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Old Masters Art

OLD MASTERS

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

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

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

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

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Style: Old Masters
Saint Cecilia Angels De La Haye Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master
Saint Cecilia Angels De La Haye Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master

Saint Cecilia Angels De La Haye Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Lucas de la Haye, called Luca Fiammingo (Nivelles, 1612-Rome, 1682) Saint Cecilia and two cherubs Oil on canvas 118 x 91 cm. -Framed 129 x 102 cm. Expertise of Prof. Emilio Negro (Bologna) This evocative painting, which we are delighted to exhibit to you, has Saint Cecilia, the Roman noblewoman who later converted to Christianity and a very popular figure in the Baroque period as the patron saint of music, instrumentalists and singers, at the centre of the composition. She is depicted here as a splendid maiden dressed in regal robes...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

The Line of Beauty and Grace, Oil on Canvas, Framed, WH 1745
The Line of Beauty and Grace, Oil on Canvas, Framed, WH 1745

The Line of Beauty and Grace, Oil on Canvas, Framed, WH 1745

By William Hogarth

Located in St. Albans, GB

A copy of the self portrait of William Hogarth with his dog, called Trump. A fantastic quality image possibly from Hogarth's original school of art. This piece is titled, dated and monogrammed. It is in an antique, period Louis XIV style frame. The painting measures 36 x 28" (92 x 72cm) Outside Frame Size: 45 x 37" (104 x 94cm) Hogarth began this self-portrait in the mid-1730s. Initially Hogarth painted himself wearing a formal coat...

Category

19th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

In a Gothic Church

In a Gothic Church

Located in Roma, IT

In a Gothic Church is a beautiful original drawing (China ink and watercolor on paper). Hand-signed "Stothard" in brown ink on the lower left margin outside of the image. Very sweet drawing representing a woman praying...

Category

19th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Charcoal, Ink, Watercolor

Military in discussion
Military in discussion

Military in discussion

Located in Genève, GE

Work on cardboard Golden wooden frame 54 x 45 x 4.5 cm

Category

Early 20th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Ecce Homo Coxie Paint 16/17th Century Paint Oil on table Old master Flemish Art
Ecce Homo Coxie Paint 16/17th Century Paint Oil on table Old master Flemish Art

Ecce Homo Coxie Paint 16/17th Century Paint Oil on table Old master Flemish Art

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Circle of Michael Coxie (Malines, 1499 - Malines, 1592) Ecce Homo with Pontius Pilate Oil on panel Flemish school 16th-17th century 112 x 81 cm - framed 121 x 90 cm. The proposed p...

Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

17th Century by Luca Forte Walnuts, Chestnuts, a Bunch of Grapes and a Quince
17th Century by Luca Forte Walnuts, Chestnuts, a Bunch of Grapes and a Quince

17th Century by Luca Forte Walnuts, Chestnuts, a Bunch of Grapes and a Quince

Located in Milano, Lombardia

Luca Forte (Naples, 1615 ca. - 1670 ca.) Title: Walnuts, Chestnuts, a Bunch of Grapes and a Quince Medium: Oil on walnut panel Dimensions: without frame 13 x 22.5 cm - with frame 31 ...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Sir. John Powell, Knight: Early 18th C. Engraved Portrait After William Sherwin
Sir. John Powell, Knight: Early 18th C. Engraved Portrait After William Sherwin

Sir. John Powell, Knight: Early 18th C. Engraved Portrait After William Sherwin

Located in Alamo, CA

This is an early 18th century portrait of Sir John Powell entitled "The Honorable Sr. John Powell, Knight. one of the Justices of her Majesties' Court of Common Pleas. Ano. D 1711". It was engraved and published by John King in London in 1711, after an earlier work by William Sherwin. The engraving depicts a bust length portrait of Powell wearing an elaborate fir-trimmed robe and collar. The portrait is encompassed in an ornate oval frame, sitting on a pedestal with an impressive coat-of-arms below. This engraved portrait is printed on laid, chain-linked watermarked cream-colored paper The sheet measures 15.25" high and 11.38" wide. It is adhered to an archival thick card at the upper corners, There is a 1/8" tear at the lower edge of the sheet, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. This engraving is held by museums and institutions, including the British Museum and the Harvard University Art Museum. Sir John Powell (1632-1696) was an English lawyer and judge who served as a justice of the King's Bench from 1683 until his death. He was born in Glamorganshire, Wales, and studied at Jesus College, Oxford, before being called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1656. Powell was known for his staunch support of the monarchy and the Church of England, and he played a prominent role in the trial of the Whig leader Lord William Russell in 1683, which resulted in Russell's execution for his alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate King Charles II. Powell was also involved in the trials of several other prominent Whig politicians, including Algernon Sidney and Titus Oates. In addition to his work as a judge, Powell was also a member of Parliament for various constituencies throughout his career, and he served as Solicitor General and Attorney General for Wales under King James II. However, he opposed James's efforts to promote Catholicism and supported the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which led to James's overthrow and the installation of William and Mary as joint monarchs. Powell was known for his intellectual rigor and his legal expertise, and he authored several influential legal treatises during his lifetime. He was widely respected by his peers and by the legal community as a whole, and his legacy as a jurist and judge continues to be celebrated today. William Sherwin (1645-1709) was an English engraver who worked during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. He was born in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, and is known for his high-quality engravings of various subjects, including portraits, landscapes, and architectural views. Sherwin was trained as an engraver and worked as an apprentice to the renowned engraver Robert White. After completing his training, he went on to establish his own studio in London, where he produced a significant body of work over the course of his career. One of Sherwin's most famous works is his engraving of the portrait of John Locke...

Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Engraving

18th c. French Portrait of a Lady as Venus, attributed to Pierre Gobert
18th c. French Portrait of a Lady as Venus, attributed to Pierre Gobert

18th c. French Portrait of a Lady as Venus, attributed to Pierre Gobert

By Pierre Gobert

Located in PARIS, FR

Portrait of a Lady as Venus ATTRIBUTED TO PIERRE GOBERT (1662-1744) FRENCH SCHOOL AROUND 1720 OIL ON CANVAS: H. 55.51 in, W. 42.91 in. IMPORTANT 18TH CENTURY GILTWOOD FRAME (RE-GILT)...

Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man

Portrait of a Man

Located in New York, NY

Provenance: with Leo Blumenreich and Julius Böhler, Munich, 1924 Dr. Frederic Goldstein Oppenheimer (1881-1963), San Antonio, Texas; by whom given to: Abraham M. Adler, New York, until 1985; thence by descent to the present owners While old inscriptions on the verso of this panel propose its author to be Hans Holbein and the sitter Sir John More—a lawyer, judge, and the father of Sir Thomas More—this fine portrait has long been recognized to be by a Flemish hand. Max Friedländer gave the painting to Bernard van Orley (1487/1491 – 1541) in 1924, but did not include it in the volume dedicated to the artist in his Early Netherlandish Paintings...

Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

FINE 17TH CENTURY ITALIAN OLD MASTER OIL ON CANVAS - THE BATHING OF BATHSHEBA
FINE 17TH CENTURY ITALIAN OLD MASTER OIL ON CANVAS - THE BATHING OF BATHSHEBA

FINE 17TH CENTURY ITALIAN OLD MASTER OIL ON CANVAS - THE BATHING OF BATHSHEBA

Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire

Artist/ School: Italian School, 17th century Title: The Bathing of Bathsheba Medium: oil painting, on canvas Size: frame: 23 x 19 inches, canvas: 18 x 14 inches Provenanc...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Escuela española - Personajes - 100 x 80 cm.
Escuela española - Personajes - 100 x 80 cm.

Escuela española - Personajes - 100 x 80 cm.

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

La obra va firmada por el artista en la parte inferior (L. CABOT) y fechada del año 1983 Se presenta enmarcada la pintura (el marco presenta algunas leves faltas y signos de uso) E...

Category

1980s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

The Death of Lazarus
The Death of Lazarus

The Death of Lazarus

By Hieronymus Wierix

Located in Fairlawn, OH

The Death of Lazarus Engraving, 1593 Feria VI. Post Domin IIII From: Evangelicae Historiae Imagines, Plate 76 Condition: Excellent Sheet size: 9 7/8 x 6 1/8 inches Reference: Referen...

Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Engraving

Joseph Highmore Portrait of a lady, 18th century
Joseph Highmore Portrait of a lady, 18th century

Joseph Highmore Portrait of a lady, 18th century

By Joseph Highmore

Located in York, GB

Portrait of a lady, traditionally identified as Grace Loftus,of Beverley hall yorkshire.Three-quarter-length, before a window. Dressed in blue and wearing a white bonnet. The paintin...

Category

1740s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850
Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850

Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850

Located in Chicago, IL

Painted in the 19th century, this exquisite miniature portrait wonderfully exemplifies realism in traditional oil painting. The small artwork is painted in the conventional portraiture style of the Old Masters, and achieves soft realism with fine brushwork and a subdued, neutral palette. The half length portrait depicts a fine Victorian woman dressed in all black with a delicate lace collar and bonnet. She wears a ruby broach...

Category

Mid-19th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

El cacharrero (Según Francisco de Goya) - Tapiz pintado a mano
El cacharrero (Según Francisco de Goya) - Tapiz pintado a mano

El cacharrero (Según Francisco de Goya) - Tapiz pintado a mano

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

Va sin firmar Se presenta enmarcado (el marco presenta algunas faltas) Medidas de la obra: 94 cm altura x 104 cm ancho. Medidas del marco: 102 cm altura x 112 cm ancho. Estado ta...

Category

Early 1900s Old Masters Art

Materials

Mixed Media

Carcere ascura
Carcere ascura

Carcere ascura

By Giovanni Battista Piranesi

Located in Fairlawn, OH

Carcere ascura Etching, 1743 Signed in the plate bottom left corner From: Prima Parte, 1743 Second edition: 1750-1778 Watermark: R 37-39 A lifetime impression printed during Piranesi’s life, before the plates are moved to Paris by his sons in the 1790’s This image foretells Piranesi's famous set, Carceri (Prisons) which is his next creative effort. Condition: Horizontal crease midway in the sheet associated with the manufacture of the paper. Visible watermark verso Small printer crease in the bottom right below the caption plate. Image size: 14 1/2 x 9 1/2 inches Reference: Robison 3 iii/VI Piranesi In Rome: Prima Parte di Architetture e Prospettive "Although Piranesi studied architecture in Venice, he never was able to find work in the field other than a few jobs involving remodeling in Rome. While Piranesi was struggling to support his architectural endeavors upon his arrival in Rome in 1740, he spent a short period of time in the studio of master painter Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696-1770) in addition to his apprenticeship with Giuseppe Vasi. The first production of Piranesi’s early years in Rome and a culmination of his training under Vasi, Tiepolo, and his uncle, was the Prima Parte di Architetture e Prospettive (1743). The Prima Parte was a collection of twelve etchings of imaginary temples, palaces, ruins, and a prison. During this time, Piranesi was still developing the unique style of etching he is known for today, and as such the Prima Parte differs significantly in technique compared to later works. In the Frontispiece of the Prima Parte, Piranesi’s lines are definite and exact with very little flow to them, designed in the form of traditional etching. The detail is immaculate, and yet perspective of the piece is oddly simple and familiar to the viewer. Piranesi’s technique employs miniscule markings and lines, intricately woven together to create a stippling effect. The Prima Parte, described as “rigid” by art historian Jonathan Scott, came to be seen as a stark contrast to his later sketches, which were much lighter and freer. Influenced by the style of Tiepolo, which epitomized the lightness and brightness of the Rococo period, Piranesi adopted some of the more painterly techniques of the masters he apprenticed under. Piranesi made the medium of etching appear as though it was a sketch or a painting, hence a “freer” and more fluid design in his later works. For example, the frontispiece of the Prima Parte read as an etching to Piranesi’s audience, but in his later vedute, the style of etching almost appears to be made of brushstrokes. Moreover, at the same time Piranesi was working on the Prima Parte, he aided the artist Giambattista Nolli. There is a small section of Nolli’s map...

Category

1740s Old Masters Art

Materials

Etching

Pio Joris XIX Century Period Italian Certified Painting
Pio Joris XIX Century Period Italian Certified Painting

Pio Joris XIX Century Period Italian Certified Painting

By Pio Joris

Located in Roma, IT

Girl with a Basket in a Lane in the Roman Countryside Oil on canvas, late 19th century Signature and date traces in the bottom right On the reverse, the work bears an ancient autogr...

Category

1880s Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Putorius & Pseudo Phalangium (The Pole-Cat) (Skunk) /// Mark Catesby Animal Art
Putorius & Pseudo Phalangium (The Pole-Cat) (Skunk) /// Mark Catesby Animal Art

Putorius & Pseudo Phalangium (The Pole-Cat) (Skunk) /// Mark Catesby Animal Art

By Mark Catesby

Located in Saint Augustine, FL

Artist: Mark Catesby (English, 1638-1749) Title: "Putorius & Pseudo Phalangium (The Pole-Cat) (Skunk)" (Plate/Tab 62) Portfolio: Natural History of Carolina, Florida & the Bahama Isl...

Category

1770s Old Masters Art

Materials

Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Etching, Intaglio

The Triumph of the Infant Bacchus, workshop of H. Van Balen, 16th c. Antwerp
The Triumph of the Infant Bacchus, workshop of H. Van Balen, 16th c. Antwerp

The Triumph of the Infant Bacchus, workshop of H. Van Balen, 16th c. Antwerp

By Hendrick van Balen

Located in PARIS, FR

The Triumph of the Infant Bacchus, Workshop of Hendrick Van Balen (1575-1632) Antwerp, c.1630 Oil on copper, h. 28 cm (11.02 in), w. 35 cm (13.78 in) A large Roman 17th century golden painted frame Framed: h. 52 cm (20.47 in.), w. 58 cm (22.83 in) This artwork is sold with a certificate of authenticity guaranteeing its origin, date of execution, and attribution to the artist. Our finely painted work depicts The Triumph of the Bacchus as a young boy and is one of the most popular mythological subjects in Antwerp at the beginning of the 17th century. Feasting, wine and fun are the themes that constantly appeal to the public. Thus unfolds before our eyes on our painting the procession composed of nymphs, baccantes, fauns, satyrs and children, their bodies naked, partially covered with brightly coloured draperies that help to brighten up the parade. Playing various instruments, dancing and drinking, while carrying vases and poles adorned with grapevines, participants to the rhythm of a noisy brass band make their way to an ancient temple standing on the right. The exaggerated gestures convey to us the frenzy of the excited crowd. The Child Bacchus follows the joyous procession, carried by satyrs and nymphs, crowned with ivy and joyfully raising a cup of wine. In the foreground, the drunken participants leave the procession, the children on the left and the group of bacchantes and satyrs on the right are resting among various objects scattered at their feet: cups, vases, ewers bear witness to the festivities in progress. In the background, a hilly landscape stretches out on the horizon, a semblance of calm that contrasts with the bustle of the foreground. The artist strives to multiply the many details, whether it be figures, costumes, flowers or vegetation, in order to demonstrate his know-how and the perfection of his execution. The acidulous palette with fresh and varied colours is characteristic of Hendrick Van Balen's works. There are several versions identical to ours with similar dimensions painted by Hendrick Van Balen and his workshop. Related works: • Koller Auction, Zurich, 21/09/2007, oil on copper, 28,5 x 37,4 cm. • Staatliche Kunsthalle, Karlsruhe, Inv. N° 809 (oil on copper, 40 x 53,5 cm) • Auktionshaus für Altertümer Glückselig, Vienne, 10/05/1932, ( oil on copper, 34 x 42 cm) • Gemäldegalerie of Pommersfelden, Schloss Weissenstein, oil on panel, 47 x 64 cm Hendrick Van Balen, Flemish painter, born and died in Antwerp (1575-1632). A pupil of Adam Van Noort, he entered the Guild of St. Luke in 1593, later trained in Italy and was Van Dyck's first teacher. He often painted small figures taken from scenes from the Bible or classical mythology, on paintings whose backgrounds and landscapes were painted by Josse de Momper...

Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Copper

Oleo sobre tela - La profesora y la alumna - 90 x 100 cm.
Oleo sobre tela - La profesora y la alumna - 90 x 100 cm.

Oleo sobre tela - La profesora y la alumna - 90 x 100 cm.

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

la obra va firmada en la parte inferior "roman ribera" esta obra és de aproximadamente ultimo tercio del siglo xix el estado de la obra es bueno la obra se presenta enmarcada con ...

Category

Early 1900s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene.
Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene.

Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene.

Located in Berlin, DE

Antique, decorative oil painting, 18th century. Christian scene. Canvas relined. With a beautiful wooden frame. Dimensions without frame.

Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Escuela hispano-colonial (XVIII-XIX) - Virgen con Niño
Escuela hispano-colonial (XVIII-XIX) - Virgen con Niño

Escuela hispano-colonial (XVIII-XIX) - Virgen con Niño

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

La obra es de autor anónimo El estado de la obra es aceptable, lo que si se remarca, es que está reentelada (por eso se aprecia la tela mas clara de lo habitual en una obra de esta ...

Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Escuela española (XIX) - Óleo sobre tabla - Escena de la Misericordia
Escuela española (XIX) - Óleo sobre tabla - Escena de la Misericordia

Escuela española (XIX) - Óleo sobre tabla - Escena de la Misericordia

Located in Sant Celoni, ES

Esta obra es una de las escenas de la Misericordia, en concreto la de "Visitar a los presos" La obra aparentemente no va firmada Se presenta tal cual sin enmarcar El estado de la ...

Category

Early 19th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Albert de Mayence, Heliogravure by Albrecht Dürer

Albert de Mayence, Heliogravure by Albrecht Dürer

By Albrecht Dürer

Located in Long Island City, NY

Albrecht Durer, After by Amand Durand, German (1471 - 1528) - Albert de Mayence, Year: 1873, Medium: Heliogravure, Size: 7.5 x 5.5 in. (19.05 x 13.97 cm), Printer: Amand Durand, ...

Category

Late 19th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Etching

Allegory Poetry Trémolières Paint 18th Century OIl on canvas Old master France
Allegory Poetry Trémolières Paint 18th Century OIl on canvas Old master France

Allegory Poetry Trémolières Paint 18th Century OIl on canvas Old master France

Located in Riva del Garda, IT

Pierre Charles Trémolières (Cholet, 1703 - Paris, 1739) Allegory of Poetry (the Muse Calliope) Oil on canvas (86 x 112 cm - In original lacquered frames 122 x 95 cm.) Work ac...

Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Old Masters art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Old Masters art 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 art created in this style to introduce contrast in an otherwise neutral space in your home, the works available on 1stDibs include elements of orange, yellow, blue and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Charles Amand Durand, Giuseppe Vasi, Thomas Holloway, and Vincenzo Campana. Frequently made by artists working with Etching, and Paint and other materials, all of these pieces for sale are unique and have attracted attention over the years. Not every interior allows for large Old Masters art, so small editions measuring 0.4 inches across are also available. Prices for art 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 $11 and tops out at $1,495,000, while the average work sells for $546.