During a trip to Europe following his graduation from high school, a young David Ligare boldly walked up to the home of artist Salvador Dalí in Port Lligat, Spain, and knocked on the front door. Fortunately for Ligare, the legendary Surrealist was home. Even more fortunate, Dalí agreed to speak with him, and the two spent the afternoon chatting in his studio. Although it’s not known what they discussed, Ligare later became a painter. While his landscapes, still lifes and narrative oil paintings expand upon the realist tradition, the figures in his works are stylized — they’re polished and wholly free of imperfection.
Ligare was born in 1945 in Oak Park, Illinois. At the age of five years old, he moved with his family to California and, in later years, studied at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena.
In 1978, Ligare’s artistic style took shape after joining a group of artists who were intent on reviving narrative painting during a time dominated by Conceptualism, minimalism and Pop art. An essay fueled Ligare’s decision to base his style on narration by critic and painter Sidney Tillim titled “Notes on Narrative and History Painting,” which appeared in Artforum a year prior. Tillim had explained why narrative art was necessary, stating that “a didactic morality or its equivalent must similarly support and validate what comes down to a new — or renewed — effort to illustrate belief.”
Not only was Ligare inspired by the works of 17th-century painter Nicolas Poussin — a major figure in classical French Baroque art — but he also drew upon Greco-Roman classicism. Greek sculptor Polykleitos, mathematician Pythagoras, and Plato's philosophy and mythology helped shape his ideas of light, balance, symmetry, and harmony. His surroundings also inspired Ligare in Monterey County, California, where he is based — many of his paintings depict the California coast in the background.
Ligare has shown his works extensively, including in exhibitions at the Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, the Fresno Art Museum, the Frye Art Museum in Seattle and the Prince of Wales Institute of Architecture in London. His paintings are part of the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and the Department of Drawings and Prints of the Uffizi in Florence, Italy.
Find authentic David Ligare paintings on 1stDibs.
Still Life with Polykleitian Head and Ancathus
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
Offering: Grapes & Fig
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
David Ligare (b. 1945) Contemporary American Painter "Offering: Grapes & Fig," 2023 Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): Ligare / 2023
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Peach on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
Landscape with an Owl (ATHENE NOCTUA) (Owl of Athena)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Apple on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs on Cloth
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
SOLIS (Sunlight)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Thrown Drapery (Redux) Study 1
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2004
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Box
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): David Ligare
Canvas, Oil
VIRTUS (Virtue)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on the back): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
PERMETTO (To Allow)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Candle and Flowers
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to ...
Canvas, Oil
SCIRE (To Know)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed with initial (at lower right): L
Canvas, Oil
ORDINE NATURAE (The Order of Nature)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2015
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Apples and Basket
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso)" D. Ligare / 2014
Canvas, Oil
DISCERE (To Learn)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
Zhao Wang Surrealist Original Oil Painting "Running"
By Zhao Wang
Located in New York, NY
Title: Running Medium: Oil on canvas Size: 8 x 8 inches Frame: Framing options available! Condition: The painting appears to be in excellent condition. Note: This painting is unstretched Year: 2000 Circa Artist: Zhao Wang...
Canvas, Oil
$218
H 5.91 in W 6.7 in D 1.19 in
Peas in a Pod Painting 3c, original painting, still-life
By Dani Humberstone
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Peas in Pod 3c (canvas size 7x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with a ...
Canvas, Oil
$218
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 0.79 in
Clementine Small Pocket Painting 5, original painting
By Dani Humberstone
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Small Clementine 5 (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, wit...
Canvas, Oil
$2,290
H 21 in W 17 in D 3 in
Serenity over the Bridge - Lake Scene with Lush Green Trees by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Serenity over the Bridge - Lake Scene with Lush Green Trees. Vintage Oil Painting by British Artist, David James. Art measures 12 x 16 inches Frame measures 17 x 21 inches The p...
Canvas, Oil
$3,500
H 24 in W 24 in D 1.75 in
Porcelain Red - Lake Landscape Window Flowers Fruit Botanical Still Life, 2024
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary painting in oil on canvas, a cheerful interior scene is bright and inviting with a still life arrangement of red poppies, red flowers and pale pink dahlias in a ...
Canvas, Oil
$30,000
H 55.12 in W 51.19 in D 1.19 in
Large Colourful French Impressionistic Figurative Painting "Feu de Paille"
By Claire Denarie-Soffietti
Located in Cape Town, ZA
A unique, large scale figurative painting with a vivid, exotic, leafy background. The painting style shows influences from the post-impressionists, yet is undeniably contemporary, wi...
Varnish, Canvas, Wax, Oil, Acrylic
$676
H 10 in W 13 in D 1 in
Miniature Landscape with Waterfall - Vintage Oil Painting by British Artist
Located in Preston, GB
Miniature Landscape with Waterfall - Vintage Oil Painting by British Artist, David James. Art measures 10 x 7 inches Frame measures 13 x 10 i...
Canvas, Oil
$7,270
H 59.06 in W 39.38 in D 1.58 in
Grandiose - Realist purple & lavender Olive Tree, golden background, nature
By Anastasia Gklava
Located in Dallas, TX
"Grandiose", Purple Olive Tree with Golden Background. Oil and gold leaf on canvas, black and gold silhouette frame 150h × 100w × 4d cm 59.06h × 39.37w × 1.57d inches Anastasia Gkl...
Gold Leaf
Echoing Hidden Garden (HG224 Hidden Gardens)
By Damien Hirst
Located in London, GB
Created using a bright, rich palette, Hidden Gardens further explores Hirst’s obsession with lush landscapes and playing with perspective. These densely-layered works bridge traditio...
Canvas, Oil
$512
H 12.6 in W 12.6 in D 0.79 in
The red coat, Original painting, Landscape, Nature, People, Men, Women, Walking
By Eleanor Woolley
Located in Deddington, GB
The red coat is an Original painting by Eleanor Woolley. This painting is a stylised semi abstract painting inspired by people in landscape. Long shadows are cast from the naively painted figures bodies. There is a muted palette of greys, blues and ochers, with a touch of red in the ladies coat. Painted in the Artist's studio this is an atmospheric piece typical of Eleanor's figurative work. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Oil Paint on Canvas 32 H x 32 W x 3 D cm (12.60 x 12.60 x 1.18 in) Sold framed Image size: Height: 32cm (12.60 in) Width: 32cm (12.60 in) Complete size of unframed painting Height: 30cm (11.81 in) Width: 30cm (11.81 in) Depth: 2cm (0.79 in) Framed Size: Height: 32cm (12.60 in) Width: 32cm (12.60 in) Depth: 3cm (1.18 in) ARTIST BIOGRAPHY: Discover more original artworks by Eleanor Woolley. Eleanor Woolley was born in the Channel Island of Jersey, and moved to Gloucestershire where she was drawn to the outdoors, always taking walks in the landscape. Her first true love for painting came from an inspirational Art...
Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil
$437
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 0.79 in
Strawberry Very Ripe & Pomegranate Deep Red Pocket Painting, diptych
By Dani Humberstone
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Very Ripe Strawberry 6c (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings...
Canvas, Oil
$3,212
H 16 in W 18 in D 1.75 in
Landscape Painting of Hudson River, New York State, USA by British Artist
By Angela Wakefield
Located in Preston, GB
Landscape Painting of the Hudson River, New York State, USA by British Contemporary Artist, Angela Wakefield. Art measures 12 x 10 inches Frame measures 18 x 16 inches Angela Wakef...
Gesso, Canvas, Linen, Paint, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic
NOVUM INCREMENTUM (New Growth)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (LR): L; on verso: D. Ligare/ 1988/2024
Canvas, Oil
Offering: Apples & Wheat
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
David Ligare (b. 1945) Contemporary American Painter 'Offering: Apples & Wheat,' 2023 Oil on canvas, 20 x 24 in. Signed (at lower right): L; (on back): D. Ligare/ 2023.
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Polykleitian Head and Candles (Idea)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2018
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Lilies
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso) D. Ligare / 2014.
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs and Rose
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Bulk Order for Eugene Orloff
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with White Roses in Pot
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-five years, Ligare has dedicated his work to Classicist ideals: Truth, Bea...
Canvas, Oil
Still Life with Figs and Egyptian Pot
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on the verso): D. Ligare / 2017 SAPERE AUDE. Dare to be wise. Immanuel Kant’s directive is embodied in the work of David Ligare. For thirty-fi...
Canvas, Oil
The Cane Gatherer (Qanu)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower left): L
Canvas, Oil
Three Grecian Women
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower left on stone): D. LIGARE. 1983
Canvas, Oil
Integritas
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas, 2015
Still Life with Plums and Goldfinch (Aparchai)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Oil on canvas