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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, Cha'Mignon, Lolek

Cha'Mignon

Lolek

Sculpture - 20 x 8.5 x 14 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 3.3 x 5.5 inch

€2,375

Sculpture, Oops, Helle Rask Crawford

Oops

Helle Rask Crawford

Sculpture - 45 x 45 x 55 cm Sculpture - 17.7 x 17.7 x 21.7 inch

€9,600

Sculpture, Oiseau et serpent, Corneille

Oiseau et serpent

Corneille

Sculpture - 80 x 110 x 45 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 43.3 x 17.7 inch

€36,800

Sculpture, Crystal Panda, Soren Lyris

Crystal Panda

Soren Lyris

Sculpture - 20 x 17 x 17 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 6.7 x 6.7 inch

€2,168

Sculpture, Crystal Camel, Soren Lyris

Crystal Camel

Soren Lyris

Sculpture - 6.2 x 8.7 x 4 cm Sculpture - 2.4 x 3.4 x 1.6 inch

€867

Sculpture, Dinosaure, Spaco

Dinosaure

Spaco

Sculpture - 19 x 24 x 18 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 9.4 x 7.1 inch

€290

Sculpture, Aperobot fluo vert, Aperato

Aperobot fluo vert

Aperato

Sculpture - 80 x 60 x 20 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 23.6 x 7.9 inch

€2,100

Sculpture, Héron I, Pierre Yermia

Héron I

Pierre Yermia

Sculpture - 58 x 23 x 25 cm Sculpture - 22.8 x 9.1 x 9.8 inch

€3,850

Sculpture, Félin V, Pierre Yermia

Félin V

Pierre Yermia

Sculpture - 17 x 46 x 8 cm Sculpture - 6.7 x 18.1 x 3.1 inch

€4,550

Sculpture, Panda BA, Julien Marinetti

Panda BA

Julien Marinetti

Sculpture - 90 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch

€48,500

Sculpture, Mini taureau argent, Gite

Mini taureau argent

Gite

Sculpture - 11 x 13 x 25 cm Sculpture - 4.3 x 5.1 x 9.8 inch

€390

Sculpture, Grive, Jean Lemonnier

Grive

Jean Lemonnier

Sculpture - 18 x 17 x 11 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 6.7 x 4.3 inch

€2,300

Sculpture, Scarabée, Bernard Pras

Scarabée

Bernard Pras

Sculpture - 90 x 118 x 30 cm Sculpture - 35.4 x 46.5 x 11.8 inch

€24,000

Sculpture, Teddy Gold, Marc Boffin

Teddy Gold

Marc Boffin

Sculpture - 17 x 16 x 13 cm Sculpture - 6.7 x 6.3 x 5.1 inch

€490

Sculpture, Aperacrm, Aperato

Aperacrm

Aperato

Sculpture - 19 x 22 x 10 cm Sculpture - 7.5 x 8.7 x 3.9 inch

€630

Sculpture, Dog Haring, PyB

Dog Haring

PyB

Sculpture - 15 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€250

Sculpture, Pug-Hörl, Max ArtLouis

Pug-Hörl

Max ArtLouis

Sculpture - 44 x 25 x 40 cm Sculpture - 17.3 x 9.8 x 15.7 inch

€900

Sculpture, Red bear, Austyn Taylor

Red bear

Austyn Taylor

Sculpture - 28 x 23 x 18 cm Sculpture - 11 x 9.1 x 7.1 inch

€1,669

Sculpture, Le Buffle, Emilie Muzy

Le Buffle

Emilie Muzy

Sculpture - 21 x 38 x 23 cm Sculpture - 8.3 x 15 x 9.1 inch

€950

Sculpture, Land'eau, Pascal Billard

Land'eau

Pascal Billard

Sculpture - 25 x 50 x 25 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 19.7 x 9.8 inch

€1,040

Sculpture, Fétiche II, Pascal Billard

Fétiche II

Pascal Billard

Sculpture - 31 x 31 x 12 cm Sculpture - 12.2 x 12.2 x 4.7 inch

€1,040

Sculpture, Singes, Philippe Berry

Singes

Philippe Berry

Sculpture - 80 x 28 x 25 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 11 x 9.8 inch

€12,000

Sculpture, Gorille, Jean-No

Gorille

Jean-No

Sculpture - 59 x 37 x 60 cm Sculpture - 23.2 x 14.6 x 23.6 inch

€12,000

Sculpture, Dinosaure Basquiat, PyB

Dinosaure Basquiat

PyB

Sculpture - 27 x 24 x 6 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 9.4 x 2.4 inch

€250

Sculpture, Balthazar, Flora Gueton

Balthazar

Flora Gueton

Sculpture - 62 x 54 x 5 cm Sculpture - 24.4 x 21.3 x 2 inch

€1,200

Sculpture, Cheval, Richard Pommier

Cheval

Richard Pommier

Sculpture - 27 x 24 x 8.5 cm Sculpture - 10.6 x 9.4 x 3.3 inch

€450

Sculpture, Dog, Spaco

Dog

Spaco

Sculpture - 15 x 25 x 3 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 9.8 x 1.2 inch

€250

Sculpture, Petit Rhino, Michel Audiard

Petit Rhino

Michel Audiard

Sculpture - 20 x 43 x 12 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 16.9 x 4.7 inch

€2,700

Sculpture, Sedientos, Rodo Padilla

Sedientos

Rodo Padilla

Sculpture - 18 x 37 x 38 cm Sculpture - 7.1 x 14.6 x 15 inch

€4,200

Sculpture, Singe 2, Maxime Piccoli

Singe 2

Maxime Piccoli

Sculpture - 30 x 21 x 21 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.3 x 8.3 inch

€2,400

Sculpture, Singe 1, Maxime Piccoli

Singe 1

Maxime Piccoli

Sculpture - 30 x 21 x 21 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 8.3 x 8.3 inch

€2,400

Sculpture, Sky New boots, Petra Dorst

Sky New boots

Petra Dorst

Sculpture - 10 x 13 x 6 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 5.1 x 2.4 inch

€1,250

Sculpture, Little Star, Petra Dorst

Little Star

Petra Dorst

Sculpture - 15 x 8 x 5 cm Sculpture - 5.9 x 3.1 x 2 inch

€1,250

Sculpture, Le saut, Yves Pires

Le saut

Yves Pires

Sculpture - 55 x 47 x 8 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 18.5 x 3.1 inch

€7,800

Sculpture, Wild Kong, Richard Orlinski

Wild Kong

Richard Orlinski

Sculpture - 30 x 23 x 12 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 9.1 x 4.7 inch

€4,800

15/37

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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.