Portrait of William Herbert, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, Early 17th Century Portrait
Located in London, GB
Although the sitter in this portrait is, as yet, unidentified, it seems probable that he was a nobleman with literary or artistic ambitions, following in the same vain as such famous...
Oil, Wood Panel
Lady Dormore - A 16th Century Portrait of a key member of Shakespeare's England
Located in London, GB
According to Akrigg, Howard then "entered into some further agreement, of which no documentation can now be found, which transferred to Lord Burghley personally the custody and marri...
Oil
$19,395Sale Price|20% Off
H 58.67 in W 44.89 in
Portrait Ferdinando II Sustermans Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Giusto (or Justus) Sustermans (Antwerp, 1597 – Florence, 1681) Workshop of Portrait of Ferdinando II de' Medici (1610–1670), Grand Duke of Tuscany Oil on canvas 133 x 97 cm Fram...
Oil
$19,403
H 29.5 in W 24.5 in
Portrait of William Henry Kerr, Earl of Ancram, 4th Marquess of Lothian
Located in London, GB
James Fellowes Flourished 1719 - 1750 Portrait of William Henry Kerr, Earl of Ancram, 4th Marquess of Lothian Oil on canvas, signed & dated 1747 Image size: 29 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches (7...
Oil
$7,273Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.26 in W 28.75 in
Portrait Philip V King Rigaud Paint Oil on canvas 17/18th Century Old master Art
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Hyacinthe Rigaud (Perpignan 1659 - Paris 1743) Circle Portrait of Philip V, King of Spain (Versailles 1683 - Madrid 1746) Oil on canvas 72 x 59 cm - framed 87 x 74 cm. The painting...
Oil
$7,062
H 26.25 in W 21.63 in D 1 in
French School, 17th Century, 'Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres', oil canvas
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
French school, 17th Century Portrait of the Marquise de Grugieres Oil on canvas 26.1/4 x 21.5/8 in. (66.7 x 54.8 cm.) In a gilded composite frame, later production (possible early 1...
Canvas, Oil
$19,395Sale Price|20% Off
H 58.67 in W 49.22 in
Portrait Duchess Wissing Paint 17th Century Oil on canvas Old master English
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Willem Wissing (Amsterdam, 1656 – Stamford, 1687) attributed Portrait of the Duchess of Marlborough as Minerva Oil on canvas 128 x 103 cm – in a gilt frame 149 x 125 cm. Prov...
Oil
$9,091Sale Price|20% Off
H 36.23 in W 30.32 in
Portrait Duchess Woman 17th Century Paint Van Gelder Oil on canvas Old master
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Jan van Gelder, Italianised as Giovanni Vangheldri (Antwerp 1621 – Modena 1685) Portrait of the Duchess Vittoria Farnese d'Este (Parma, 1618 – Modena, 1649) wife of Francesco I d'E...
Oil
Portrait of a Nobleman, French School 17th Century
Located in New York, NY
French portrait of a nobleman, 17th Century, great condition. With a beautiful carved wooden frame.
Canvas, Oil
$4,278
H 30.5 in W 27 in D 2 in
Mid-17th-Century Spanish School Oil Painting, Portrait Of A Theologian
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This mid-17th-century Spanish oil on canvas depicts a dignified man of learning - a theologian, or perhaps a cathedral canon. Dressed in a black cassock, marked by a vertical row of...
Canvas, Oil
$97,791Sale Price|20% Off
H 52 in W 42 in D 2 in
Portrait of a Spanish Noble Lady - 17th Century Old Master art oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning, large portrait oil painting is attributed to Spanish Old Master Claudio Coello who is considered the last great Spanish painter of the 17th century. It has formerly be...
Oil Crayon
$14,546Sale Price|20% Off
H 47.25 in W 36.23 in
Portrait Noblewoman Coello Paint 16/17th Century Oil on canvas Old master Spain
Located in Riva del Garda, IT
Alonso Sánchez Coello (Valencia, 1531 – Madrid, 1588) Workshop of Portrait of a Noblewoman Oil on canvas 100 x 70 cm. - In an antique frame, 120 x 92 cm. This portrait, ric...
Oil
$36,943Sale Price|20% Off
H 48 in W 39 in D 2 in
Portrait of Maria Vittoria Queen of Portugal - Italian Old Master oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This lovely Italian Old Master portrait oil painting is by Domenico Maria Sani. Painted circa 1732 the sitter is of Maria Anna Vittoria (1718 - 1788), daughter of Philip V and Elisa...
Oil
$3,803
H 27 in W 24 in D 2 in
Mid-17th-Century German School, Portrait Of Gustavus Adolphus Meller Of Erdingen
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This striking mid-17th-century German oil painting depicts Gustavus Adolphus Meller (or Müller) of Erdingen and Wildenstein at the age of 36. An inscription identifies the sitter as ...
Oil, Wood Panel
$35,000
H 34.5 in W 24.5 in D 2.5 in
Copy of "Portrait of Beatrice dʼEste" by Leonardo da Vinci created 15th Century
Located in New York, NY
A masterful copy by an unknown artist, after the portrait of "Beatrice d'Este" by Leonardo Da Vinci also known as ‘Portrait of a Lady’ or ‘La Dama con la reticella di perle (The Lady...
Canvas, Oil
$2,711Sale Price|20% Off
H 35 in W 30 in D 1 in
Fine 18th Century British Portrait of an Aristocratic Lady, Large oil painting
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Circle of Thomas Hudson (1701-1779) British. 18th Century Bust Portrait of a Lady, Oil on Canvas, Inscribed on a label verso, canvas: 30" x 25" (76.2 x 63.5cm). frame: 30 x 25 in...
Canvas, Oil
$4,889
H 36.5 in W 29.5 in D 2 in
Mid-17th-Century Flemish School, Portrait Of A Gentleman, Oil Painting
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This mid-17th-century Flemish oil painting depicts a gentleman wearing a black doublet together with a collar edged with lace. In his right hand, he clutches a pair of gloves. It's a...
Canvas, Oil
$10,186
H 35 in W 30.5 in D 2.5 in
17th Century portrait oil painting of a gentleman
By Willem Wissing
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Circle of Willem Wissing Dutch, (1656-1687) Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on canvas Image size: 29 inches x 24.5 inches Size including frame: 35 inches x 30.5 inches A well-executed ...
Canvas, Oil
Milo Baughman Chesterfield Style Tufted Sofa
By Milo Baughman
Located in Dallas, TX
Milo Baughman Chesterfield style tufted sofa with wood plinth base. In good vintage condition, circa 1980s Dimension: 84" long 32" deep 26" tall seat height 14".
Fabric
$5,385 / item
H 42.01 in W 25.99 in D 1.19 in
Mid century style Ceiling Suspended Mirror with Bronze Patina Frame, Vintage N.4
By Alguacil & Perkoff Ltd.
Located in London, London
Mid-century style Vintage N.4 ceiling suspended mirror with a high quality pure brass full frame with a bronze patina finish. This piece is part of our original and fully customisabl...
Brass, Bronze
Exquisite 19th Century Meissen Porcelain Clock Case and Stand
By Meissen Porcelain
Located in Miami, US
This stunning Meissen porcelain clock case and stand exemplifies the luxurious Rococo style of the 19th century, characterized by its elegant shell and foliate scroll silhouette. The...
Porcelain
Vintage Italian Paper Nautilus Shell Lamp
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This ethereal accent lamp is a masterwork of Italian artisan design, capturing the delicate beauty of a nautilus shell in a strikingly sculptural form. Hand-crafted in Venice, the sh...
Metal
The White Peacock
By Jessie Arms Botke
Located in Palm Desert, CA
A painting by Jessie Arms Botke. "The White Peacock" is a wildlife impressionist painting, oil on canvas in a palette of whites, blues, and browns by female, American artist Jessie A...
Canvas, Oil
Skee Ball Arcade Machine, 1980s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage Skee Ball Machine is your all access pass to instant arcade nostalgia. With its iconic red lanes, bright yellow guides, and retro scoreboards that light up like a carniv...
Metal
Handblown Murano Glass Candelabra Multicolored, circa 1940
By Murano 5
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
Handblown Murano glass candelabra, multicolored, circa 1940, Baroque style, five-arm candelabra with multicolored applied decoration, materials: glass and wood, wired for electricity...
Blown Glass
Unavailable|$400
H 6 in W 15 in D 12 in
Antique Footstool circa 1880s Hand Needlepoint Floral Tapestry + Carved Wood Foo
Located in Portsmouth, VA
There’s something magical about the little things—like this petite antique footstool, quietly carrying over a century of stories. Dating to the late 1800s, this heirloom piece featu...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 4.25 in W 5 in D 3.25 in
Antique Moser Cranberry Enameled & Ormolu Mounted Glass Casket Box
Located in Atlanta, GA
This exquisite antique glass casket box, attributed to the renowned Moser glassworks, exemplifies the opulence and artistry for which Moser is celebrated. The box is crafted from ric...
Art Glass
$140,000 / set
H 24 in W 44.5 in D 21.5 in
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Rare Pair French Retour D'egypt Terracotta Lions Sculptures Statues Los Angeles , Exceptional fine pair of Large French Retour D'egypt period terracotta lions, circa 1790-1810. The F...
Terracotta
Canapé "Rognon" Art déco en placage d'acajou 1930
Located in TOURCOING, FR
Canapé "Rognon" Art déco en placage d'acajou 1930's Restauration nécessaire
Wood
$152,120Sale Price|20% Off
H 64 in W 62 in D 2 in
Manor House with Cottages - British 18thC Old Master art oil painting VG prov.
By George Lambert
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 ...
Oil
$16,500
H 26.33 in W 19.75 in D 12.2 in
19th Century Grand Tour Marble Bust of Hermes of Olympia, Italy
Located in New York, NY
A refined white marble bust of Hermes of Olympia, inspired by the ancient original housed in the Museum of Olympia, Greece. The original sculpture is attributed to the renowned Cla...
Marble
Fabergé Style Bejewelled and Enamelled Gold Egg by Asprey
By Asprey International Limited, Garrard & Co. Ltd.
Located in London, GB
This exceptional, 18 carat gold Easter egg was crafted by the famous London-based royal jewellers, Asprey & Co. The piece was then retailed by Garrard & Co, who once worked i...
Gold
Four Italian Fauns Stone Garden Statues Representing Musicians
Located in Rome, IT
A set of four delicious hand carved limestone fauns figures on shaped pedestals. Typical example of statues that was inserted in the large parks of the Venetian Villas.
Limestone
$28,800 / set
H 47 in W 28 in D 28 in
Pair of 1960s Hollywood Regency Chairs in Leopard Velvet & Black Leather Piping
By Dorothy Draper, James Mont
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Jaw dropping one of a kind 1960s Pair of James Mont style Hollywood Regency Throne chairs coming your way and ready for the red carpet. Furniture couture for sure. These gorgeous Chi...
Leather, Upholstery, Velvet, Lacquer
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.
An elegant and sophisticated decorative touch in any living space, portrait paintings have remained popular throughout the years and are widely loved pieces of art for display in many homes today.
Portrait paintings are at least as old as ancient Egypt, where realistic, lifelike depictions of the recently deceased — commonly known as “mummy portraits” — were painted on wooden panels and affixed to mummies as part of the burial tradition.
For centuries, painters have used portraiture as a means of expressing a subject’s nobility, societal status and authority. Portraits were given as gifts in Renaissance Europe, and a portrait artist might have been commissioned to help mark a significant occasion such as a wedding or a promotion to high office. Prior to the advent of photography, which eventually replaced painted portraits as a quicker and more efficient way of capturing a person’s essence, the subject of a portrait had to sit for hours until the painter had finished. And during the 18th century in particular, if an artist commissioned for a portrait struggled with how to adequately memorialize and capture a subject’s likeness, sometimes a portrait painting wasn’t completed for up to a year.
Whether it’s part of the gallery-style approach to your living-room or dining-room walls or merely inspiration as you devise an eye-grabbing color scheme in your home, a portrait painting is a timeless decorative object for any interior. A landscape painting or sculpture might give you the kind of insight into a specific region of the world or a different culture that you can ascertain only through art. Similarly, when you take the time to learn about the subject of a portrait painting that you bring into your home — the sitter’s history, the relationship between the sitter and the artist should one exist, the story of how the portrait came to be — that work can become intensely personal in addition to its place as an object for an art-hungry corner of your apartment or house.
On 1stDibs, visit a vast collection of famous portrait paintings or works by emerging artists. Search by medium to find the right portrait paintings for your home in oil paint, synthetic resin paint and more. Find portrait paintings in a variety of styles, too, including contemporary, Impressionist and Pop art, or search by artist to find unique works created by painters such as Mark Beard, Steve Kaufman and Montse Valdés.