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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La Reine de la Nuit
Hadrien David
Sculpture - 43 x 17 x 37 cm Sculpture - 16.9 x 6.7 x 14.6 inch
€2,700
Toro mosaïque multicolore
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 75 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€4,800
Struzzo Rubik
Stefano Bombardieri
Sculpture - 58 x 40 x 21 cm Sculpture - 22.8 x 15.7 x 8.3 inch
€27,000
Le Carrousel
Jean-Jacques Kugel
Sculpture - 80 x 40 x 16 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 15.7 x 6.3 inch
€4,800
Toro mosaïque dominante bleu
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 75 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 29.5 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€4,800
Cheval mosaïque bleu
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 100 x 70 x 70 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 27.6 x 27.6 inch
€9,500
Petite souris à la feuille d'or
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 10 x 10 x 8 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.1 inch
€480
Petite souris à la feuille d'argent
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 10 x 10 x 8 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.1 inch
€480
Alice dans la maison du L. Blanc
Wabé
Sculpture - 130 x 54 x 27 cm Sculpture - 51.2 x 21.3 x 10.6 inch
€5,900
Hommage à Pompon
Michel Audiard
Sculpture - 25 x 50 x 16 cm Sculpture - 9.8 x 19.7 x 6.3 inch
€1,300
Sculpture Shetani homme et animal
Agostino Malaba
Sculpture - 100 x 35 x 30 cm Sculpture - 39.4 x 13.8 x 11.8 inch
€3,000
Timeless Equestrian Elegance Sculpture
Dervis Akdemir
Sculpture - 57 x 37 x 35 cm Sculpture - 22.4 x 14.6 x 13.8 inch
Sold
La petite chouette
Adeline Weber Guibal
Sculpture - 30 x 40 x 10 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 15.7 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Panthère strassée
François Rambaud
Sculpture - 55 x 150 x 35 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 59.1 x 13.8 inch
Sold
Petit singe au cigare
François Rambaud
Sculpture - 35 x 25 x 18 cm Sculpture - 13.8 x 9.8 x 7.1 inch
Sold
Le Grand Bleu
Adeline Weber Guibal
Sculpture - 30 x 45 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 17.7 x 5.9 inch
Sold
Cloned Bulldog with pet bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 47 x 50 x 20 cm Sculpture - 18.5 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch
Sold
Le petit Cheval
Adeline Weber Guibal
Sculpture - 23 x 20 x 10 cm Sculpture - 9.1 x 7.9 x 3.9 inch
Sold
Small cloned Penguin with water bottle
William Sweetlove
Sculpture - 40 x 18 x 19 cm Sculpture - 15.7 x 7.1 x 7.5 inch
Sold
Singe au cigare
François Rambaud
Sculpture - 80 x 45 x 70 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 17.7 x 27.6 inch
Sold
Ours polaire qui marche
François Rambaud
Sculpture - 70 x 130 x 40 cm Sculpture - 27.6 x 51.2 x 15.7 inch
Sold
Singes de la sagesse tagués
Miko-R
Sculpture - 30 x 60 x 15 cm Sculpture - 11.8 x 23.6 x 5.9 inch
Sold
Cocci-révolution rouge
Salvy de Saunhac
Sculpture - 12 x 37 x 24 cm Sculpture - 4.7 x 14.6 x 9.4 inch
Sold
Panthère cristal
François Rambaud
Sculpture - 55 x 150 x 35 cm Sculpture - 21.7 x 59.1 x 13.8 inch
Sold
Toro minoico ceramique
Palolo Valdes
Sculpture - 20 x 44 x 25 cm Sculpture - 7.9 x 17.3 x 9.8 inch
Sold
Petite souris patinée noire
Jean Amiel
Sculpture - 10 x 10 x 8 cm Sculpture - 3.9 x 3.9 x 3.1 inch
Sold
L'Inespérée
Lucie De Syracuse
Sculpture - 42.5 x 35.5 x 25 cm Sculpture - 16.7 x 14 x 9.8 inch
€1,800
La reine d'or
Lucie De Syracuse
Sculpture - 39.5 x 29 x 17 cm Sculpture - 15.6 x 11.4 x 6.7 inch
€950
Voodoo dance - La folle allure
Lucie De Syracuse
Sculpture - 40.5 x 29.5 x 17.5 cm Sculpture - 15.9 x 11.6 x 6.9 inch
€950
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Standing Wild Bear
Richard Orlinski
Sculpture - 80 x 52 x 58 cm Sculpture - 31.5 x 20.5 x 22.8 inch
€78,000
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.