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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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Period: 18th Century and Earlier
Style: Old Masters
18th Century European Portrait of Saint John the Baptist as a Child.
Located in SANTA FE, NM
18th Century European Portrait of a Child Saint John the Baptist Oil on Canvas 19 x 14 1/4 inches This lovely and sensitively painting has been examined by a professional restorer w...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

17th Century Flemish Old Master Oil on Panel Cavalry Skirmish Soldiers & Horses
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Cavalry Skirmish Flemish School, mid 17th century circle of Lambert de Hondt (Flemish, 1620-1665) oil on panel, framed Framed: 21 x 27 inches Board: 16 x 22 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: very good condition, with old repairs and thinning in places. This painting, attributed to the circle of Lambert de Hondt (Flemish, 17th century), depicts an intense battle scene, typical of Flemish military compositions of the time. Lambert de Hondt was known for his battle scenes, landscapes, and hunting scenes, often filled with dynamic action and fine detail, and this work clearly reflects his influence. The artwork portrays a cavalry skirmish with soldiers in traditional 17th-century military dress, including red tunics...
Category

Mid-17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

large 18th century portrait gentleman oil on canvas
Located in York, GB
A fine, imposing 18th century portrait of an unknown aristocrat,housed in a gilt frame The artist is also unidentified but certainly a talented hand, in the circle of one of the fine old masters of the period. Unsigned The size overall is 148 x 121 cm whilst the painting is 128 x 101 cm In overall good condition the frame at the bottom has bowed slightly The painting has been checked whilst being cleaned and has not been affected in any way . SHIPPING Free delivery to mainland uk ,worldwide shipping available please email for quote Delivery usually within 14 working days, insured please provide telephone/email details for courier. All taxes/customs etc to be paid for by purchaser. RETURNS (The Consumer Contracts Regulations) Whilst we are sure that you will be extremely happy with your purchase, if for any reason you are not, then you are entitled to return the item to us for a refund. For all purchases made you are entitled to return the item(s) for a period of up to 14 days following receipt by you or a representative indicated by you. Please contact us to confirm that you are returning the item(s) and the reason for doing so. Upon receipt of the item(s) we will refund the purchase price via your original payment method...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

A Calm with a Man of War firing a Saluteo
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Peter Monamy (London 1681-1749) A Calm with a Man of War firing a Salute Oil on canvas Canvas Size 14 1/4 x 17 1/4 in Framed Size 20 x 24 in Peter Monamy was an acclaimed British marine painter of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, renowned for his evocative depictions of seascapes and naval scenes. Born in 1681 on Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands, Monamy displayed an early affinity for art, which was shaped by the maritime culture of his homeland. His works vividly capture the drama and grandeur of the sea, marking him as one of the prominent marine artists of his time. At a young age, Monamy moved to London, where he likely apprenticed with a sign painter. His artistic skills flourished during this period, influenced by Dutch marine painters such as Willem van de Velde the Younger...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

A bay horse in a wooded landscape
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
John Nost Sartorius (London 1759-1828) A bay horse in a wooded landscape Signed 'J.N.Sartorius' lower right Oil on canvas Canvas Size - 12 x 14 in Framed Size - 19 x 21 in John Nost...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Very Large 18th Century Royal Academy Oil Painting of Georgian London Festival
Located in Gerrards Cross, GB
‘St. James’ Day’ by Richard Morton Paye (1750-1820). This very large and fine 18th century oil on canvas depicts a diverse crowd of Londoners at an oyster stand on a summer’s evening...
Category

1780s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Mary & Jesus, 18th Century French Old Master oil painting on canvas
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Artist/ School: French School, 18th century Title: Mary and Jesus Medium: oil on canvas, framed Framed: 17 x 14.5 inches Canvas: 16 x 12.75 inches Provenance: private collection...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a lady in blue dress ”Countess of Peterborough”
Located in Stockholm, SE
This exquisite portrait, with its new attribution to Theodore Russel, is believed to depict Lady Penelope O'Brien, daughter of Barnabas O'Brien, the sixth Earl of Thomond, and wife of the Earl of Peterborough, whom she married in 1644. The painting thus belongs to a historically significant period, capturing the refined elegance of the time. The portrait has a prestigious provenance from Elleholms Hofgård, a historic estate in Mörrums socken, Blekinge, Sweden. Elleholms Hofgård, whose two-story, timber-framed main building was constructed in 1730 and expanded in 1804, has changed ownership several times since the 17th century. The ancestors of the present owners acquired the estate in 1915, and from the 20th century until 2023, this painting was prominently displayed in the estate’s main building, making it an integral part of the estate’s history. Theodore Russel, an English portrait artist born in 1614, studied under the renowned Sir Anthony van Dyck, whose influence can be seen in Russel’s meticulous style. Russel often painted on cabinet-sized panels, such as this one, which measures approximately 39 x 31 cm. This preference for panels is a notable characteristic that sets him apart from contemporary artists like Sir Peter Lely, who exclusively used canvas. The size of the panel is a key reason for the reattribution to Russel from Peter lely, as Lely never used panels for his works. This distinctive format, along with Russel’s characteristic style, strongly supports the new attribution. Russel, the son of Nicasius Rousseel, a goldsmith and jeweler to James I and Charles I, refined his skills under the mentorship of his uncle, the famous portrait painter Cornelis Janssen. He also worked as an assistant and copyist for van Dyck, further honing his artistic style. This captivating portrait exemplifies Russel’s craftsmanship, reflecting the elegance of the period’s fashion and the artist's refined techniques. oil on wood panel with indistinct inscription Countess of Peter[...] upper left. with inscription on the reverse: ”Countess of Peterborough. P. Lely 1670. S Beatty Picture Restorer [...] Warwick”. unframed 39 x 31 cm = 15.35 x 12.2 inches framed 52 x 41.5 cm = 20.47 x 16.34 inches Condition: The portrait has just been restored by a professional art conservator in Stockholm and is now in a very good condition. The colors are vivid, and the skin tones appear more natural than before. It is a very fine painting. The frame is newly made and included. Provenance: Elleholms Hofgård, Mörrums socken, Blekinge, Sweden **; Stockholms Auktionsverk, Fine Art & Antiques Autumn...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Flowers Still-life Volo 17th Century Paint Oil on canvas Old master Italt
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Francesca Volò Smiller, called Vincenzina (Milan, 1657 - 1700) attributed Floral composition overflowing from an embossed vase (LINK) Oil on canvas 79 x 61 cm. Framed 89 x 70 cm. T...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

18th Century English Marine Oil Painting on Wood Panel Fishing Boats Stormy Sea
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Stormy Seas English School, 18th century oil on thick wood panel, unframed panel: 25 x 30 inches provenance: private collection, East Anglia, England condition: very good and sound c...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Old Master Painting Called Christ at the Column
Located in Stockholm, SE
Follower of Gerard Seghers (1591-1651) Christ at the Column oil on wood panel c. 1700s unframed 19.5 × 14 cm Provenance: Originally in the collection of Dr. Axel Munthe (1857–1949), the renowned Swedish physician and author celebrated for his philanthropic work and for founding Villa San Michele...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Escuela florentina - Círculo de Alessandro Allori - Virgen Dolorosa
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Escuela italiana; finales del siglo XVII, Siguiendo modelos de ALESSANDRO ALLORI (Florencia, 1535 – 1607) "Virgen Dolorosa". Óleo sobre tabla. Presenta faltas restauraciones. Med...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Peasants in a Cornfield (Boer in het veld) by David Teniers the Younger
By David Teniers the Younger
Located in Stockholm, SE
Remembering the magic of everyday life moments in the art of David Teniers: The art of David Teniers the Younger (1610–1690) coincided with the heyday of the Flemish Baroque and cap...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Portrait of William Stonestreet - Dutch Golden Age 17thC art oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This superb Dutch Golden Age portrait is attributed to circle of Dutch artist Wybrand Simonsz de Geest. Painted in 1666 it is a full length portrait of a young William Stonestreet. He is holding the paw of a clipped little white dog with drapes and clouds beyond. (It was common practise to dress young boys in dresses up to the age of about 6 or 7 when they were 'britched' or wore britches). An excellent example of Dutch Golden Age art that wouldn't look out of place in a museum. Wm Stonestreet 1666, Prebend of Selsely is inscribed top left. Provenance. Berkshire estate. Condition. Oil and canvas, 44 inches by 36 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame, 52 inches by 44 inches and in good condition. Wybrand Simonsz. de Geest (16 August 1592 – c. 1661) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter from Friesland in the Netherlands. Wybrand de Geest was born and died at Leeuwarden. He learned painting from his father, Simon Juckesz, a stained glass worker. He studied later with Abraham Bloemaert. From 1614 to 1618 he travelled in France and Italy on a Grand Tour. In 1616 he met up with Leonard Bramer in Aix-en-Provence. While in Rome he became a member of the painters' circle known as the Bentvueghels. He earned the nickname 'De Friesche Adelaar', or "the Frisian Eagle". De Geest married Hendrickje Fransdr Uylenburgh in 1622, a niece of Saskia van Uylenburgh...
Category

1660s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of Madam van Robais - French Old Master oil painting 18th century art
Located in Hagley, England
This fine French Old Master portrait oil painting on canvas dates to circa 1770 and is attributed to the circle of Elizabeth Vigee Le Brun. The sitter is Madam van Robais. The van R...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen niña - óleo sobre cobre.
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Escuela española; siglo XVIII. San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen Niña. Óleo sobre cobre anónimo y buena calidad pictórica. Medidas de la obra: 69 x 87 cm. Medidas del marco: 92 ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Saint Jerome De Somer Paint Oil on canvas 17th Century Old master Flemish Art
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Hendrick de Somer, known as Enrico Fiammingo (Lokeren 1602 - Naples 1655) Saint Jerome penitent in the cave oil on canvas 103 x 130 cm. - In original period frame 123 x 152 cm. Th...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

La Dune Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich (cercle) 1712 - 1774
Located in GOUVIEUX, FR
Tableau ancien – Paysage nocturne animé Attribué au cercle de Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich (1712–1774) Huile sur toile – Dimensions : 63 x 48 cm Cadre en bois doré d’époque, rich...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Saint John Baptist Pombioli Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Tomaso Pombioli (Crema, 1579 – Crema, 1636) Saint John the Baptist Oil on canvas 99 x 130 cm. In frame 120 x 152 cm. Reference bibliography: M. Marubbi and C. Piastrella, L'...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

17th Century Dutch Flemish Old Master Oil on Panel Figures Grape Harvest
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Grape Harvest Flemish/ Dutch School, 17th century oil on wood panel panel: 13 x 16 inches provenance: private collection, Belgium condition: very good and sound condition
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Manor House with Cottages - British 18thC Old Master art oil painting VG prov.
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning British Old Master landscape oil painting, with excellent provenance, is by George Lambert. Lambert was a pioneer of British landscape in art for its own sake. Painted in 1744, the painting is entitled View of a Manor House and Cottages in Elizabeth Einberg's 63rd volume of the Walpole Society 2001 and is described as follows: In the foreground a road emerges from a wood to cross a ford and then leads up the hill to the right, towards a manor house seemingly built into the remains of a medieval or Tudor edifice. The main track, crowded with sheep and rustic figures, passes the massive square gateposts lower down the hill on the left. Further to the left is a thatched cottage with smoke coming out the chimney. In the distance is a wide coastal view. The main buildings, which are in the dead centre of the composition, represent almost certainly an as yet unidentified English view. The colouring and detail in the trees and foliage are superb. This is an excellent Old Master oil painting by one of the all time great British landscape artists with extensive provenance. Signed and dated 1744 lower left on rock in black. Provenance. Elizabeth Einberg, “Catalogue Raisonnè of the works of George Lambert” The Annual Volume of the Walpole Society, 2001 Vol. 63, page 149 no P1744, fig.71. Antonacci Efrati Antichità Rome Gallery. Burden sale, Parke Bernet, New York, 20-21, April 1938 (376 repr.) Robert E. Peters, Sotheby Parke Bernet, New York, March 1975 (41 repr.) Lit. Schnackenburg 1995, pp 83-84, cat. no.14 fig 13. Condition. Oil on canvas, 54 inches by 52 inches and in good condition. Frame. Housed in an ornate gilt frame, 64 inches by 62 inches and in good condition. George Lambert (1700-1765) was an English landscape artist and theatre scene painter. With Richard Wilson he is recognised as a pioneer of British landscape in art, for its own sake. Lambert was born in Kent and studied art under Warner Hassells and John Wootton, soon attracting attention by the quality of his landscape painting. He painted many large and fine landscapes in the style of Gaspar Poussin and Salvator Rosa. Many of his landscapes were finely engraved by François Vivares, James Mason (1710–1785), and others, including a set of views of Plymouth and Mount Edgcumbe (painted conjointly with Samuel Scott), a view of Saltwood Castle in Kent, another of Dover, and a landscape presented to the Foundling Hospital in London. Lambert also obtained a great reputation as a scene-painter, working at first for the Lincoln's Inn Fields Theatre, in London, under John Rich. When Rich moved to Covent Garden Theatre, Lambert secured the assistance of Amigoni, and together they produced scenery of far higher quality than any previously executed. Lambert was a man of jovial temperament and shrewd wit, and frequently spent his evenings at work in his painting-loft at Covent Garden Theatre, to which men of note in the fashionable or theatrical world resorted to share his supper of a beef-steak, freshly cooked on the spot. Out of these meetings arose the well-known "Beefsteak Club" which long maintained a high social reputation. Most of Lambert's scene-paintings unfortunately perished when Covent Garden Theatre was destroyed by fire in 1808. Lambert was a friend of William Hogarth and a member of the jovial society that met at 'Old Slaughter's' Tavern in St Martin's Lane. In 1755 he was one of the committee of artists who proposed a royal academy of arts in London. He was a member of the Society of Artists of Great Britain, exhibited with them in 1761 and the three following years, and during the same period contributed to the Academy exhibitions. In 1765 he and other members seceded and formed the Incorporated Society of Artists of Great Britain, of which he was elected the first president. In conjunction with Samuel Scott, Lambert painted a series of Indian views for the old East India House in Leadenhall Street. He also etched two prints after Salvator Rosa. Lambert was associated in 1735 with George Vertue, Hogarth, and John Pine (engraver, 1660–1756) in obtaining a bill from parliament securing artists a copyright on their works. Lambert's portraits were painted by Thomas Hudson, John Vanderbank (engraved in mezzotint by John Faber the younger in 1727, and in line by H. Robinson and others), and Hogarth. Lambert's most famous painting is "A view of Box Hill, Surrey" (1733) which depicts a well-known beauty spot south of London. Hogarth considered Lambert a rival to the famous French landscape painter Claude Lorrain (1600–1682) with respect to his use of soft light to unify the scene in this painting. Though he never visited Italy he was inspired by the classical tradition of landscape painting. Lambert died on 30 November 1765 at his home on the Piazza in Covent Garden. His pupils included John Inigo Richards...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Shepherd with Sheep, Cows and a Goat in a Landscape by Jan Frans Soolmaker
Located in Stockholm, SE
This painting depicts a pastoral scene that is attributed to the artist Jan Frans Soolmaker, an artist known for his Italianate landscapes and scenes that often feature equestrian and Arcadian elements. The painting is not signed but is attributed to Soolmaker, relating it to a known signed work by the artist that was sold at Sotheby’s London in 1999. The scene is suffused with the warm glow of a setting or rising sun, casting a soft light that is characteristic of Soolmaker’s landscapes. It shows a shepherd guiding a group of cattle across a shallow stream, with the animals taking center stage in the composition. The animals are rendered with careful attention to their forms and the play of light on their bodies, which is a hallmark of Soolmaker's work. The landscape is composed of a rocky terrain with trees and shrubbery, creating a sense of depth and natural beauty that invites the viewer to explore the scene further. The background suggests a vast, open landscape with distant mountains, which adds to the Italianate feel of the painting. The sky is dramatic, with clouds catching the light of the sun, contributing to the overall serene yet dynamic atmosphere of the work. The provenance of the painting is notable, having been in the possession of significant historical figures such as Swedish Prince Fredrik Adolf, and later The collection of Pär Ulmgren, The collection of Gösta Stenman, and Engineer and politician Gustaf Henry Hansson. Potential buyers have the option of choosing between a newly made gold frame or an older brown frame, which allows for personalization in how the work is presented. Soolmaker’s work is often compared to that of Dutch painter Nicolaes Berchem, whose style he emulated. Soolmaker's landscapes reflect a similar sensitivity to light and composition, making his works sought after for their beauty and historical significance. Despite the smaller body of work left by Soolmaker, due to his short career, his paintings are valued for their craftsmanship and the legacy of the artist’s brief but impactful contribution to the Dutch Italianate landscape genre. Information: Jan Frans Soolmaker (Flanders 1635‑1685) Shepherd with Sheep...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Still-Life Flower Von Tamm 17/18th Century Paint Oil on canvas Old master Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Franz Werner Von Tamm known as Monsieur Daparait (Hamburg 1658-Vienna 1754) Attributed to Still life of fruit with lizard Oil on canvas, 58 x 74 cm. Framed 76 x 92 cm. This magnifi...
Category

Early 17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Shipping in Stormy Waters, Attributed to Italian Artist Francesco Guardi
By Francesco Guardi
Located in Stockholm, SE
The splendour of the tragic sea Francesco Guardi and maritime painting in Venetian art No Venetian painter was a stranger to the sea. After all, Venice was not only one of the most prominent ports of the Mediterranean, but indeed a city literally submerged in the ocean from time to time. Curiously however, the famous Venetian school of painting showed little interest in maritime motifs, favouring scenes from the iconic architecture of the city rather than seascapes. That is why this painting is a particularly interesting window into not only the painter Francesco Guardi himself – but to the significance of the element of water in art history, in absence as well as in the centre of attention. Whether it be calm, sunny days with stunning views of the palaces alongside the canals of Venice or – more rarely – stormy shipwrecking tragedies at sea, water as a unifying element is integral to the works of painter Francesco Guardi (1712–1793). During his lifetime, Venetian art saw many of its greatest triumphs with names like Tiepolo or Canaletto gaining international recognition and firmly establishing Venice as one of the most vibrant artistic communities of Europe. While the city itself already in the 18th century was something of an early tourist spot where aristocrats and high society visited on their grand tour or travels, the artists too contributed to the fame and their work spread the image of Venice as the city of romance and leisure to an international audience, many of whom could never visit in person. Still today, the iconic image of Venice with its whimsical array of palaces, churches and other historic buildings is much influenced by these artists, many of whom have stood the test of time like very well and remain some of the most beloved in all of art history. It was not primarily subtility, intellectual meanings or moral ideals that the Venetian art tried to capture; instead it was the sheer vibrancy of life and the fast-paced city with crumbling palaces and festive people that made this atmosphere so special. Of course, Venice could count painters in most genres among its residents, from portraiture to religious motifs, history painting and much else. Still, it is the Vedutas and views of the city that seems to have etched itself into our memory more than anything else, not least in the tradition of Canaletto who was perhaps the undisputed master of all Venetian painters. Born into his profession, Francesco lived and breathed painting all his life. His father, the painter Domenico Guardi (1678–1716) died when Francesco was just a small child, yet both he and his brothers Niccolò and Gian Antonio continued in their fathers’ footsteps. The Guardi family belonged to the nobility and originated from the mountainous area of Trentino, not far from the Alps. The brothers worked together on more challenging commissions and supported each other in the manner typical of family workshops or networks of artists. Their sister Maria Cecilia married no other than the artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo himself, linking the family to the most renowned Venetian name of the time. During almost a decade, Guardi worked in the studio of Michele Giovanni Marieschi, sometimes simply known as Michiel, a painted similar in both style and motif. Canaletto is, however, the artist Guardi is most often compared to since they shared a mutual fascination for depicting the architecture and cityscape of Venice. During the course of his career, Guardi tried his hand in many different genres. He was as swift in painting landscapes, Vedutas of Venice, sacred motifs, interiors and architectural compositions as he was in a number of other motifs. His style is typical of the Venetian school but also distinct and personal once we look a little closer. There is an absolute certainty in the composition, the choice of which sometimes feels like that of a carefully calculated photograph – yet it is also very painterly, in the best sense of the word: fluid, bold, sensitive and full of character. The brushwork is rapid, intense, seemingly careless and extraordinarily minute at the same time; fresh and planned in a very enjoyable mixture. His interiors often capture the breath-taking spacious glamour of the palaces and all their exquisite decor. He usually constructed the motif through remarkably simple, almost spontaneous yet intuitively precise strokes and shapes. The result was a festive, high-spirited atmospheric quality, far away from the sterile and exact likeness that other painters fell victim to when trying to copy Canaletto. The painting here has nothing of the city of Venice in it. On the contrary, we seem to be transported far away into the solitary ocean, with no architecture, nothing to hold on to – only the roaring sea and the dangerous cliffs upon which the ships are just moments away from being crushed upon. It is a maritime composition evoking both Flemish and Italian precursors, in the proud tradition of maritime painting that for centuries formed a crucial part of our visual culture. This genre of painting is today curiously overlooked, compared to how esteemed and meaningful it was when our relationship to the sea was far more natural than it is today. When both people and goods travelled by water, and many nations and cities – Venice among them – depended entirely on sea fare, the existential connection to the ocean was much more natural and integrated into the imagination. The schools and traditions of maritime art are as manifold as there are countries connected to the sea, and all reflect the need to process the dangers and wonders of the ocean. It could symbolize opportunity, the exciting prospects of a new countries and adventures, prospering trade, beautiful scenery as well as war and tragedy, loss of life, danger and doom. To say that water is ambivalent in nature is an understatement, and these many layers were something that artists explored in the most wondrous ways. Perhaps it takes a bit more time for the modern eye to identify the different nuances and qualities of historic maritime paintings, they may on first impression seem hard to differentiate from each other. But when allowing these motifs to unfold and tell stories of the sea in both fiction and reality – or somewhere in between – we are awarded with an understanding of how the oceans truly built our world. In Guardi’s interpretation, we see an almost theatrically arranged shipwrecking scene. No less than five ships are depicted right in the moment of utter disaster. Caught in a violent storm, the waves have driven them to a shore of sharp cliffs and if not swallowed by the waves, crushing against the cliffs seems to be the only outcome. The large wooden ships are impressively decorated with elaborate sculpture, and in fact relics already during Guardi’s lifetime. They are in fact typical of Dutch and Flemish 17th century ships, giving us a clue to where he got the inspiration from. Guardi must have seen examples of Flemish maritime art, that made him curious about these particular motifs. One is reminded of Flemish painters like Willem van de Velde and Ludolf Backhuysen, and this very painting has indeed been mistakenly attributed to Matthieu van Plattenberg...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Fine 1700's French/ Dutch Oil Painting on Copper Portrait Man Ruff Collar
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Gentleman wearing a Ruff Collar Dutch/ French artist, 18th century oil painting on copper, unframed copper board : 6.75 x 5 inches provenance: private collection, UK co...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Copper

San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen niña - óleo sobre cobre.
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Escuela española; siglo XVIII. San Joaquín, Santa Ana y la Virgen Niña. Es un Óleo sobre cobre anónimo y buena calidad pictórica. Medidas de la obra: 69 x 87 cm. Medidas del marc...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Madonna & Child with Saint Heavenly Cherubs Fine 17th Century Old Master Oil
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Madonna and Child with a Saint and Heavenly Cherubs 17th Century Italian School oil on canvas, framed framed: 20 x 18 inches canvas : 13 x 10 inches Provenance: private collection, E...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

18th century antique portrait Edmund Hoyle Circle of James Latham, Edmund Hoyle
Located in York, GB
18th century Bust portrait of a gentleman in a blue coat with gold buttons (Said to be Edmund Hoyle, inventor of Whist) oil on canvas circle of James Latham. Housed in a gilt frame the size overall is 71 x 84 cm (28 x 33 inches approx) whilst the painting is 56 x 69 cm ( 22 x 27 inches approx) unsigned The overall condition is very good having had some restoration. The painting has been relined, cleaned and re varnished. There has been some strengthening/overpainting. There is a Rectangular patch repair along lower edge, centre, reverse approximately 5 x 7cm with associated retouching to front,all essentially done sympathetically. some fine stable craquelure throughout. Some minor self coloured losses to frame. None of the above detracting from a very attractive portrait. Edmond Hoyle Edmond Hoyle English card game authority, "the Father of whist" Born 1672 England Died 29 August 1769 (aged 96–97) London, England Edmond Hoyle (1672 – 29 August 1769)[1] was a writer best known for his works on the rules and play of card games. The phrase "according to Hoyle" came into the language as a reflection of his generally perceived authority on the subject James Latham James Latham was born in Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland and possibly related to the family of Lathams of Meldrum and Ballysheehan. After some practice of his art, Latham studied for an academic year in Antwerp (1724–25) where he became a Master of the Guild of St Luke. He returned to Dublin by 1725, and may have visited England in the 1740s, as the influence of Joseph Highmore, as well as Charles Jervas and William Hogarth, is evident in his work of this period. Anthony Pasquin memorably dubbed Latham "Ireland's Van Dyck". Latham died in Dublin on 26 January 1747. Several of James Latham's portraits are in the National Gallery of Ireland collection in Dublin; one is of the famous MP Charles Tottenham (1694–1758) of New Ross, Co. Wexford, "Tottenham in his Boots" (Cat. No.411) and a second is a portrait of Bishop...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

17th century portrait of the wine merchant Caspar Rommerskirchen - Old master
Located in Aartselaar, BE
17th-century German portrait of the wine merchant Caspar Roemerskirchen at the age of 26 in 1628, Franz Kessler (attr.) This highly decorative portrait depicts the 26-year-old Caspa...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Wood

Holy Family Piola Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century Maria Religious
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Genoese school of the second half of the seventeenth century Circle of Domenico Piola (Genoa 1627-1703) The Holy Family Oil painting on canvas 83 x 68 cm. - in an antique frame 99 x...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait Noble Man Ceresa Paint Oil on canvas Old master 17th Century Italy Art
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Carlo Ceresa (San Giovanni Bianco 1609 - Bergamo 1679) attributable Full-length portrait of Giacomo Pesenti Oil on canvas (206 x 121 cm - in frame 212 x 133 cm.) This fascinating portrait, portraying a full-length gentleman and datable to the 17th century, illustrates the stylistic and compositional details typical of the pictorial production of the Lombardy area, Bergamo in particular. This reference is reflected in elements such as the natural light, the sober and austere setting and, above all, the subtle psychological characterisation of the face. We are inclined to identify the hand of portrait painter Carlo Ceresa, one of the most illustrious Bergamasque figure painters of the 17th century, capable of developing a style of intense realism and acute psychological investigation. In his works, and our portrait perfectly reflects his canons, an extraordinary naturalistic imprint, great realism and remarkable essentiality are evident. Those traits of severity, moral rigour and austerity typical of his portraiture find a perfect balance here: never courtly or rhetorical, his portraits are profoundly linked to the concept of counter-reform. Immortalising the main personalities of the time, he established himself as a point of reference for the Bergamasque aristocracy, from the Vertova to the Pesenti to the Secco Suardo. The subject of the portrait is Giacomo Pesenti, here immortalised life-size in a rigorous black suit, his left hand resting on a table, on which is placed the necessities for writing and a manuscript, and his right hand, with a sealed ring on his little finger, abandoned along his side while he holds his gloves. He wears a suit of incredible rigour, dressed as befits a man of his high social standing, while the sharp light focuses on his face, with an intensity that seems to be accentuated by the reflection of the white collar, with its sharp profile. For Ceresa, it is not the richness of the garment that gives value to the person portrayed, it is the need to give feeling and bring out the character of the person, and this he succeeds in marvellously, aided by his ability to capture the essence of the person and return it to us in painting through the face and light used as a strong expressive element. In fact, the image highlights that 'counter-reformed' composure typical of the portraiture of painters active in this area and era, adhering to a verism...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Escuela colonial mejicana siglo XVIII - San Antonio con el niño
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Escuela colonial mejicana; siglo XVIII. “San Antonio con el Niño”. Óleo sobre tabla. Medidas: 28 x 21 cm. Gran pieza para coleccionistas de arte religioso de calidad San Antonio de Padua...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Madonna and Child with Angels, attributed to Louis de Caullery, Flemish, 17th c.
Located in PARIS, FR
Madonna and Child with Angels Attributed to Louis de Caullery (1565 -1622) for figures & Abraham Govaerts (1589 - 1626) for landscape Not signed 17th century Antwerp school, circa 16...
Category

Early 17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Copper

Fine 17th Century Dutch Oil Painting on Wood Panel Horse & Figures Resting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
The Resting Place Dutch School, mid 17th century oil painting on board, unframed canvas: 7 x 9 inches provenance: private collection condition: very good and sound condition
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Ancient Roman Statues - Original Etching - 1700s
Located in Roma, IT
Ancient Roman statue, from the series "Antiquities of Herculaneum", is an original etching on paper realized in the 18th century. Signed on the ...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Etching

Annunciation Bonini Paint Oil in canvas Old master 17th Century Leonardo Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Girolamo Bonini, called Anconitano (Ancona, circa 1600 - Bologna 1680) Annunciation (or Madonna of the Beautiful Angel) Oil on canvas (115 x 91 cm. - Framed 134 x 108 cm.) Work accompanied by the expertise of Prof. Emilio Negro The work, undoubtedly commissioned as an object of private devotion, shows the Annunciation to the Virgin Mary, a Gospel episode here set on the two figures portrayed in the foreground, the Archangel Gabriel with outstretched wings, a portrait of supernatural beauty, and the Virgin; We see her here absorbed in reading a prayer book with her eyes turned humbly downwards as a sign of devotion, while a small cherub hands her white lilies, a symbol of purity and chastity.   In the upper part of the composition is the austere image of God the Father, with the dove radiating with light, emblem of the Holy Spirit, surrounded by a flock of angels fluttering in the clouds charged with intense glow and play of light, in full Baroque style. It should also be noted that the image of the Saviour's mother in a delicately pious attitude, with her yellow veil, her broad blue mantle and her usual modest red dress from which the edges of her white blouse protrude, is to be interpreted as a kind of tender allegory of sacred love. The painting in question is an interesting replica with variants of the composition commissioned from Francesco Albani for the Fioravanti chapel in the ancient church...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

The peace of your nights descends into their thoughts
Located in Genève, GE
Work on paper mounted on wood 35.5 x 45.5 x 2 cm
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

18th-Century Spanish School Oil Painting, Child Jesus Embracing The Cross
Located in Cheltenham, GB
US buyers pay no import tariffs on this item. This early 18th-century Spanish oil painting depicts an infant Jesus clutching a cross before a landscape. Dressed in a flowing white ...
Category

Early 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Aristotle Phyllis Spranger 16/17th Century Paint Oil on canvas Old master
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Bartholomäus Spranger (Antwerp, 1546 – Prague, 1611) workshop Aristotle and Phyllis Oil on canvas 64 x 54 cm In frame 79 x 72 cm The curious subject of this painting, quite...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Vatican Hallway designed by Raphael: 18th C. Hand-colored Engraving by Volpato
Located in Alamo, CA
This is an original 18th century hand-colored copper-plate engraving by Giovanni Volpato after a drawing by Camporesi. It was the frontispiece for volume one of the rare and valuable...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Engraving

Fine 17th Century Italian Old Master Oval Portrait of Lady on Copper Wooden Frm
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Lady (female saint?) Italian School, 17th century oil on copper, framed frame: 9 x 8 inches board: 5 x 4 inches provenance: private collection condition: very good and ...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Fine 1700's Italian Old Master Ink & Wash Drawing Roman Allegorical India
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
'India' Italian School, 18th century ink and wash drawing on paper, framed within a light oak wood frame (behind glass) image size: 10.5 x 7 inches overall framed: 17 x 13 inches con...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor, Archival Paper

The Nativity of Christ
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Anonymous 15th Century Italian, Probably Milan area The Nativity of Christ Pigments, ink and gold leaf on vellum Unsigned as is always the case with illuminated manuscripts The Virgi...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Old Masters Art

Materials

Pigment

Portrait of Putti Playing - French 17th century art Old Master oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning French 17th century Old Master oil painting is by Baroque artist Laurent de la Hyre. It was painted circa 1645 and has excellent prove...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Ecce Homo Christ Metsys 16th Century Paint Oil on table Flemish Old master
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
16th-century Flemish master Circle of Quentin Metsys (Leuven, 1466 - Antwerp, 1530) Ecce Homo oil on panel cm. 34 x 23 with frame 47 x 37 (not contemporary) An important painting...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Basilica of San Lorenzo in Rome: A Framed 18th Century Etching by Piranesi
Located in Alamo, CA
This large framed 18th century etching by Giovanni Battista Piranesi entitled "Veduta della Basilica di S. Lorenzo fuor della mura" (Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls), published in Rome in 1750 in Piranesi's Vedute di Roma (Views of Rome), This etching depicts the Basilica of San Lorenzo Outside the Walls, which is a Roman Catholic papal basilica and parish church, located in Rome, Italy. The Basilica is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and one of the five "papal basilicas". It was built as a shrine to the martyred Roman deacon St. Lawrence. This Piranesi etching is held by many museums and institutions, including: The Metropolitan Museum, The British Museum, The National Gallery of Art, The Yale University Art Gallery, and The Harvard Museum of Art. This magnificent etching is presented in a brown-colored wood frame and a tan French...
Category

1750s Old Masters Art

Materials

Etching

Exceptional Italian 17th Century Still-Life Painting Wit a Red Parrot and Fruits
By Abraham Brueghel
Located in Rome, IT
17' century Still-life oil on canvas with Fruits and an amazing red parrot background with landscape and garden with architectural elements. Gilt painted frame . It is attribute...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

HERCULES FIGHTS ADRAGON center, ACHELOUS CARRYING OFF DEIANEIRA left
Located in Santa Monica, CA
GIULIO BONASONE (Italian 1500/10-1574) HERCULES FiGHTS ADRAGON center, ACHELOUS CARRYING OFF DEIANEIRA left 1531–76 (Bartsch XV.157.178; Massari 1983, no.230) Engraving. Lettered in roundel held by putto at right: 'Iulio / Bonasone' Sheet 10 5/8 x 16 7/8 inches. Thread margins outside border line. A fair impression. Early annotations lower left verso, as well aa a collectors stamp: Lugt 2773 - A. Freiherr von...
Category

16th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Engraving

Combat d'Hercule, from "Temple des Muses" - Original Etching by B. Picart - 1742
Located in Roma, IT
Black and white etching on wire rod paper, representing the fight of Hercules against Hydra. Beautiful plate with very fresh impression, from the volume “Le Temple des Muses”, publi...
Category

1740s Old Masters Art

Materials

Etching

The Lions Den
By George Stubbs
Located in Stoke, Hampshire
Circle of George Stubbs The Lions Den Oil on canvas Canvas Size 11 x 14 1/2 in Framed Size 17 x 21 in George Stubbs, one of the most celebrated animal painters of the 18th century, ...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

The Lions Den
The Lions Den
$6,378 Sale Price
25% Off
Portrait of an Old Bearded Man
Located in Stockholm, SE
We are pleased to offer a captivating portrait, most likely painted in the late 18th century, attributed to an artist within the circle of Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich. This oil ...
Category

Late 18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Flemish Early 17th Century Old Master Oil on Panel Painting Hunting Scene 1620
Located in Portland, OR
A highly important Flemish Old Master oil painting by Peter Van Lint (1609-1690), titled "Preparing for the Hunt", the painting is dated & signed by the artist, 1620. The painting wa...
Category

1620s Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

Abraham and the Sacrifice of His Son Isaac by Adriaen Van Stalbemt, C. 1605-1610
Located in Stockholm, SE
Artist: Adriaen van Stalbemt (Stalbempt) 1580-1662 Title: Abraham and the Sacrifice of His Son Isaac “Das Opfer des Abraham” According to the Old...
Category

Early 1600s Old Masters Art

Materials

Copper

Portrait Knight Paint Oil on canvas 17th Century Lombard school Old master Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Lombard painter of the 17th century Portrait of a Knight in Armour Oil on canvas 81 x 70 cm./ Framed 93 x 82 A handsome gentleman in armour, immortalised in an authoritative and pr...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

17th Dutch Golden Age Old Master Oil on Wood Panel Mythological Nude in Woodland
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Mythological Figures in Woodland Glade Dutch School, late 17th century oil on wood panel, unframed panel: 11 x 9 inches provenance: private collection, UK condition: minor surface sc...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

Fine Large 17th/ 18th Century English Portrait of Mr. Gilbert Charity Founder
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of Mr. Gilbert (believed to be the founder of 'Gilberts Charity, Bridgwater, Somerset) English School artist, late 17th/ early 18th century oil...
Category

Late 17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Landscapes Couple Ricci Paint 18th Century Oil on canvas Old master Italy
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Marco Ricci (Belluno 1676 – Venice 1730) Circle of Pair of Arcadian landscapes with figures Oil on canvas 56 x 72 cm. - Framed 77 x 93 cm. This pair of charming landscapes, ex...
Category

18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Oil

The Windmill by François Vivares, after Rembrandt
Located in Middletown, NY
Engraving on cream laid paper, 8 x 5 7/8 inches (202 x 149 mm), trimmed at the platemark. Adhered at each corner to a small sheet of archival laid paper. Horizontal edge loss at the ...
Category

Mid-18th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Laid Paper, Etching

Adoration of the Shepherds by a follower of Denys Calvaert
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unknown Italo-Flemish Artist (active circa 1600) Adoration of the Shepherds oil on copper unframed: 32 × 25.5 cm (12.6 × 10 in) framed: 43 × 37 cm (16.9 × 14.6 in) Provenance: Acq...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Art

Materials

Copper

Escuela española (XVIII) - Óleo sobre tela - San Francisco de Asís
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Como pueden apreciar, la obra no va firmada Se presenta enmarcada la obra con un marco del siglo xix en madera estucada y policromada (el marco presenta algún leve descolche) El es...
Category

Early 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.

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