Fantastical painting for Sale
Fantasy painting is a style of art which explores the supernatural, depicting fantastical elements such as legends, ancient myths and divine figures. Mythical creatures are also prevalent in this genre where elves, fairies, dragons and wizards are often depicted alongside deities, angels and demons.
Fantasy painting grew in popularity after the invention of photography replaced the demand for Realism in the 19th century. The 20th century saw the introduction of new idealistic movements such as Expressionism, Cubism, Abstraction and Surrealism, where artists abandoned portraying subjects truthfully and embraced the implausible and supernatural. Although Fantasy Painting can technically be traced back to antiquity, it wasn't until the 20th century that it became an accepted art form. Artists of the Italian Renaissance were equally inspired by mythological characters in Greek and Roman culture. However, religious mythology was a highly sophisticated and incredibly important topic during the Renaissance, and is therefore not an example of fantasy painting.
Contemporary fantasy art has certainly been influenced by a surge in demand for science fiction and whimsical literary plots. This pushed artists to explore the darker corners of fantasy art, employing vampires and werewolves into their artwork. In 1923 the first all-fantasy fiction magazine was created called “Weird Tales", which helped bring fantasy painting onto a contemporary platform. As a result, fantasy painting became a powerful tool in the marketing of fantasy literature and film. Robert E. Howard's comic book hero “Conan the Barbarian" was a prominent feature in Weird Tales magazine. However, when the stories were re-released in 1960 with cover art by notable fantasy painter, Frank Frazetta, over 10 million copies were sold. This success lead to the creation of other fantasy art magazines. French magazine, “Métal Hurlant" (howling metal) was created in 1974. Due to its huge readership and demand, it was translated and republished in the United States as “Heavy Metal" in 1977. The late 70s also saw a boom in computer games and blockbuster films, which only furthered the popularity of fantasy painting. Hugely successful films like Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, The Hobbit and Twilight were paramount in fantasy painting's not only rise to prominence, but also increasing acceptance as an art form.
Despite the skill of artists that produce fantasy paintings, it is still not considered canonical. Since it is not an example of “high art", the genre is generally not exhibited in galleries or taught in art schools, which many claim is due to the popularity of fantasy literature and film. However, as fantasy painting's reputation grows, so does the acceptance for a wider variety of art forms. Therefore, we can't eliminate the possibility that this massively prominent genre won't be considered highbrow one day.
Discover our selection of original paintings by contemporary artists and painters who have been inspired by all things supernatural, mythical and divine.
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Stones - Late 20th Century Surrealist Gouache on Paper
Derek Carruthers
Painting - 50 x 70 x 0.1 cm Painting - 19.7 x 27.6 x 0 inch
$179
Being is love / 459
Christine Zanella
Painting - 65 x 65 x 0.2 cm Painting - 25.6 x 25.6 x 0.1 inch
$3,457
Spring landscape Spring view River Nature painting
Irina Pronina
Painting - 49 x 38 cm Painting - 19.3 x 15 inch
$417
Le voyage de Miss D
Anne-Marie Vesco
Painting - 8.04 x 8.04 x 0.07 cm Painting - 3.2 x 3.2 x 0 inch
$477
Free from religion
Valery Tatar
Painting - 192 x 340 x 2.7 cm Painting - 75.6 x 133.9 x 1.1 inch
$20,900
Mercury and Neters
Valery Tatar
Painting - 176 x 286 x 2.6 cm Painting - 69.3 x 112.6 x 1 inch
$21,100
Adonai sitting on Easter eggs
Valery Tatar
Painting - 176 x 286 x 2.5 cm Painting - 69.3 x 112.6 x 1 inch
$21,100
Apocalypse, four horsemen
Valery Tatar
Painting - 176 x 286 x 2.8 cm Painting - 69.3 x 112.6 x 1.1 inch
$19,200
Being is love / 403
Christine Zanella
Painting - 15 x 15 x 0.1 cm Painting - 5.9 x 5.9 x 0 inch
$393
Being is love / 402
Christine Zanella
Painting - 15 x 15 x 0.1 cm Painting - 5.9 x 5.9 x 0 inch
$513
La Luna
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
La Estrella
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
La Emperatriz
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Sumo Sacerdote
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Sol
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Mago
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Loco
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Ermitaño
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
El Diablo
María José Franco Maldonado
Painting - 27 x 17 x 0.3 cm Painting - 10.6 x 6.7 x 0.1 inch
$370
And yet i miss stillness
Maxim Wakultschik
Painting - 35 x 26 x 9 cm Painting - 13.8 x 10.2 x 3.5 inch
$6,437
Variations picturales harmoniques entre stases et flux constitutifs du moment esthétique au moyen de petits bonds perceptifs dissensuels mais non moins structurants dans une perspective post-contemporaine bigrement insolite.
Eric Bourdon
Painting - 20 x 20 x 0.1 cm Painting - 7.9 x 7.9 x 0 inch
$298
Apsara being taken away by demons
Anand Manchiraju
Painting - 61 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Painting - 24 x 18 x 0.1 inch
$3,500
Dancing apsara-2
Anand Manchiraju
Painting - 61 x 45.7 x 0.3 cm Painting - 24 x 18 x 0.1 inch
$3,500
1970 Rêve Astral Dream
Gigi Lilavois
Painting - 40 x 55 x 1 cm Painting - 15.7 x 21.7 x 0.4 inch
$3,517
La Dernière Licorne
Freddo Sacaro
Painting - 60 x 81 x 2 cm Painting - 23.6 x 31.9 x 0.8 inch
$8,941
Space abstraction-3
Anand Manchiraju
Painting - 101.6 x 76.2 x 2 cm Painting - 40 x 30 x 0.8 inch
$6,000
Mille lieux dans les airs
Sylvie Cappe
Painting - 57 x 43 x 0.1 cm Painting - 22.4 x 16.9 x 0 inch
$453
Le pont des chromosomes suspendus
Gaelle Beyaert
Painting - 40 x 40 x 2 cm Painting - 15.7 x 15.7 x 0.8 inch
$465
Ilusion Circense
Griselda Alcazar
Painting - 85 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 33.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
$5,424
Safari in Budapest
Griselda Alcazar
Painting - 88 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 34.6 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
$5,424
Clocks in the Luminous Chaos
Griselda Alcazar
Painting - 85 x 120 x 3 cm Painting - 33.5 x 47.2 x 1.2 inch
$5,424
Le faune et la dernière colonne
Timothy Archer
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$6,914
Hécate et la loi du triple retour
Timothy Archer
Painting - 150 x 150 x 5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 2 inch
$7,749
Le souper d'Hécate
Timothy Archer
Painting - 150 x 150 x 5 cm Painting - 59.1 x 59.1 x 2 inch
$7,749
Le sylvain silencieux
Timothy Archer
Painting - 100 x 100 x 3 cm Painting - 39.4 x 39.4 x 1.2 inch
$8,226
An Angel in the City
Snezhana Stoyanova
Painting - 120 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
$5,365
A Song in the Desert
Snezhana Stoyanova
Painting - 120 x 80 x 3 cm Painting - 47.2 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch
$5,365
Perros on fire (7)
Óscar Seco
Painting - 65 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch
$3,576 $2,861
Perros on fire (2)
Óscar Seco
Painting - 65 x 81 x 3 cm Painting - 25.6 x 31.9 x 1.2 inch
$3,576 $2,861
Chimère à trois têtes
Timothy Archer
Painting - 160 x 100 x 2.5 cm Painting - 63 x 39.4 x 1 inch
$8,583
Discover the styles & movements
Discover the selection of our experts
Le Chef-d'Oeuvre ou les Mystères de l'Horizon
René Magritte
Print - 45 x 60 x 0.1 cm Print - 17.7 x 23.6 x 0 inch
$930
La forêt intérieure
Clémence Dupuch
Painting - 80 x 80 x 2 cm Painting - 31.5 x 31.5 x 0.8 inch
$1,907
Femme au bord de l'eau, 1910 | Woman at the Shoreline, 1910
Léon Spilliaert
Print - 59 x 72 cm Print - 23.2 x 28.3 inch
$894
A la recherche de Van Gogh
Alexander Daniloff
Painting - 35 x 50 x 0.3 cm Painting - 13.8 x 19.7 x 0.1 inch
$620 $527
Need help with Fantastical painting ?
What is a fantasy painting?
A fantasy painting depicts imaginary, supernatural, or unreal scenes, often inspired by myths, dreams, or fantasy. It invites the viewer to explore worlds where imagination takes precedence over reality.
What is dreamlike and fantastic painting?
Dreamlike and fantastical painting explores imaginary worlds, blending dreams with the unreal. It is characterized by surreal scenes, invented creatures, and mysterious landscapes, inviting escape and personal interpretation.
What characterizes the fantasy genre?
The fantasy genre is distinguished by the eruption of supernatural or inexplicable elements into a realistic universe, arousing doubt and confusion in both the characters and the viewer. It invites us to question the boundary between reality and imagination, a theme often explored in contemporary art.
What is the prettiest painting in the world?
The notion of "the most beautiful painting in the world" is subjective and varies according to taste. Among the most admired works, Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa fascinates with its mystery, but every contemporary art lover will find their own favorite on Artsper.