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
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
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
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
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 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
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
SOLIS (Sunlight)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed and dated (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
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
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
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
VIRTUS (Virtue)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on the back): D. Ligare / 2024
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
DISCERE (To Learn)
By David Ligare
Located in New York, NY
Signed (at lower right): L; (on verso): D. Ligare / 2024
Canvas, Oil
$704Sale Price|53% Off
H 30 in W 24 in D 2 in
'Contemporary Impressionist Interior Scene', Framed Oil on Canvas, 1990
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
This framed 24" x 30" oil on canvas depicts an interior living space in a contemporary impressionist style. The scene features a chair facing an uncovered window during daytime, a cl...
Canvas, Oil
$3,500
H 24 in W 24 in D 1.75 in
Emerald Rain - Contemporary Still Life Flowers Fruit Landscape Green, 2024
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary oil painting on canvas, a bright and inviting interior scene is set with a still life with arrangements of flowers in a vase and a glass pitcher, a pear and lemo...
Canvas, Oil
$439
H 5.91 in W 5.91 in D 1.19 in
Hibiscus Pink 229 & Lime Green Juicy Pocket Painting 228, diptych
By Dani Humberstone
Located in Deddington, GB
Pocket Pink Hibiscus 229 (canvas size 5x5cm) is an original oil painting by Dani Humberstone as part of her Pocket Painting series featuring small scale realistic oil paintings, with...
Canvas, Oil
Large Hidden Gardens Oil Painting
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
$13,759
H 9.06 in W 15.75 in D 0.08 in
Still Life - Oil Painting by Zhang Wei Guang - 2000s
By Zhang Wei Guang
Located in Roma, IT
Original work by the chinese painter Zhang Wei Guand, also called "Mirror". Realized in the early 2000s. In excellent conditions, it includes a contemporary wooden frame. Zhang We...
Canvas, Oil
$11,172
H 14.57 in W 19.69 in D 0.52 in
Still Life with Apples - Oil on Canvas by Zhang Wei Guang - 2000
By Zhang Wei Guang
Located in Roma, IT
Still Life wit Apples in a chinese porcelain pot by the chinese painter Zhang Wei Guang (Mirror). Excellent conditions. Zhang Wei Guang, also called ‘mirror' was born in Helong Jang...
Canvas, Oil
$4,800
H 30 in W 30 in D 1.75 in
The Margarete, Still Life, Interior, Green Dining Room, Daisies, Fruit
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
A bright and inviting interior scene with a still life arrangement of a terracotta vase with white daisies and a red flower, beside a matching fruit bowl with limes and lemons. A blue and white painted tea cup and a striped plate with a cut lemon allude to an afternoon of tea. The arrangement is beautifully complemented by the vibrant mint green color of the walls. A dark navy blue china cabinet...
Canvas, Oil
$3,500
H 28 in W 22 in D 1.75 in
Emerald Manner - Contemporary Still Life Flowers Fruit Landscape Green, 2024
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary oil painting on canvas, a bright and inviting interior scene is set with a still life arrangement of flowers in a green bottle, painted patterned china and fruit...
Canvas, Oil
$515
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
$9,700
H 48 in W 52 in D 1.25 in
Flying Aster - Contemporary Still Life Yellow Fruit Botanical Red Blue, 2024
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
In this contemporary oil painting on canvas, a dining room interior scene is vibrant and colorful with an arrangement of flowers in a painted vase next to blue and white China teapot...
Canvas, Oil
$4,950
H 30 in W 24 in D 1.5 in
"Peonies" Vibrant Still-life Oil Painting, Pink and White Flowers in Glass Vase
By Lesley Anne Spowart
Located in Carmel, CA
Lesley Anne Spowart (American, born 1957) "Peonies" 2006 Oil paint on canvas, stretcher bars Signed bottom left and on verso. "Peonies" is a painting suffused with warmth and atmosp...
Oil, Canvas, Stretcher Bars
$7,200
H 36 in W 48 in D 1.25 in
Red Fiesta, Bright Orange, Red Still Life, Grapes, Lemons, Blue and White Vase
By Melanie Parke
Located in Kent, CT
A bright and inviting interior scene with a still life arrangement of lemons in a blue and white painted fruit bowl beside a green, leafy plant in a blue and white vase on a striped,...
Canvas, Oil
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