned and handsome nude male bronze with Roman classically refined features after the Antique . It looks best with a key lighting th...
Bronze
$11,835Sale Price|20% Off
Pair Sculptures Winged Angels Wood Tuscany 17/18th Century Old master Gold Art
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Pair of sculptures depicting two winged angels in carved wood Tuscany, late 17th century Carved, gilded and polychrome wood Dimensions: Height 64 cm - ...
Wood
Cuzco School Baptismal Dish
By Spanish Colonial (Peruvian)
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: Manuel Ortíz de Zevallos y García, Peru; and by descent in the family to: Private Collection, New York. This impressive baptismal dish is an example of eighteenth-cent...
Silver
Bas-relief - Sketch of an antique scene, the procession.
Located in PARIS, FR
School of the first half of the 19th century. Bas-relief - Sketch of an antique scene, the procession. Terracotta. 29 x 38 x 6 cm With sketch on the back
Terracotta
$1,452Sale Price|69% Off
Fabergè follower - 19th/20th century Russian marble precious stone sculpture
Located in Varmo, IT
Small sculpture in different marbles and semiprecious stones - Young man with samovar. Probably Russia, 19th-20th century. 6 x 6 x h 15 cm the sculptu...
Precious Stone
Saint Barbara France 16/17th Century Sculpture Wood Religious Old master Art
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
High relief panel depicting 'Saint Barbara' Southern France, 16th-17th century Polychrome carved wood with traces of gilding 64 x 32 cm. (good condition, with minor missing and cra...
Wood, Wood Panel
$1,210Sale Price|74% Off
Fabergè follower - 19th/20th century Russian marble precious stone sculpture
Located in Varmo, IT
Small sculpture in different marbles and semiprecious stones - Seated old man. Probably Russia, 19th-20th century. 7.5 x 8 x h 13.5 cm the sculpture, ...
Precious Stone
17th Century Flemish Sculpture of a Religious Figure
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique carving of a saint or martyr. 17th century Flemish hardwood carving. Wonderful wear and rich color.
Wood
Vanitas Vanitatum
Located in Villafranca Di Verona, IT
Numbered and limited to 8 copies Signature: Hand-signed by artist Authenticity: Sold with certificate of Authenticity from the gallery Invoice from the gallery Sculpture: bronze, me...
Metal, Bronze
Spoils, 2021, White Soils with Earthenware with Freshwater Pearls
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
White Earthenware with Freshwater Pearls 55 x 36 x 17 cm 21 5/8 x 14 1/8 x 6 3/4 in. UK-born Matt Smith is well known for his site-specific work in museums, galleries and historic h...
Earthenware
Notes from a Love Song (Pedestal)
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
Matt Smith (British) Notes from a Love Song (Pedestal), 2022 Black Parian 22 x 11 x 11 cm 8 3/4 x 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. Parian is a fine, unglazed porcelain resembling marble. It is an ...
Ceramic
Notes from a Love Song (Cannon)
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
Matt Smith Notes from a Love Song (Cannon), 2022 Black Parian 24 x 17 x 11 cm 9 1/2 x 6 3/4 x 4 1/4 in. Parian is a fine, unglazed porcelain resembling marble. It is an unstable mat...
Ceramic
After Soldani Benzi (looking left)
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
Matt Smith After Soldani Benzi (looking left), 2022 Black Parian, found spelter figure 16 x 30 x 13 cm 6 1/4 x 11 3/4 x 5 1/4 in. Parian is a fine, unglazed porcelain resembling ma...
Ceramic
The Piper
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
Matt Smith The Piper, 2022 Black Parian, found porcelain 35 x 18 x 10 cm 13 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 4 in. Parian is a fine, unglazed porcelain resembling marble. It is an unstable material, ...
Porcelain
Joey (Spout with pearls)
By Matt Smith
Located in London, GB
MATT SMITH Joey (Spout with pearls), 2021 Black Parian, Freshwater pearls 20 x 12 x 7 cm 7 3/4 x 4 3/4 x 2 3/4 in. (MS211)
Porcelain, Precious Stone