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Realist Art

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
State of Mind 15 - 21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

Lake District Cumbria Landscape Fine English Oil Painting Open Panoramic View
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
"Great Gable and Black Sail Youth Hostel Emmerdale" by ARTHUR TERRY BLAMIRES (b.1930) signed and dated, 1995 oil painting on canvas, framed canvas: 20 x 3...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Flemish genre tavern scene"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist 17th-Century Tavern Scene Oil on canvas Framed: 113 x 103 cm Canvas: 96 x 91 cm This 17th-century oil painting captures a lively tavern scene, a popular subject in Dutch and Flemish genre painting of the Golden Age. The composition is rich in character and storytelling, depicting a group of men engaged in a card game, with coins, letters, and drinks scattered across the table. A standing woman, possibly a barmaid or concerned onlooker, leans in, while a man enters from the left, holding his hat and appearing amused by the game. In the foreground, a small child tends to a jug and tankard, adding a touch of humor and domestic realism. Executed in oil on canvas, the painting showcases earthy, warm tones and rich chiaroscuro, emphasizing the candlelit glow of the scene. The artist masterfully captures the textures of fabrics, wood, and metal, giving depth and dimension to the environment. The expressive faces and animated gestures highlight the social interactions typical of Dutch and Flemish tavern paintings...
Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Contemporary portrait "Autumn Walk"
Located in Zofingen, AG
This portrait captures a blend of realism and mystery, focusing on a figure dressed in modern, understated elegance. The subject, with flowing alabaster hair, stands out against a mu...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Acrylic

"Countryside" by J-P George - Oil on cardboard 16x31 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Oil on cardboard sold with frame Total size with frame 24x39 cm Jean-Philippe GEORGE-JULLIARD is an artist born in Switzerland in 1818 and died in 1888. His works have been sold at ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

A Classical Horse Painting of a Grand Andalusia Evoking Strength and Warmth
Located in Charleston, US
Renowned equine artist Valarie Wolf presents "Trusted Friend," a stunning classical horse painting that captures the beauty, strength, and loyalty of the majestic Andalusian horse. C...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Beach Ocean Impressionistic Seascape Oil Painting Oxford Md Boat Michael Budden
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Severn Study I is an oil painting on panel by award winning contemporary artist Michael Budden that showcases a beautifully lit marine scene at the Severn Marina created in an impres...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Antique Cat Painting "Cat with Butterfly in a Meadow" Arthur Heyer 1872-1931
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Cat Painting "Cat with Butterfly in a Meadow" Arthur Heyer 1872-1931 Oil on canvas Signed lower right "Heyer A." 25 1/2 x 21 (29 1/4 x 3...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Reclining Nude", Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Please note: This is a secondary market artwork with one previous owner. Kang Cho's artistic legacy endures through "Reclining Nude," a serene and contemplative handmade original o...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

"Oracle" (2024) By Allen Williams, Original Oil Nude Portrait Painting
Located in Denver, CO
"Oracle" (2024) by Allen Williams is an original oil painting on a sealed illustration board that depicts an eerie portrait of a nude female figure. Thi...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

Afghan Girl iconic poster: Sharbat Gula, Pakistan (Hand Signed by Steve McCurry)
Located in New York, NY
Steve McCurry Sharbat Gula, Afghan Girl, Pakistan (Hand Signed), 1984 Offset Lithograph poster Hand signed by the photographer in black felt pen on the front 24 × 20 inches Unframed...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Felt Pen, Lithograph, Offset

Green Songbird in a Box- original realist oil painting-contemporary wildlife art
Located in London, Chelsea
This exceptional artwork is currently on display and available for sale at Signet Contemporary Art Gallery and online. With Green Songbird in a Box, Lucinda Holland offers a jewel-l...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Wood, Oil

The Hugh O'Neill Building, 655-671 Sixth Avenue, NYC, lithograph Signed/N Framed
Located in New York, NY
Richard Haas The Hugh O'Neill Building, 655-671 Sixth Avenue, New York City, 1974 Lithograph on Arches paper Signed, titled and annotated "TP" in graphite pencil on the front Edition...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Afternoon Light" Oil Painting
Located in Denver, CO
Linda Adair's (Germany based) "Afternoon Light" is an oil painting that depicts a reclining male figure, wearing rings. Linda Adair is a contemporary fig...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Linen, Oil

Geisha Skateboard Triptych (HAND Signed and numbered 7/150) skate deck Japanese
Located in New York, NY
Note: The measurements above are for each of the three skateboards in this listing Nobuyoshi Araki Geisha Skateboard Triptych (Hand Signed), 2014 Set of (3) Skateboards of Silkscreen...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Wood, Screen, Permanent Marker, Mixed Media

"Paris Rainy Cafe" by Christopher Clark, Original Oil Painting, French Cityscape
Located in Denver, CO
Christopher Clark's "Paris Rainy Cafe" is an original, hand made oil and acrylic painting that depicts a night scene of a bustling cityscape in France. Christopher has been an artist since early childhood, when he would watch Bob Ross on PBS and mimic the famed oil painter’s art with crayons. He considers himself a self-educated artist, with his studies ranging from personal training with contemporary masters, to classical academic art technique, with much inspiration from 19th Century art and the Impressionist Movement. Christopher lived in Italy for a time, immersing himself in Italian culture and art, which continues to influence his painting. His fan base has grown considerably since his return to the US, gaining the attention of Lucasfilm and Marvel Fine Art, which both signed him as an officially licensed artist in 2016. Other clients include George Lucas, Major League Baseball, Louisville Slugger, and Fender Guitars. Christopher’s painting skills are not his only talent in the arts. He has won several national swing dance championship competitions, and also studies tango and blues dancing. He has played guitar since the age of 12, and during his time as lead guitarist for a rock band, he opened for Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Acrylic, Wood Panel

Oil on canvas - still life
Located in Sant Celoni, ES
Firmado por el artista en la parte superior Medidas obra: 51 x 46 cm. Medidas marco: 74 x 68 cm. Se presenta enmarcada la obra (el marco presenta algunas faltas) Buen estado de c...
Category

1950s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Marine Melody
Located in Zofingen, AG
In this painting, I depicted a young woman wading through shallow waters, her movements smooth and graceful. I focused on capturing the interaction of light with water and fabric, hi...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Acrylic

'Historic English Chapel Interior, ' by Unknown, Watercolor Painting
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed and matted 16" x 19" watercolor painting by an Unknown artist depicts an historic English chapel interior. The interior of the church features the large stained glass window pane...
Category

19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Watercolor

Impressionistic Seascape Otis Swett Oil Painting Ogonquit ME Salmagundi Label
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
William Otis Swett (American 1859-1938) oil on canvas board seascape, titled Turning of the Tide, signed lower right, Salmagundi Club exhibition label verso, board - 9" x 12", frame ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Portrait of a Scottish Girl - Scottish 1940's art oil painting Glengarry Hat
Located in Hagley, England
This impressive British 1940's portrait oil painting is by noted artist Arthur Royce Bradbury. Painted in 1949 it is a half-length portrait of a young Scottish girl in a mountainous ...
Category

1940s Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Turnip"
By Giacomo Ceruti
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Giacomo Ceruti, known as Il Pitocchetto (1698-1767) – “Turnip” Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 204 x 124 cm (unframed) Provenance: Private collection This remarkable painting, “T...
Category

18th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Road to Nablous, West Bank: A 19th C. Hand-colored Lithograph by David Roberts
Located in Alamo, CA
"Entrance to Nablous, The Holy Land (West Bank)" is a framed 19th century hand-colored lithograph by David Roberts from the large folio edition of his monumental 6 volume publication...
Category

1840s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

The Soda Fountain (New Yorker Magazine cover proposal)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Barbara Shermund (1899-1978). The Soda Fountain, ca. 1950s. Watercolor and ink on paper, 9 x 12 inches; 13 x 16 inches framed. Signed lower right. Exc...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Ink, Watercolor

Cadaques, Costa Brava landscape. Blue, summer, seascape, Spain, acryl on canvas
Located in Oslo, NO
This painting presents famous Costa Brava view from Spain - Cadaques. "A small cozy town with inspiring narrow streets, boats resting on a sea, smell of seafood and lots of sun." s...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Acrylic

Farm Lane at Winter in Suffolk in the English Countryside by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Farm Lane at Winter in Suffolk in the English Countryside by British Artist, Kevin Curtis (1958-2009) Art measures 30 x 20 inches Frame measures 35 x 25 ...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Morning on the Range
Located in Colorado Springs, CO
Original Oil Painting signed by the Artist in the lower right corner.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Young Boy Fishing in River with Cottage in Wild Meadow in English Countryside
Located in Preston, GB
Young Boy Fishing in River with Cottage in a Wild Meadow in the English Countryside by British Artist, Les Parson Art measures 16 x 12 inches Frame measu...
Category

1980s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Immersed in Darkness, Oil Painting
Located in San Francisco, CA

Artist Comments
A young woman walks through a myriad of water lilies, her illuminated figure contrasting sharply with the dark lake. Her posture and radiant hair create a fee...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Keeping the Culture, mixed media signed/N print by top African American artist
Located in New York, NY
Kerry James Marshall Keeping the Culture, 2011 Silkscreen and linocut in colors with full margins and deckled edges on Arches paper with full margins and deckled edges 20-1/4 x 30-1/4 inches Hand signed, titled and numbered 79/100 by Kerry James Marshall in graphite pencil on the front Published by Africa House International, Chicago Unframed Kerry James Marshall's 2011 "Keeping the Culture" is based upon the artist's eponymous painting done the year earlier. Marshall, along with his dealer, were voted by ArtReview the top two of the 100 most influential people in the art world of 2018 - even ahead of the #MeToo movement, and ahead of figures like Jeff Koons, Larry Gagosian and Eli Broad! His paintings now sell for tens of millions of dollars - after P. Diddy paid $21 million for a painting. The present work "Keeping the Culture" is an extremely desirable work of art and exemplifies Marshall's style. For a feature profile/article written for Marshall's first retrospective - a blockbuster show entitled "MASRY" at the Museum of Contemporary Art, LA, the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the Met Breuer in New York, Barbara Isenberg of the LA Times wrote: ." The New York Times called the show “smashing” and its subject “one of the great history painters of our time.” The New York Review of Books and Artforum magazine put large images from the show on their January covers. “I’ve been acutely aware that museums are behind their academic colleagues in terms of thinking of representation and people of color,” MOCA chief curator Helen Molesworth says. “I find Kerry’s paintings ravishing — they are drop dead, great paintings — and they have an extra level of reward for people who hold in their heads a history of Western painting.” Marshall is a compelling storyteller, whether on canvas or in conversation. Talking at length during a visit to MOCA, he is easygoing but eloquent, recalling his neighborhood in Birmingham, Ala., where he was born in 1955, or about growing up black there and in Los Angeles. He remembers the names of teachers who encouraged him. Asked when he first began to notice a lack of black subjects...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Linocut, Screen, Mixed Media, Pencil

Gifted Treasure -21st Century, Contemporary, Figurative Portrait, Beauty Women
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Shipping Procedure FREE Shipping Worldwide Ships in a well-protected tube from Nigeria This work is unique, not a print or other type of copy. Accompanied by a Certificate of Authent...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Original Oil Painting Portrait 1953 large work
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II by Paul Briscoe, (British), signed & dated 1953 oil painting on board, unframed size: 40 x 30 inches condition: overall very good and presentable. provenance: from a private collection in England we can help arrange a suitable frame if buyers wish, prior to shipping. A magnificent large scale portrait of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II. Portraits of Her Majesty in private collections are exceedingly rare and adding to the importance of this work is the fact it was painted in the year of her Coronation, 1953. Her Majesty requires no introduction from us, but here is a quick reminder of the basic facts: Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of the United Kingdom and 14 other Commonwealth realms. Elizabeth was born in Mayfair, London, as the first child of the Duke and Duchess of York (later King George VI and Queen Elizabeth). Her father acceded to the throne in 1936 upon the abdication of his brother, King Edward VIII, making Elizabeth the heir presumptive. She was educated privately at home and began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, serving in the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In November 1947, she married Philip Mountbatten, a former prince of Greece and Denmark...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Laura" (2021) - Original Portrait Painting by Elena Burykina
Located in Denver, CO
Elena Burykina's "Laura" (2021) is an original, handmade oil painting that depicts a close up portrait of a woman. This piece measure 12 x 12 in and is ready to hang. About the Arti...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Panel

EDWARD BOHLIN 1920s-1930s SILVER ART PARADE SADDLE HOLLYWOOD WESTERN ARTIST VAIL
Located in San Antonio, TX
Circa Late 1920s - Early 1930s. It is all Bohlin made and marked to include the saddle, the headstall and the breast collar. All made in Hollywood California. The only non-Bohlin item is the bit which appears to also be early California. There is some interesting provenance of the fine saddle. It was commissioned by Charles R. Bell, married to Margaret Vail Bell who was the daughter of Walter Vail. On the Bolin nameplate it has engraved, Vail Ranch as well as made for Charles Bell. Charles Bell Died in 1939. The Vail Ranch has some great Western History which I will go into a little detail. You see, not only am I selling Saddles, but I’m also selling History. If you want to skip the history lesson you can just scroll down past the following info to images of the saddle. It’s no secret that ranching runs in the family blood. There is no greater example of that than California Rangeland Trust CEO Nita Vail. On April 14, 2018 Nita had the opportunity to witness her great-grandfather Walter L. Vail’s induction into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. This high honor is bestowed by the Museum to “exceptional individuals who have made an indelible impact upon the history of the great West.” A pivotal figure in early California and Arizona ranching, Walter Vail joins just over only 200 individuals who have been inducted into this esteemed hall. The Vail legacy of advocacy and ranching lives on strongly through his descendants, including Nita. All these years later, Nita carries the mantle of advocacy for ranchers in her own work at the California Rangeland Trust. Reflecting on her great-grandfather’s induction ceremony in Oklahoma, Nita says, “Witnessing my great-grandfather’s induction with family and friends was an incredible experience and a reminder of why I do what I do. Ranching plays an integral role in the culture, economy, and quality of life in California. Generations later, I get to honor Walter L. Vail’s legacy in my work with the California Rangeland Trust every day, preserving those open spaces for new generations and partnering with ranchers to continue to sustain life on the range in California.” Walter Vail History A native of Liverpool, Nova Scotia, Walter Vail purchased the 160-acre Empire Ranch southeast of Tucson, Arizona in 1876, along with an Englishman named Herbert Hislop. In 1882, the Empire Land & Cattle Company was formed with Walter L. Vail as principal shareholder. Over the years Vail, along with various partners, expanded the original land holdings to include over one million acres. The year after Walter purchased the Empire Ranch, the Southern Pacific Railroad built a railroad line, which was great news for the Vail family as it provided a means for them to ship their cattle. Edward L. Vail, George Scholefield and Bird at the mouth of Rosemont Canyon ca. 1896-1898 Standing Up for Ranchers In the fall of 1889, the Southern Pacific Railroad announced they would raise cattle freight rates by 25 percent. They ignored loud protests from ranchers who had already been hit hard by depressed cattle prices. In response, the Vails made a plan to drive the cattle overland themselves without the railroad. They knew that, if they were successful, they could break the railroad’s monopoly on the ranchers and force prices down. Walter’s brother Edward Vail and foreman Tom Turner volunteered to drive the almost 1,000 steers on the 300-mile trip to the Warner Ranch in San Diego. The journey ahead would be grueling. Most of their trip was through desert with water sources 15 to 30 miles apart. The ranchers would face a slew of obstacles—a stampede, a chaotic Colorado River crossing, an encounter with a group of horse thieves. In spite of all the dangers and challenges, they reached their destination. Just 71 days after leaving Arizona, the Empire cowboys arrived at the Warner Ranch. They had only lost 30 steers. The historic Empire Ranch Trail Drive of 1890 inspired other Arizona ranchers to make similar drives as a stand against the railroad. That fall, a group of Arizona cattlemen met and agreed to fund improvements to establish a safe cattle trail from Tucson to California. In response to the united stand of the ranchers, sparked by the Vails, the railroad finally agreed to restore the old freight rate—on the condition that the cattlemen would make no more cattle drives. Walter Vail led by example, but he was also an active representative of ranching interests in the legislature. He served in the 10th Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1878 and in 1884 on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. He introduced two significant bills: One proposing the creation of Apache County in the northeastern corner or Arizona Territory, and the other calling for the repeal and replacement of a Pima County fencing ordinance. Elected to the Arizona Stock Growers Association in 1884, Walter L. Vail advocated for levying fines on outfits that brought diseased cattle into the Territory, proposed a system of recording brands and earmarks, and requested the establishment of the livestock sanitary commission to oversee quarantines on infectious diseases, and tighter trespass laws. Moving to California In the late 1880s when a long drought hit Arizona, the Vails began leasing California pastures and shipping increased numbers of their cattle there to fatten. This marked the beginning of Walter’s efforts to purchase land in Temecula Valley. Vaqueros (Mexican cowboys) at the Empire Ranch in Arizona In 1890, with growing corporate holdings in California, Walter Vail established his headquarters in downtown Los Angeles and moved his family there. By this time, he had pieced together four Mexican land grants—Pauba Rancho, Santa Rosa Rancho, Temecula Rancho and Little Temecula Rancho—to form the Pauba Ranch. Eventually, the Vails would own more than 87,500 acres surrounding the little town of Temecula. In 1892 they leased Catalina Island and in 1901-1902 in partnership with J. V. Vickers, they purchased most of the interests in Santa Rosa from the estate of A.P. More. In March of 1894, Vail and Gates joined Vickers in setting up a third cattle company, the Panhandle Pasture Company, with the hopes of expanding new markets in the east. The Panhandle Pasture Company bought seven thousand acres of grassland in Sherman County, Texas, and an equal amount across the line in Beaver County, Indian Territory (later Oklahoma). Walter Vail was tragically killed in a Los Angeles streetcar accident in 1906. After his death, the Empire Land & Cattle Company (later renamed the Vail Company) assumed control of all his ranches and other real estate holdings. Walter had five sons and they would all have a hand in running the various ranches and the Vail Company as whole throughout their lives. The Empire Ranch in Arizona was sold in 1928. The Temecula area ranches continued to operate until it was sold in 1965. Santa Rosa Island, the last of Walter Vail’s holdings, was sold to the National Park Service in 1986, and ranching operations shut down there in 1998. Walter Lennox Vail (May 13, 1852 - December 2, 1906) was an American businessman, cattle dealer, and politician. He is known for his Empire Land & Cattle Company (later the Vail Company), which spanned over one million acres throughout five states.[1] Vail has been called "a pivotal figure in early California and Arizona ranching." Early life Vail was born in Liverpool, Nova Scotia on May 13, 1852, to Mahlon Vail, Sr. and Eliza Vail. Career Empire Ranch The headquarters of the Empire Ranch in the modern day Vail left his family's Plainfield, New Jersey house in the middle of 1875 to pursue riches in the West. He worked for a few months in Virginia City, Nevada as a mine's timekeeper, but in November he wrote of his intention to get involved in Arizona's sheep business. He, along with an Englishman named Herbert R. Hislop, then purchased the Empire Ranch along with its 612 cattle on August 22, 1876. The purchase from Edward Nye Fish and Simon Silverberg cost $1,174 at the time and was only 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2). Vail had met Hislop for the first time in August of that year, at the Lick House in San Francisco. Vail also became the main shareholder of the Empire Land & Cattle Company, which was formed in 1882. Politics Vail additionally served in the House of Representatives on the 10th Arizona Territorial Legislature for two years, starting in 1879. He was one of five representatives from Pima County. There, he proposed the creation of Apache County in the northeast. In 1884, Vail was elected to the Arizona Stock Growers Association, where he introduced many laws relating to cattle farming. California Vail moved his main operations to California in the late 1880s due to a long drought in Arizona. He started leasing Californian land mainly in Temecula Valley, but established his headquarters in downtown Los Angeles. By this time, he had already bought four ranches: the northern half of Rancho Little Temecula, Rancho Pauba, Rancho Santa Rosa, and Rancho Temecula. Later, Vail would own over 135 square miles (350 km2) surrounding the city of Temecula. He also leased Santa Catalina Island and Purchased Santa Rosa Island in 1892 and 1901, respectively. Vail, along with Carroll W. Gates and J.V. Vickers, set up the Panhandle Pasture Company, which bought about 22 square miles (57 km2) in Sherman County, Texas and Beaver County, Oklahoma. Personal life Vail married Margaret "Maggie"[a] Newhall in 1881, with them having five children: Nathan Russel, Mahlon, Mary, Walter Lennox Jr., and William Banning (who used his middle name) together. In 1890, a Gila monster bit Vail on his middle finger, and for years thereafter he experienced bleeding and swelling in his throat, which was thought to be caused by the venom from the bite. Death Vail died at 54 on December 2, 1906, due to complications from a tram (Trolley Car) accident in Los Angeles. He was cremated, then buried at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery on December 6. Legacy Vail's sons took over the company after his death, renaming it to the Vail Company. The Empire Ranch was sold in 1928, and the Temecula ranches were bought by a syndicate of companies, including Kaiser Aluminum, Kaiser Industries, and Macco Realties in 1965. Santa Rosa Island was acquired by the National Park Service in 1986, and ranching ceased in 1998. Vail was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in 2018.[2] Various properties have been named after the Vail family including: Vail Headquarters, an outdoor shopping mall, Vail Lake, and Vail, Arizona. In 1867, German immigrant, Louis Wolf, and his Chumash wife, Ramona, built a small adobe trading post next to Temecula Creek. Their Wolf Store helped launch the Temecula community, serving as a saloon, livery stable, legal services, hotel, general store, stagecoach stop, post office, school and employment agency. After Louis and Ramona’s deaths, their land and other Ranchos were purchased by Arizona cattle baron Walter Vail. By 1905, the 87,000-acre Vail Ranch became one of the largest cattle operations in California, stretching from Camp Pendleton to Vail Lake to Murrieta. It operated through the late 1970’s when it was sold to build Temecula’s housing. Some of the ranch’s oldest buildings survived in a cluster around the long-vacant Wolf Store. Together they would wait more than 40 years to be restored and once again become a center for community life in the Temecula Valley. ​ In 1905 after his death, Wolf’s Temecula was purchased by Arizona cattle baron Walter Vail, along with three other Ranchos totaling 87,500 acres. The sprawling Vail Ranch spread from South of Highway 79 to South of Clinton Keith Road, East to Vail Lake Resort and West to Camp Pendleton and continued operations through the late 1970’s when it was sold for housing subdivisions. The remaining buildings that comprised the Vail Ranch Headquarters, several having been demolished, have sat mostly vacant since then awaiting their restoration and re-use. John N. Harvey, Edward L. Vail, Walter L. Vail, 1879 Ned Joins the Partnership - May 1879 In May of 1879 Walter’s older brother, Edward Lang Vail, known as Ned, joined the Empire Ranch partnership. He had no ranching experience but quickly learned. The Empire Ranch herds were finally sufficiently developed for sale, and the Empire Ranch found a ready market in the town of Tombstone and its nearby mines. Walter finally had sufficient funds to begin to pay off some of the loans from his Uncle Nathan and Aunt Anna. North end of the original four rooms of the Empire Ranch House. Empire Ranch Census Records - 1880 The 1880 U.S. Census documents that eight men were living full time at the Empire: the partners, Walter Vail, John Harvey and Ned Vail; John Randolph Vail, Uncle Nathan and Aunt Anna’s son; John Milton Requa, nephew of Isaac Requa who hired Walter in Virginia City; John Dillon, who was instrumental in locating the Total Wreck Mine; Tomás Lopez, a herder; and Mon Ta, the cook. Section of Official Map of Pima County by Roskruge 1893. The Southern Pacific Railroad Arrives in Pantano - April 1880 In 1880 the Southern Pacific Railroad finally reached Tucson and by April it was extended to Pantano, north of the Empire Ranch. The availability of rail transportation was a major boom to the Empire Ranch as it was now possible to sell cattle and beef to markets beyond Southern Arizona. The railroad also increased the availability of goods in Tucson and allowed for much quicker and safer transportation to California and the East. Empire Ranch land acquisitions are highlighted in red. Courtesy of Dave Tuggle Land Holdings Expand-1881-1882 Starting in 1881 the land holdings of the Empire Ranch expanded considerably. They acquired Charles and Agnes Paige’s Happy Valley Ranch near the Rincon Mountains in 1881. 1882 saw the addition of Don Alonzo Sanford’s Stock Valley Ranch totaling over twenty-eight square miles of grassland between the Whetstone and Empire Mountains. Charles Bell Bohlin Saddle. All of the leather has been professionally cleaned and conditioned. All of the sterling has been professionally polished as are all of my saddles. THE BOHLIN BRAND IS AS ICONIC AS THE FAMED WESTERN STARS that wore it. The late actor Richard Farnsworth sported a recognizable gold steer-head Bohlin buckle...
Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Silver

SCARCE EARLY OROZCO - CABEZA DE MUJER -
Located in Santa Monica, CA
JOSE CLEMENTE OROZCO (1883 – 1949) CABEZA DE MUJER, ( Woman's Head: Mexican Woman) 1929 (Orozco 9) Lithograph, signed and numbered 23/50. in pencil. Pri...
Category

1920s Realist Art

Materials

Lithograph

"Allegorical Mythological Summer"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Unidentified Artist, 17th-18th Century – Allegorical Scene Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 131 x 108 cm (unframed), 147 x 124 cm (framed) Provenance: Private collection Century &...
Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Roosters and Hens in a Barn 19th century E. Binam (Belgian? 19th century) Oil on wood panel 8 1/4 x 5 /12 (10 1/4 x 13 1/4 frame) Though little is known about E. Binam, he was clea...
Category

1890s Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Wood Panel

Portrait of Black Dancer (male nude)
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Roy Blakey (1930-2024). Portrait of Black Dancer, ca. 1972. Original photographic print on paper, image measures 11 x 14 inches. Framed measurement 12 x 15 inches. Studio stamp o...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

"Still Life"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Johann Rudolf Feyerabend, called Lelong (1749-1814) – Still Life Medium: Reverse painting on glass Dimensions: 16 x 23 cm Signature: Lower right corner Provenance: Private collection...
Category

18th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Fancy Department Store Satirical Cartoon
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Barbara Shermund (1899-1978). Fancy Department Store Satirical Cartoon, ca. 1930's. Ink, watercolor and gouache on heavy illustration paper, panel measures 19 x 15 inches. Signed lower right. Very good condition. Unframed. Provenance: Ethel Maud Mott Herman, artist (1883-1984), West Orange NJ. For two decades, she drew almost 600 cartoons for The New Yorker with female characters that commented on life with wit, intelligence and irony. In the mid-1920s, Harold Ross, the founder of a new magazine called The New Yorker, was looking for cartoonists who could create sardonic, highbrow illustrations accompanied by witty captions that would function as social critiques. He found that talent in Barbara Shermund. For about two decades, until the 1940s, Shermund helped Ross and his first art editor, Rea Irvin, realize their vision by contributing almost 600 cartoons and sassy captions with a fresh, feminist voice. Her cartoons commented on life with wit, intelligence and irony, using female characters who critiqued the patriarchy and celebrated speakeasies, cafes, spunky women and leisure. They spoke directly to flapper women of the era who defied convention with a new sense of political, social and economic independence. “Shermund’s women spoke their minds about sex, marriage and society; smoked cigarettes and drank; and poked fun at everything in an era when it was not common to see young women doing so,” Caitlin A. McGurk wrote in 2020 for the Art Students League. In one Shermund cartoon, published in The New Yorker in 1928, two forlorn women sit and chat on couches. “Yeah,” one says, “I guess the best thing to do is to just get married and forget about love.” “While for many, the idea of a New Yorker cartoon conjures a highbrow, dry non sequitur — often more alienating than familiar — Shermund’s cartoons are the antithesis,” wrote McGurk, who is an associate curator and assistant professor at Ohio State University’s Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. “They are about human nature, relationships, youth and age.” (McGurk is writing a book about Shermund. And yet by the 1940s and ’50s, as America’s postwar focus shifted to domestic life, Shermund’s feminist voice and cool critique of society fell out of vogue. Her last cartoon appeared in The New Yorker in 1944, and much of her life and career after that remains unclear. No major newspaper wrote about her death in 1978 — The New York Times was on strike then, along with The Daily News and The New York Post — and her ashes sat in a New Jersey funeral home...
Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Gouache, Ink

Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Mountain Lake Oil Painting of a Loch in the Scottish Highlands by British Artist, Andrew Grant Kurtis M.A.(Lon) B.Des.(Hons) L.S.I.A.D. Art measures 16 x 12 inches Frame measures ...
Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Alpine Mountain Hut Vintage Landscape Painting by 20th Century German Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Alpine Mountain Hut - Vintage Landscape Painting by 20th Century German Artist, Fritz Haupt Art measures 11 x 9 inches Frame measures 15 x 13 inches This exquisite painting by F....
Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

David Émile Joseph de Noter (1825 - 1892) Still life
Located in Gent, VOV
David Émile Joseph de Noter (1825 - 1892) Vegetables in a flowerpot, still life Oil on panel signed lower right David de Noter.panel: 27*33cm David-Émile-Joseph De Noter hailed from...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

"Italianizing landscape"
Located in Edinburgh, GB
Adriaen van Diest (1655-1704) – "Italianizing Landscape" Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions (Framed): 102 x 122 cm Dimensions (Flat): 74 x 106 cm Signature: Lower right corner Frame: O...
Category

17th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Nude I - Limited Edition Finest Quality - Color Photograph
Located in Winterswijk, NL
Beautiful limited edition art photography Printable in colour or black/white Editions: 20 Technique: Photography Surface: Photo Paper Country of Origin: Russia Signed: Signed, ...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Photographic Paper

Painting of Mountain Cottages by River in Ireland by 20th Century Irish Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Painting of Mountain Cottages by River in Ireland by 20th Century Irish Artist Art measures 20 x 16 inches Frame measures 24 x 20 inches This captivating oil painting portrays a ...
Category

20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil, Board

"Study of a Goat's Head" Frans Lebret (Dutch, 1820-1909)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
"Study of a Goat" Frans Lebret (Netherlands, 1820-1909) Oil on paper on wood panel 9 x 10 (13 1/2 x 14 1/4 frame) inches Initialled lower right This is a simply stunning and deeply ...
Category

1870s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Oil, Wood Panel

Highland Lighthouse, Truro MA
By Sandor Bernath
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Sandor Bernath (1892-1984). Highland Lighthouse at Dusk, Truro MA. Watercolor on heavy wove paper, 17 x 17 inches; 18 x 18 inches framed. Excellent condition with no fading. Signed lower right. Silver leaf custom frame. Sandor Bernath was known for his stylized watercolors of sailing ships. He was a student of Edward Hopper. Born in Hungary on December 30, 1892, Bernath immigrated in his youth to the United States, and by the early 1920s had begun to establish himself within New York art circles. In January of 1922, he was given a one-man show at Mrs. Malcolm's Gallery on East 64th Street. Although little is known about Bernath's education and early training, this exhibition of nineteen watercolors included works, which suggest that by 1922, the artist had traveled and studied abroad. "Coast of Normandy" and "Shrine, Czechoslovakia" are two works the subjects of which certainly resulted from time spent in Europe. Other paintings exhibited in the 1922 show, such as "Brooklyn Bridge", "Weehawken Freight Yards" and "East River" reveal that on the whole, Bernath's earliest subjects remained those found in New York. After his show at Mrs. Malcolm's Gallery, Bernath became a member of the American Watercolor Society and later that year, showed six works at their annual exhibition. Unlike the works exhibited on East 63rd Street, the watercolors featured at the AWS show, such as "Grand Manan Coast" and "Fishing Boats", reflected a growing attraction to the subjects offered within the Maine landscape, an attraction which truly took hold in the summer of 1922. Like many of his peers, Bernath worked as a teacher and illustrator to support himself. In order to escape the tedium of these dreaded day-jobs, many retreated to the villages of Maine and Massachusetts where artists' communities such as those at Monhegan Island, Gloucester and Ogunquit had sprung from the modern artist's desire to study natural forms. By 1923, Bernath's fascination with these forms becomes apparent with the complete shift in focus of his subject matter from the sights and scenes of his urban surroundings to the land and seascapes of New...
Category

Mid-20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Monte Carlo, Monaco, Estate Edition, Portrait Photograph
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This mid-1970s landscape photograph, captured by society photographer Slim Aarons, features friends boarding a riva boat in Monte Carlo, Monaco, This is an estate stamped and hand n...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Lambda

Antique Horse Bronze Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Horse Bronze Portrait of a Trotting Stallion Isidore Jules Bonheur (France, 1827-1901) Cast bronze mounted on a rectangular plinth with dark brown patina, Signed: I. BONHEUR 17 x 11 3/4 A brilliant exploration of a stallion in full trot. The patina is a deep, warm walnut brown with honey-colored tones. Isidore Bonheur was best known and the most distinguished of the 19th century French animalier sculptors. Isidore, the younger brother of Rosa Bonheur and older brother of Auguste, began his studies of painting initially with his father, who was friends with Francisco Goya. By 1848 he debuted at the Paris Salon having discontinued animal and landscape painting to concentrate on creating sculptures and in 1849, Bonheur enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He won medals at the Paris Salon in 1859 and did so again in 1865 and in 1869. After entering the Exposition Universelle 1855, he won the Gold Medal in 1889. In the 1870s exhibited in the London at the Royal Academy of Arts where he earned great prestige and won the coveted Medaille d’Or. After winning numerous other medals and prizes, Bonheur was awarded the Legion d' Honneur in 1895 and he was Knighted in Portugal, Spain and France. Bonheur continued exhibiting at the Paris Salon until 1899. Many of his bronzes were fabricated at the foundry owned by Hippolyte Peyrol, Bonheur's brother-in-law by marriage to Isidore’s youngest sister Juliette Bonheur. The Peyrol casts for both Rosa and Isidore are exceptionally well executed which suggests a strong working relationship between the founder and sculptor. There is little doubt that Isidore Bonheur was an acute observer of nature; his animals were not anthropomorphized but modelled to catch movement or posture characteristics of the particular species he was sculpting. He achieved this most successfully with his sculptures of horses which are usually depicted as relaxed rather than spirited. These figures are among his most renowned works and his equestrian models became very popular, particularly among the British aristocracy. An acute observer of nature, his sculptures reflect his commitment to the Realist school - with precise detailing of the movements of animals in their natural habitats. Ultimately, His naturalistic studies of animals are now some of the most highly sought after works by any of the animalier. He was possibly inspired by his many visits to the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show...
Category

1870s Realist Art

Materials

Bronze

Antique Dog Painting; Cavalier King Charles Gustav Lorincz (Austrian, 1855-1931)
Located in SANTA FE, NM
Antique Dog Painting of a Cavalier King Charles Gustav Lorincz (Austrian, 1855-1931) Oil on panel, signed 9 1/4 x 6 3/4 (13 3/4 x 11 1/4 frame) inches Gustav Lorincz was a noted painter of animal subjects, mostly portraiture of dogs and cats...
Category

Early 1900s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Hyperreal Light Blue Glass Balloon Sculpture
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 Art

Materials

Glass, Blown Glass

Signed Antique American Realist Nude Woman Portrait Framed Oil Painting
Located in Buffalo, NY
Antique American oil painting. Oil on canvas. Signed. Framed. Measuring 26 by 34 inches overall and 20 by 28 painting alone. In excellent condition. Handsomely framed in a period ar...
Category

1930s Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

"Still-life of Fruits" by Maria Meriggi - Oil on Copper - 30x24 cm
Located in Geneva, CH
Maria Meriggi, born in 1935, is an Italian painter known for her evocative depictions of urban landscapes and everyday scenes, particularly those of Venice. Her notable works include...
Category

1970s Realist Art

Materials

Metal, Copper

Still life with pumpkin - Pieter Willem Romenij (1830-1898)
Located in Gent, VOV
This still life by Pieter Willem Romenij shows a detailed composition of fruit and vegetables. Central to the painting is a raw, green pumpkin surrounded by bunches of grapes, peache...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Art

Materials

Oil

Painting of the Chrysler Building New York City by Contemporary British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Painting of Chrysler Building New York City by Contemporary British Artist Angela Wakefield Art measures 31.5 x 31.5 inches Frame measures 36 x 36 inches This vibrant cityscape by Angela Wakefield captures the electric energy of New York City with cinematic intensity. Featuring the iconic Chrysler Building rising majestically in the distance, the composition pulls the viewer into a dynamic streetscape alive with glowing streetlights, bustling traffic, and the saturated hues of an evening sky. Aesthetic Appeal: • Color Mastery: Angela’s bold use of color creates an emotionally charged atmosphere. The deep reds, warm oranges, and luminous yellows against cool urban blues evoke a sense of both movement and warmth. • Perspective & Depth: The central vanishing point draws the eye forward, enhancing the feeling of stepping into the painting. The architectural precision paired with expressive brushwork creates a rare balance of realism and stylized interpretation. • Urban Romance: There’s a nostalgic, cinematic quality to the work—like a scene from a classic film. It captures not just the physicality of New York, but its energy, its pulse. Why It’s Valuable and Investable: • Signature Style: Wakefield’s distinctive visual language—urban realism infused with vibrant expressionism—has made her a recognized and collected artist on both sides of the Atlantic. • Market Appeal: Cityscapes, especially those depicting iconic locations like NYC, have universal appeal. They resonate with collectors who seek both emotional connection and cultural significance. • Proven Artist: With over two decades of success and international recognition, Angela’s work continues to appreciate in value. Her paintings are held in private and corporate collections worldwide. • Timeless Subject: The fusion of architecture, light, and motion ensures this piece remains relevant and impactful for generations. This painting isn’t just a beautiful addition to any space—it’s a piece of urban history told through the eye of a masterful contemporary artist. Angela Wakefield has twice been on the front cover of ‘Art of England’ and featured in ARTnews, attracting international attention and critical acclaim with her urban landscape paintings of New York, London & the North of England. The style of painting has been described as ‘contemporary realism’, and is often favourably compared with Edward Hopper by collectors and art critics. Angela’s work is held in private collections in Europe and the USA, including the British Royal Family. Her admirers include leading figures in international business, filmmaking and the media. PROVENANCE: Ascot Studios...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paint, Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Acrylic

Oil Painting of a Woodland Scene in the English Countryside by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Oil Painting of a Woodland Scene in the English Countryside by 20th Century Modern British Artist, James Wright Art measures 30 x 16 inches Frame measures 36 x 22 inches This 198...
Category

Late 20th Century Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Oil

THE NEW MODEL . Vicente Romero Redon Spanish contemporary artist
Located in Pollenca, Illes Baleares
Vicente Romero Redondo was born in Madrid as the eldest of four sons. Due to the work of his father, he grew up in many different towns all over...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Pastel

Hawk bird Watercolor on Paper Handmade Painting, One of a Kind
Located in Granada Hills, CA
475 Artist: Artyom Abrahamyan, Work: Original Painting, Handmade artwork, One of a Kind Medium: Watercolor on Paper Year: 2025 Style: Classic Art Title: Hawk Size: 12 x 16 inch, (3...
Category

2010s Realist Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Self-portrait oil on canvas painting
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
LLuis Ribas (1949) - Self-portrait - Oil canvas Oil measurements 55x46 cm. Frameless.
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Realist Art

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Realist art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Realist 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 blue, purple, orange, red and other colors. Many Pop art paintings were created by popular artists on 1stDibs, including Slim Aarons, Michael Budden, Daniel Pollera, and Su Yu. Frequently made by artists working with Paint, and Oil 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 Realist art, so small editions measuring 0.1 inches across are also available.

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