De Lansac
Mid-19th Century French School Figurative Paintings
Oil
People Also Browsed
Mid-20th Century English Neoclassical Porcelain
Porcelain
Antique Early 19th Century Italian Figurative Sculptures
Carrara Marble
18th Century Old Masters Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas
20th Century Japanese Mid-Century Modern Sculptures and Carvings
Bronze
Vintage 1960s German Rococo Tea Sets
Gold
Antique Early 19th Century French Empire Historical Memorabilia
Crystal, Silver
Antique 1760s English George III Dining Room Chairs
Hardwood
Antique Early 1700s English Queen Anne Arms, Armor and Weapons
Wood
Early 19th Century Academic Portrait Paintings
Oil
Antique 1810s English Glass
Cut Glass
19th Century Academic Landscape Paintings
Canvas, Oil
Antique 19th Century German Rococo Porcelain
Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Louis XV Mantel Clocks
Bronze, Ormolu
20th Century Portrait Paintings
Oil, Canvas
Antique 19th Century French Tea Sets
Porcelain
Early 20th Century Impressionist Portrait Paintings
Oil
Finding the Right figurative-paintings for You
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.