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Realist 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
Rattlesnake
Rattlesnake

Mark MorrisonRattlesnake, ca. 1950

$3,000Sale Price|70% Off

Rattlesnake

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Rattlesnake , ca. 1950 Carved pink Texas granite 13.5" wide, 13" deep, height is 7" Repair and conservation to uppermost part of snake's body. Provena...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Balerina on a Cube Sculpture, Realism Style, Ballet Series, 38cm Tall
Balerina on a Cube Sculpture, Realism Style, Ballet Series, 38cm Tall

Balerina on a Cube Sculpture, Realism Style, Ballet Series, 38cm Tall

Located in Zofingen, AG

This sculpture depicts a dancer sitting on a cube. Thin lines, graceful refined shapes give the figure weightlessness. The body is made in realism manner and shows the dancer's tired...

Category

1990s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Hyperreal Colored Glass Balloon Sculptures - Set of 5
Hyperreal Colored Glass Balloon Sculptures - Set of 5

Hyperreal Colored Glass Balloon Sculptures - Set of 5

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Set of 5 hyperreal glass water balloon sculpture installation by Dylan Martinez. Made of 100% hot-sculpted glass. Approx. Size: 3.5 × 3.5 × 4.5 inches (each balloon) Dylan Martine...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Hyperreal Light Blue Glass Balloon Sculpture
Hyperreal Light Blue Glass Balloon Sculpture

Hyperreal Light Blue Glass Balloon Sculpture

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Light blue hyperreal glass water balloon sculpture by Dylan Martinez. These hyperrealistic water balloons are made of solid sculpted glass sandblasted and acid-etched to resemble r...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Hyperreal Lemonade Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture
Hyperreal Lemonade Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture

Hyperreal Lemonade Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Hyperreal lemonade yellow glass water balloon sculpture by Dylan Martinez. Dylan Martinez’s hyperrealistic water balloons are made of solid sculpted glass sandblasted and acid-etc...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Sleeping Cat
Sleeping Cat

Mark MorrisonSleeping Cat, ca. 1940

$2,500Sale Price|50% Off

Sleeping Cat

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Sleeping Cat, ca. 1940 Carved Vermont granite 7.5" wide, 5" deep, height is 7" Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kingfisher, OK Educat...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Model Girl Bronze and Stone Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s
Model Girl Bronze and Stone Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

Model Girl Bronze and Stone Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

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 Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Pearfect in Pink
Pearfect in Pink

Pearfect in Pink

By Bela Bacsi

Located in Pasadena, CA

Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Exhibitions Exhibited at the Los Angeles Art Show 2014, January 15-19, 2014

Category

Early 2000s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Marble

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete
[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete

[Bruce Sargeant (1898-1938)] Statue of an Athlete

By Mark Beard

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat

Mark MorrisonMountain Goat, ca. 1940

$1,000Sale Price|50% Off

Mountain Goat

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Mountain Goat, ca. 1940 Carved diorite 3 7/8" wide, 2.5" deep, height is 3" Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kingfisher, OK Educatio...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Cheval Libre (Free Horse)
Cheval Libre (Free Horse)

Cheval Libre (Free Horse)

By Pierre Jules Mêne

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Monkey
Monkey

Mark MorrisonMonkey, ca. 1940

$4,000Sale Price|50% Off

Monkey

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Monkey, ca. 1940 Carved New Hampshire granite 8.5" by 5", height is 16.5" Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kingfisher, OK Education: ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Dove
Dove

Mark MorrisonDove, ca. 1960

$2,000Sale Price|60% Off

Dove

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Dove, ca. 1960 Carved and polished stone 10" wide, 6.25" deep, height is 12" Tail exhibits a small area of loss. Our conservator can repair this at no ex...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Mountain Goat
Mountain Goat

Mark MorrisonMountain Goat, ca. 1950

$1,950Sale Price|35% Off

Mountain Goat

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Mountain Goat, ca. 1950. Carved granite. 6.25" long, 3.25" wide, height is 6.25" Born: Kingfisher, OK Education: University of Missouri John Flannag...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Black Swan
Black Swan

Mark MorrisonBlack Swan, ca. 1950

$7,500Sale Price|70% Off

Black Swan

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Black Swan , ca. 1950 Carved and polished black pearl granite 7" wide, 11.5" deep, height is 29" Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kin...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)

By Isidore Jules Bonheur

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Young Penguin
Young Penguin

Mark MorrisonYoung Penguin, ca. 1950

$3,000Sale Price|50% Off

Young Penguin

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Young Penguin, ca. 1950 Carved Tennessee Marble 8.5" x 7" by 3.5", height is 13 inches. Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kingfisher, O...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Hyperreal Bright Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture
Hyperreal Bright Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture

Hyperreal Bright Yellow Glass Balloon Sculpture

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Hyperreal bright yellow glass water balloon sculpture by Dylan Martinez. Dylan Martinez’s hyperrealistic water balloons are made of solid sculpted glass sandblasted and acid-etche...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head
Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head

Vintage Italian Glazed Terra Cotta Wall Hanging Leopard Head

Located in Palm Beach, FL

Striking mid century Italian life size leopard head crafted in terra cotta, hand decorated and glazed, now and forever caught in mid growl.

Category

20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Terracotta

Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art
Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art

Seahorse -original figurative bronze marine sculpture-artwork-contemporary Art

By Andrzej Szymczyk

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Ram
Ram

Mark MorrisonRam, ca. 1940

$2,000Sale Price|60% Off

Ram

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Ram, ca. 1940 Carved diorite 9" long, 6" wide, height is 7.5" Rusty band on hind quarter is a naturally occurring iron ore occlusion in stone, which bot...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Granite

Bust of a young woman / - Beauty of youth -
Bust of a young woman / - Beauty of youth -

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 Sculptures

Materials

Marble

Hyperreal Forest Green Glass Balloon Sculpture
Hyperreal Forest Green Glass Balloon Sculpture

Hyperreal Forest Green Glass Balloon Sculpture

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Dark forest green glass water balloon sculpture by Dylan Martinez. 100% hot sculpted glass. Dylan Martinez’s hyperrealistic water balloons are made of solid sculpted glass sandblas...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Sleeping Bobcat
Sleeping Bobcat

John FlannaganSleeping Bobcat, 1943

$3,900Sale Price|35% Off

Sleeping Bobcat

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Sleeping Bobcat, 1943. Carved stone 9.5" by 8", height is 4.25" Signed and dated 1943. Provenance: Estate of Mrs. Mark Morrison. Born: Kingfisher,...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Stone

Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)
Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)

Hutschenreuther Porcelain Figurine "The Challenge" (Blue Heron)

Located in Detroit, MI

The Challenge (Blue Heron) by Gunther Granget Ltd Edition #42/200 for Hutschenreuther Porcelain in Germany. Hand painted in fired. Hutschenreuther is a historic German porcelain man...

Category

1970s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Porcelain

Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man

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 Sculptures

Materials

Mahogany

Golf Bug
Golf Bug

Golf Bug

Located in Colorado Springs, CO

Original bronze sculpture by Andrea Wilkinson. Edition #6/30. Signed on bronze sculpture

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Unique iron wrought Magnolia tree - big size monumental outdoor indoor sculpture
Unique iron wrought Magnolia tree - big size monumental outdoor indoor sculpture

Unique iron wrought Magnolia tree - big size monumental outdoor indoor sculpture

By Ivan Zanoni

Located in Milan, IT

Majestic 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. Flowers and turtles are not included in the price. 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 Sculptures

Materials

Iron

"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024
"Porcelain Pattern Sphynx 2" - Hand-Painted Resin Cat Sculpture, 2024

"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 Sculptures

Materials

Resin, Acrylic, Gouache

Ballerina on a Cube Sculpture, Bronze and Stone, Realist, 1990s
Ballerina on a Cube Sculpture, Bronze and Stone, Realist, 1990s

Ballerina on a Cube Sculpture, Bronze and Stone, Realist, 1990s

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 Sculptures

Materials

Stone, Bronze

Pair of Hyperreal Purple Glass Balloon Sculptures
Pair of Hyperreal Purple Glass Balloon Sculptures

Pair of Hyperreal Purple Glass Balloon Sculptures

By Dylan Martinez

Located in East Quogue, NY

Pair of Hyperreal purple glass water balloon sculptures by Dylan Martinez. Dylan Martinez’s hyperrealistic water balloons are made of solid sculpted glass sandblasted and acid-etched to resemble real water balloons. The sculptures are made in small batches, and each color is hand-mixed. Each piece is unique and is signed on the base by the artist. Material: Hot sculpted, sandblasted, acid-etched solid glass Approx. Size: 3 1/2 × 3 1/2 × 4 1/2 inches (each) hyperrealism, glass sculpture, glass balloon...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

When Pigs Fly (Black-triptych)-original realism wildlife sculpture-contemporary
When Pigs Fly (Black-triptych)-original realism wildlife sculpture-contemporary

When Pigs Fly (Black-triptych)-original realism wildlife sculpture-contemporary

By Henk Jan Sanderman

Located in London, Chelsea

We offer complimentary worldwide shipping and cover all tariffs and import taxes for this artwork. This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet C...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

"SAM HOUSTON" HORN CARVING 1936 TEXAS CENTENNIAL AMAZING WORK
"SAM HOUSTON" HORN CARVING 1936 TEXAS CENTENNIAL AMAZING WORK

"SAM HOUSTON" HORN CARVING 1936 TEXAS CENTENNIAL AMAZING WORK

Located in San Antonio, TX

Dan Super "SAM HOUSTON" (1873-1953) Houston Artist Image Size: 3 3/4 inches tall Medium: Carved Horn of Sam Houston to celebrate the Texas Centennial. Texas Centennial 1936 "Sam Houston Pin Cushion Holder" Biography Dan Super (1873-1953) Dan E. Super, Jr. (1873 – 1953) Dan Super had the eye of a sculptor, envisioning and then creating hundreds of objects from the elongated form of a Texas Longhorn’s tusk. At the age of six, Dan Super carved his first drawing into a piece of the horn of a Texas Longhorn. Over the next 56 years, he made utilitarian pieces like pencil cups, pin cushions, and backscratchers, realistic replicas of animals and birds, and imaginative carvings of elegant nudes. While these carvings resemble the traditional art of scrimshaw, carvings from whale bone, we’ve not been able to identify another carver who used the Texas Longhorn as his material. “My work is done with an ordinary pocketknife, hacksaw file and rasp,” Super wrote in 1937. He used the horn in every way conceivable; whole, allowing the shape to define the object he was making, flattened to make mosaic or inlay work. He incised and pierced it and carved in the round. His own hands polished the horn to a sheen. Daniel Super, Jr. was born in Houston on August 22, 1873. His father owned stock years, D. Super and Brothers Co., providing the young Super with ready access to his raw material. Throughout his life, he worked in the businesses key to the identity and success of young, booming Houston, cattle, oil, real estate and rail. In 1896 he married Lula, and took over the family business, expanding it to include a grocery. He closed the company in 1912 and got into the oil business...

Category

1930s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Other Medium

Florentine singer / - The Renaissance of the Renaissance -
Florentine singer / - The Renaissance of the Renaissance -

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s
Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

Venus Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Alfred Dubucand (1828-1894): Two hunting dogs
Alfred Dubucand (1828-1894): Two hunting dogs

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Horse
Horse

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Baboon
Baboon

Mark MorrisonBaboon, ca. 1940

$2,500Sale Price|50% Off

Baboon

Located in Wilton Manors, FL

Mark Morrison (1895-1964) Baboon, ca. 1940 Carved and weathered Walnut 12" wide, 12" deep, height is 26.5" Please note the bottom surface is not perfectly flat and the piece lean...

Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Sculptures

Materials

Walnut

Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses
Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses

Expressive High Fire Glazed Ceramic Painted Old Man Bust and Forged Iron Glasses

By Óscar Aldonza Torres

Located in FISTERRA, ES

Expressive ceramic bust with high-fire glazes, oil-painted head and forged iron glasses exploring identity, learning and the aging body. This expressive ceramic bust belongs to Os A...

Category

2010s Realist Sculptures

Materials

Iron

Chip Chip Hooray
Chip Chip Hooray

Chip Chip Hooray

By Tom Pfannerstill

Located in Columbia, MO

Thomas Pfannerstill has worked as a full-time studio artist since 1986, following his education at Western Kentucky University (BFA 1975). He currently resides and works in Louisvill...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Acrylic

Girl at Waterfall Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s
Girl at Waterfall Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

Girl at Waterfall Bronze Sculpture, Realist Style, Vintage, 1980s

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 Sculptures

Materials

Bronze

Realist sculptures for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist 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 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 Peter Brooke. 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 sculptures, so small editions measuring 1 inches across are also available. Prices for 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 $7,200.