$2,100Sale Price|40% Off
Portrait of Gerardina Van Osch by Dutch artist Johan Hendrik Neuman (Dutch)
Located in Soquel, CA
Signed "J.H. Neuman" upper right. Titled in Dutch on verso "Portrait of Gerardina Van Osch husband of Cornelius Antonius Teulings; 1818-1867."
Linen, Oil
$2,118
H 39.38 in W 31.5 in
Portrait of a Woman, Oil on Canvas, French School, Signed, 1889
Located in PARIS, FR
Conditions: Excellent overall conditions. Signed upper right and dated 1889. Oil on original canvas and frame. Painter and Teacher at the Academy des Beaux-Arts of Brussels. Complem...
Oil
$2,027
H 29.34 in W 41.15 in
Portrait of Ann Crook, née Tipping, by Louis Pierre Spindler, Oil on Canvas
Located in GB
A finely painted early 19th-century portrait by Louis Pierre Spindler (1795–1859) depicting Ann Crook, née Tipping, wife of the Lancashire cotton spinner and industrialist Joshua Cro...
Canvas, Oil
$4,873Sale Price|20% Off
H 39.38 in W 34.65 in D 3.94 in
19th Century Portrait Of A Young Woman Oil On Canvas
Located in York, GB
Fine 19th Century Oil on Canvas Portrait of a Young Woman in large gilt gesso frame .unsigned. Identity of the sitter as yet unknown. The artist has managed to capture her ethereal b...
Oil
$2,800
H 38.75 in W 33.75 in D 3.5 in
European School Portrait of a Woman, Oil on Canvas, 19th Century
Located in Astoria, NY
European School, Portrait of a Woman with Brown Cloak, Oil on Canvas, 19th century, unsigned, gilt trim and wood frame. Image: 29.5" H x 24.25" W; frame: 38.75" H x 33.75" W x 3.5" ...
Canvas, Oil
$1,450
H 38.59 in W 30.71 in D 2.76 in
Dutch School Mid 19th Century Oil - Portrait of a Devout Woman
Located in Corsham, GB
This mid-19th century portrait (circa. 1850) depicts a respectable middle-class woman from Northern Europe, possibly of Dutch or Flemish origin. She wears a dark wool dress with a wh...
Oil
$4,810
H 32.29 in W 26.58 in D 1.19 in
Dipinto Ritratto Femminile Nello Stile di Jakob Ferdinand Voet fine600 inizi 700
Located in Milan, IT
Olio su tela. L'opera riprende i modi diffusi in tutta Europa da Jakob Ferdinand Voet, pittore fiammingo affermatosi soprattutto come ritrattista, che ebbe ampio seguito sia negli a...
Oil
$40,085
H 42.52 in W 35.83 in D 2.76 in
Portrait of a Lady, oil painting on canvas, signed by Schiavoni, dated 1842
Located in Vicoforte, IT
An important Italian painting from the first half of the 19th century. Oil on canvas, signed and dated "N. Schiavoni f. 1842," attributed to the celebrated Venetian painter Natale Sc...
Oil
$18,920
H 46 in W 42 in D 2 in
Portrait of Anna de Hooghe - Flemish art Old Master portrait oil painting
By Jacob Ferdinand Voet 1
Located in Hagley, England
This strong Flemish Old Master portrait oil painting is attributed to Ferdinand Voet. The sitter is Anna De Hooghe, the fourth wife of artist Ludolf Bakhuizen (1631-1708), a German-b...
Oil
$4,008
H 86 in W 20 in D 74 in
A Fine Classical Portrait of a Young Woman – Oil on Canvas, Signed J. Hallez E
Located in GOUVIEUX, FR
Elegant and captivating, this finely executed portrait of a young woman, signed J. Hallez, stands out for the delicacy of its brushwork and the remarkable softness of its expression....
Oil
$6,860
H 29.1 in W 23.4 in
French Portrait Mysterious lady 19th century Oil painting Acknowledged master
Located in Stockholm, SE
Unsigned but attributed to acknowledged master Francois-Xavier Fabre (François-Xavier Fabre, 1766 – 1837), French painter of historical subjects. Stylish and perfect portrait of beau...
Canvas, Wood, Oil
$995
H 10.63 in W 9.45 in D 1.97 in
Dutch School Early 19th Century Oil - Portrait of a Lady
Located in Corsham, GB
A finely painted portrait of a lady wearing a lace bonnet and a gold brooch. The artwork is well presented in a gilt frame. unsigned. On panel. Image size: 15 x 12cm.
Oil
$1,250
H 19.3 in W 17.33 in D 1.97 in
Mid 19th Century Oil - Portrait of Gretchen Heithecker
Located in Corsham, GB
A refined Biedermeier-era portrait of Gretchen Heithecker, née Gerold of Warburg. The sitter is dressed in a black velvet gown, complemented by a delicate blue lace bonnet and a matc...
Oil
Oil Portrait of Lady
Located in Fredericksburg, VA
The 19th century American school portrait of a lady embodies the elegance and refinement of the era's portraiture. Painted with meticulous attention to detail, the portrait reflects ...
Oil, Panel
$1,200
H 37.75 in W 30.5 in D 0.75 in
American School Portrait of a Lady
Located in New York, NY
Portrait of a Lady, c. 1900 Oil on canvas 36 x 28 1/2 in. Framed: 37 3/4 x 30 1/2 in.
Canvas, Oil
$3,642
H 18.12 in W 21.66 in
Rediscovered Mastery: A Portrait by Nina Bergstedt
Located in Stockholm, SE
This poignant portrait by Swedish artist Nina Bergstedt captures a quiet intensity that lingers in the viewer’s mind. The sitter, an unknown woman, is portrayed with deep emotional p...
Canvas, Oil
$7,162
H 41 in W 36 in D 1 in
Oil Painting by Thomas John Hughes "Portrait of a Lady"
Located in Mere, GB
Oil Painting by Thomas John Hughs "Portrait of a Lady" flourished 1851 - 1892 Hughes was a London painter of landscapes and portraits who began exhibiting at the Royal Academy from 1...
Oil
Portrait of a Man
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: with Leo Blumenreich and Julius Böhler, Munich, 1924 Dr. Frederic Goldstein Oppenheimer (1881-1963), San Antonio, Texas; by whom given to: Abraham M. Adler, New York, un...
Oil, Panel
Portrait of Lady Caroline Price
By George Romney
Located in Miami, FL
DESCRIPTION: Perhaps the best Romney in private hands. If Vogue Magazine existed in the late 18th century, this image of Lady Caroline Price would be on one of its covers. The e...
Oil, Canvas
$1,946Sale Price|20% Off
H 22.5 in W 18.5 in
Fine 18th Century English Georgian Portrait of a Lady Seated in Parkland Estate
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of Mrs Bonne Wilson (nee Boileau 1749 - 1818) English School, late 18th century, unsigned oil on canvas, framed framed: 22.5 x 18.5 inches canvas : 18 x 14 inches Provenance...
Oil
$1,461Sale Price|20% Off
H 36 in W 28 in
Large Mid Victorian Oil Painting Portrait of Seated Gentleman with Newspaper
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Portrait of a Gentleman reading the 'London Journal', English school (mid 19th century) oil painting on canvas, unframed canvas: 36 x 28 inches condition: some minor surface abrasion...
Oil, Canvas
$3,986
H 16.15 in W 13.39 in D 1.19 in
ANTIQUE ROYAL HAND CARVED ENGLISH OAK ARMORIAL COAT OF ARMS CROWNS EAGLEs
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques We are delighted to offer for sale this very collectable hand carved Armorial Coat of Arms Depicting a Royal crest This is an exceptionally well made and deco...
Oak
$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
H 24 in W 20 in D 0.18 in
Portrait of a Young Woman, Romantic Oil, Circa 1850
By Sir Thomas Lawrence
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Portrait of a Young Woman, ca. 1850. Oil on antique English millboard, panel measures 20 x 24 inches. Excellent condition with surface stress cracking and paint shrinkage consisten...
Oil, Fiberboard
$1,780,000
H 49 in W 90 in D 2.75 in
50 Million Year Old Fossil Crocodile Specimen (Green River Formation, Wyoming)
By Green River Fossil Company
Located in Logan, UT
Act fast to claim this exquisite piece of natural history, as our fossils will no longer be available through 1stDibs after October 31. This sculptural stone specimen features an ex...
Limestone
$9,219Sale Price|30% Off
H 15.75 in W 18.12 in
Still Life with Oysters - The earliest known still life in Swedish art history
Located in Stockholm, SE
This previously unpublished painting was first securely attributed to Govert Dircksz Camphuysen in 1944, following an examination at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm during which the ...
Oak, Oil, Wood Panel
Paysage avec batteuse a Montfoucault
By Camille Pissarro
Located in Palm Desert, CA
"Paysage avec batteuse a Montfoucault (Landscape with Thresher at Montfoucault)" is a pastel by French Impressionist Camille Pissarro. The artwork is signed lower right, "C. Pissarro...
Paper, Pastel, Board
$94,755
H 37 in W 31 in D 2 in
Portrait of Anne Evelyn - British 18thC Old master oil painting excellent prov.
By George Romney
Located in Hagley, England
This stunning British 18th century Old Master portrait oil painting, with exceptional provenance, is by noted artist George Romney. It was painted in 1788, commissioned by James Evel...
Oil
$4,392
H 39.5 in W 31 in D 3 in
Portrait Of A Member Of The Greder Family, Late 17th-Century Oil Painting
By Hyacinthe Rigaud
Located in Cheltenham, GB
This fine late 17th-century oil painting by an artist working in the circle of French painter Hyacinthe Rigaud (1659-1743) depicts a distinguished member of the Greder family of Solo...
Canvas, Oil
$64,868
H 67 in W 42 in D 2 in
Portrait of Mrs William Tisdall Elsie Gardiner - British Edwardian oil painting
Located in Hagley, England
This superb large British Edwardian exhibited portrait oil painting is by noted artist George Spencer Watson. It was painted in 1909 and exhibited at the Royal Academy the same year ...
Oil
17th Century portrait oil painting of a gentleman
By John Riley
Located in Nr Broadway, Worcestershire
Circle of John Riley British, (1646-1691) Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on canvas Image size: 29 inches x 24 inches Size including frame: 36 inches x 31 inches A fine half-length por...
Canvas, Oil
$128,596
H 41 in W 34.75 in
Lady Dormore - A 16th Century Portrait of a key member of Shakespeare's England
Located in London, GB
Lady Dormer, Mary Browne c. 1592 oil on panel 35 x 29 inches, unframed; 41 x 34.75 inches, inc. frame Inscribed 'Lady Dormore' Mary married Henry Wriothesley, 2nd Earl of Southampt...
Oil
Portrait of a Lady, Old Masters 18th Century Oil
By Thomas Hudson
Located in London, GB
Thomas Hudson 1701 – 1779 Portrait of a Lady Oil on canvas Image size: 30 x 25 inches Original carved giltwood frame Hudson had many assistants, and employed the specialist drapery ...
Canvas, Oil
$81,453Sale Price|20% Off
H 48.04 in W 35.83 in
Early 17th Century by Tiberio Titi Portrait of a Gentleman Oil on panel
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Tiberio Titi (Florence, Italy, 1573 – 1638) Title: Portrait of a Gentleman Medium: Oil on panel Dimensions: Without frame 122 x 91 cm – with frame 162 x 133 x 10 cm Not signed Publ...
Oil, Wood Panel
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.
Figurative art, as opposed to abstract art, retains features from the observable world in its representational depictions of subject matter. Most commonly, figurative paintings reference and explore the human body, but they can also include landscapes, architecture, plants and animals — all portrayed with realism.
While the oldest figurative art dates back tens of thousands of years to cave wall paintings, figurative works made from observation became especially prominent in the early Renaissance. Artists like Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance masters created naturalistic representations of their subjects.
Pablo Picasso is lauded for laying the foundation for modern figurative art in the 1920s. Although abstracted, this work held a strong connection to representing people and other subjects. Other famous figurative artists include Francis Bacon and Lucian Freud. Figurative art in the 20th century would span such diverse genres as Expressionism, Pop art and Surrealism.
Today, a number of figural artists — such as Sedrick Huckaby, Daisy Patton and Eileen Cooper — are making art that uses the human body as its subject.
Because figurative art represents subjects from the real world, natural colors are common in these paintings. A piece of figurative art can be an exciting starting point for setting a tone and creating a color palette in a room.
Browse an extensive collection of figurative paintings on 1stDibs.
A hyperrealist canvas by Heinz Schönhammer transforms a café classic into an unforgettable still life.
With a solo show at the Denver Art Museum and a commission from the Met, the Cree Canadian painter has become an international sensation.