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Animal Sculpture for Sale

Animal sculpture is a sculptural style in its own right. This specific genre deserves the same recognition as nude, marble, bronze and resin sculptures.

The representation of animals and anthropomorphism has long been a source of inspiration for sculptural creations and yet it was once considered a minor genre in Western European decorative arts. Ironically, animal sculpture was of the utmost importance to Ancient civilizations. Countless ancient Egyptian buildings for example were adorned with animal sculptures, from grandiose representations of felines to Sphinxes. More generally within the visual arts, animals were rarely represented in their own right, and were often depicted accompanying or symbolizing mythological figures or even character traits.

Aside from its mythical representations, animal sculptures were also popular with suzerain states who used monumental bronze sculptures of lions or eagles to symbolise the immensity of their power.

However, it wasn't until 1831 that the sculptor Antoine-Louis Barye finally established animal sculpture as a noble art, thanks to his work "Tiger devouring a Gavial Crocodile" at the Salon de Paris. It was no longer fashionable to depict animals as unreal, mythological creatures in the decorative arts and instead naturalism and realistic representations of animals characterized the sculpture of the period. Ideas about nature's wealth and abundance meant that all creatures deserved to be carefully and meticulously recreated in the closest likeness possible. Mythical animal interpretations were left behind and artists concentrated on capturing the finer details of an animal's fur, muscles or mouth.

A new wave of renowned animal sculptors emerged. Pierre-Jules Mêne, Antoine Aigon and Jean Germain Demay are just a few examples of some of these pioneering artists. Particularly interested in 'exotic' species (snakes, gazelles, elephants, giraffes, hippopotamuses…), they all explored representing the natural world in a variety of different ways.

In the 20th century, realist tendencies gradually faded away and a new group of creative minds began to experiment with animal sculpture as part of the shift towards modern sculpture.

Numerous artists tried their hand at animal sculpture whilst applying new aesthetic criteria which was largely influenced by modern and contemporary art movements: Abstract art, Impressionism, Cubism, Expressionism. Guided by key surrealist influences, which could not have been further removed from the traditional styles of the past century, a new bestiary was created. Pablo Picasso and Alberto Giacometti were among the key figures who helped to reinvent the way artists endeavored to sculpt animals.

In contemporary animal sculpture, radically redefining artistic techniques and the way we represent living beings has taken precedence over realistic proportion sizes and lifelike features. Artists no longer refrain from accentuating a particular body part, removing a limb for example or creating an entirely new hybrid beast. However, many artists are also skilled at creating hyper-realistic animals that seem so real they almost appear to be alive.

To help you get an idea of the latest animal sculptures, take a look at Artsper's collection of sculpted animals, selected from some of the best contemporary art galleries and made by artists including Jaques Dufrane, Raymundo Fabian Melchor and Roxana y Jesus Hernandez.

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Sculpture, Dream, Miss CoCo

Dream

Miss CoCo

Sculpture - 53 x 52 x 27 cm Sculpture - 20.9 x 20.5 x 10.6 inch

€2,800 €2,240

Sculpture, Toro dentelles, Jean Amiel

Toro dentelles

Jean Amiel

Sculpture - 75 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch

€4,800

Sculpture, L'oie, Jean Amiel

L'oie

Jean Amiel

Sculpture - 85 x 65 x 60 cm Sculpture - 33.5 x 25.6 x 23.6 inch

€4,300

Sculpture, Gina, Capocci

Gina

Capocci

Sculpture - 42 x 38 x 24 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 15 x 9.4 inch

€3,200

Sculpture, Aquillon, Anne Rabion

Aquillon

Anne Rabion

Sculpture - 29 x 36 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.4 x 14.2 x 5.9 inch

€1,000

Sculpture, Pélican, Jean Amiel

Pélican

Jean Amiel

Sculpture - 110 x 70 x 110 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 27.6 x 43.3 inch

€8,900

Sculpture, Cheval volutes, Jean Amiel

Cheval volutes

Jean Amiel

Sculpture - 80 x 40 x 80 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 15.7 x 31.5 inch

€9,500

Sculpture, Vas te faire M, Capocci

Vas te faire M

Capocci

Sculpture - 50 x 20 x 30 cm Sculpture - 19.7 x 7.9 x 11.8 inch

€3,500

Sculpture, Succulent, Gyp Mills

Succulent

Gyp Mills

Sculpture - 40.6 x 33 x 35.6 cm Sculpture - 16 x 13 x 14 inch

€7,500

Sculpture, Chergui, Anne Rabion

Chergui

Anne Rabion

Sculpture - 43 x 37 x 19 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 14.6 x 7.5 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Barry Lyndon, Benjamin Pietri

Barry Lyndon

Benjamin Pietri

Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch

€390 €351

Sculpture, Playboy Lips, Benjamin Pietri

Playboy Lips

Benjamin Pietri

Sculpture - 26 x 19.5 x 5.5 cm Sculpture - 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch

€320 €288

Sculpture, Hope Dog, MrHope

Hope Dog

MrHope

Sculpture - 13 x 11 x 8 cm Sculpture - 5.1 x 4.3 x 3.1 inch

€75 €68

Sculpture, Gorille , Michel Audiard

Gorille

Michel Audiard

Sculpture - 40 x 48 x 32 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 18.9 x 12.6 inch

€5,500

Sculpture, Éléphant, Omar Aoufia

Éléphant

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 110 x 160 x 45 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 63 x 17.7 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Flamant jaune, Omar Aoufia

Flamant jaune

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 164 x 34 x 92 cm Sculpture - 64.6 x 13.4 x 36.2 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Crocodile, Omar Aoufia

Crocodile

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 56 x 390 x 140 cm Sculpture - 22 x 153.5 x 55.1 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Toro mosaique, Jean Amiel

Toro mosaique

Jean Amiel

Sculpture - 70 x 75 x 70 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 29.5 x 27.6 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Elephant, Omar Aoufia

Elephant

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 223 x 160 x 52 cm Sculpture - 87.8 x 63 x 20.5 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Autruche, Omar Aoufia

Autruche

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 190 x 67 x 110 cm Sculpture - 74.8 x 26.4 x 43.3 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Sanglier 2, Omar Aoufia

Sanglier 2

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 110 x 34 x 80 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 13.4 x 31.5 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Sanglier, Omar Aoufia

Sanglier

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 110 x 34 x 80 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 13.4 x 31.5 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Hibou, Omar Aoufia

Hibou

Omar Aoufia

Sculpture - 158 x 80 x 39 cm Sculpture - 62.2 x 31.5 x 15.4 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Oiseau , Corneille

Oiseau

Corneille

Sculpture - 27 x 35 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 13.8 x 2.4 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Petit ours tagué, Miko-R

Petit ours tagué

Miko-R

Sculpture - 40 x 18 x 26 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.1 x 10.2 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Amazing cat, Lee Berthille

Amazing cat

Lee Berthille

Sculpture - 80 x 64 x 22 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 25.2 x 8.7 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Pol-Air, Lee Berthille

Pol-Air

Lee Berthille

Sculpture - 80 x 41 x 50 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 16.1 x 19.7 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Jaws, Lee Berthille

Jaws

Lee Berthille

Sculpture - 83 x 63 x 67 cm Sculpture - 32.7 x 24.8 x 26.4 inch

Sold

Sculpture, The God's Dog, God Sylver

The God's Dog

God Sylver

Sculpture - 42 x 20 x 20 cm Sculpture - 16.5 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Ecce Hippo, Lee Berthille

Ecce Hippo

Lee Berthille

Sculpture - 86 x 182 x 62 cm Sculpture - 33.9 x 71.7 x 24.4 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Chien tagué, Miko-R

Chien tagué

Miko-R

Sculpture - 38 x 28 x 20 cm Sculpture - 15 x 11 x 7.9 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Grand Rhino tagué, Miko-R

Grand Rhino tagué

Miko-R

Sculpture - 110 x 170 x 55 cm Sculpture - 43.3 x 66.9 x 21.7 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Le Minotaure, Alain Gilier

Le Minotaure

Alain Gilier

Sculpture - 18 x 48 x 12 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 18.9 x 4.7 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Horse 1/4, Palolo Valdes

Horse 1/4

Palolo Valdes

Sculpture - 35 x 35 x 7 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 13.8 x 2.8 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Cool Panda, Miko-R

Cool Panda

Miko-R

Sculpture - 66 x 68 x 75 cm Sculpture - 26 x 26.8 x 29.5 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Le gorille, Alain Gilier

Le gorille

Alain Gilier

Sculpture - 68 x 44 x 28 cm Sculpture - 26.8 x 17.3 x 11 inch

Sold

Sculpture, Bouquetin, Alain Gilier

Bouquetin

Alain Gilier

Sculpture - 86 x 45 x 39 cm Sculpture - 33.9 x 17.7 x 15.4 inch

Sold

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Discover the selection of our experts

Print, Balance, Irena Aizen

Balance

Irena Aizen

Print - 25.5 x 22.5 x 1 cm Print - 10 x 8.9 x 0.4 inch

€648

Print, Sans-titre, Max Ernst

Sans-titre

Max Ernst

Print - 38 x 28 cm Print - 15 x 11 inch

€650

Print, Paris verte, M.Chat

Paris verte

M.Chat

Print - 44 x 35 cm Print - 17.3 x 13.8 inch

€350

Need help with Animal Sculpture for Sale ?
Who are the animal sculptors?
Animal sculptors, called animaliers, create works depicting wildlife in bronze, ceramic, or other materials. Among the most famous are François Pompon, Rembrandt Bugatti, and Richard Orlinski.
What are the three main types of sculptures?
The three main types of sculpture are sculpture in the round (sculpture in volume, visible from all angles), bas-relief (sculpture slightly protruding from a background) and high-relief (sculpture in great relief, almost detached from the background).
Who is Jacques Owczarek?
Jacques Owczarek is a French sculptor born in 1969, renowned for his clean-lined bronze animal sculptures. His work combines strength and elegance, capturing the essence of animals with great technical mastery.
Who is the most famous animal sculptor of all time?
Antoine-Louis Barye is considered the most famous animal sculptor of all time. A master of bronze in the 19th century, he revolutionized the depiction of animals with his realism and sense of movement.