Animal Sculpture
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 grandiose representations of felines and 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 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.
Helle Rask Crawford
Newborn Fowl, 2022 3.5 x 6.3 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,020
Richard Orlinski
Crocodile facette bleu mick, 2022 4.3 x 11.8 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$4,370
Philippe Geluck
Le mini Chat au journal, 2022 8.3 x 5.9 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,197
Ti'Ou
Barracuda craquelé, 2021 11.8 x 11.8 x 34.3 inch Sculpture
$1,759
Sandrine Piani
Bad Mood, 2022 7.9 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$4,682
Ventsislav Markov
Forward, 2022 6.3 x 5.5 x 3.1 inch Sculpture
$728
Petra Dorst
Reading Together Sky & Misty SIII, 2021 15 x 9.4 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$4,110
Bastien Bonhomme
Nérée, 2022 12.6 x 4.3 x 3.5 inch Sculpture
$2,809
Jean-Claude Gaillard
Cochon Punk (Série Copains comme cochons), 2019 2 x 3.1 x 2 inch Sculpture
$468
Elisabeth Dupin-Sjöstedt
Cavalier 3, 2022 26.8 x 8.9 x 3.5 inch Sculpture
$2,081
Tobia Ravà
1477 Pantera Dark Nera, 2017 10.4 x 43.3 x 8.3 inch Sculpture
Sold
Gaël Rouxeville
L'air marin, 2019 17.7 x 8.7 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$1,301
Jean-François Gambino
Tête de jeune Orang-Outan, 2022 8.3 x 5.5 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$3,642
Pierre Mouzat
La reine des sables, 2022 9.8 x 16.5 x 3.5 inch Sculpture
$7,804
Cyril Maccioni
Black wolf-fire impact, 2022 11.8 x 5.7 x 7.5 inch Sculpture
$2,705
Thierry Benenati
Elephant-roses, 2015 20.5 x 30.3 x 15.7 inch Sculpture
$35,378
Lucie Linder
Poulpe, 2016 11.8 x 19.7 x 5.1 inch Sculpture
$1,249
Ghost Art
The abstract eagle, 2022 74.8 x 33.5 x 30.3 inch Sculpture
$20,290
Hassan Laamirat
Cerf en métal recyclé, 2022 96.5 x 55.1 x 84.6 inch Sculpture
$4,318
Alain Quercia
Cheval sur un banc, 2019 8.7 x 7.1 x 3.5 inch Sculpture
$6,243
Pascal Chesneau
La girafe, 2022 33.9 x 43.3 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$7,180
Maïté Martinez
Il était une fois, 2019 5.1 x 6.7 x 5.5 inch Sculpture
$4,995
François Rambaud
Ours Polaire Danseur, 2022 15.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$468
Sylvie Debray Artiste Bxl
La course aux escargots, 2022 8.3 x 5.1 x 12.6 inch Sculpture
$3,111
Dananjaya Edirisinghe
Bella, 2022 13 x 13.4 x 2 inch Sculpture
$208
Isabelle Carabantes
Eléphant (V), 2021 10.2 x 7.3 x 16.5 inch Sculpture
$4,370
Didier Becquart
Papillon, 2016 24.8 x 41.7 x 32.3 inch Sculpture
$14,047
Noël Granger
Meuh Graffitis !, 2022 7.3 x 10.6 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$302
Chanoir
Cha Basketteur, 2021 31.5 x 31.5 x 1.2 inch Sculpture
$4,839
Valerie Marty
Piafs poprock L, 2022 12.6 x 5.9 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$1,301
Hannes D'Haese
Bull, 2020 8.7 x 13 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$156
Helena Troyanskaya
White Horse, 2022 13 x 8.7 x 4.9 inch Sculpture
$740
Mr Live
Croco Porsche, 2022 9.4 x 52.4 x 30.7 inch Sculpture
$2,601
Clemyart
Bruits sous l'océan, 2022 6.7 x 7.1 x 7.1 inch Sculpture
$208
MrHope
Toy pink, 2022 7.1 x 5.1 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$135
Elvire Ménétrier
Drooling, 2021 7.1 x 3.9 x 2 inch Sculpture
$624
Benjamin Pietri
Playboy Lips, 2022 10.2 x 7.7 x 2.2 inch Sculpture
$333
Art By Son
Tattoo dog, 2022 31.5 x 45.3 x 15.7 inch Sculpture
$3,590
Priscilla Vettese
Freedom Elephant, 2022 5.5 x 7.1 x 2.4 inch Sculpture
$198
Christophe Comerro
Vegas Bulldog Chanel Fashion, 2021 15.7 x 12.6 x 19.7 inch Sculpture
$1,228
Yves Klein
L'Ours Pompon - Edition Yves Klein, 2022 10.6 x 19.3 x 7.5 inch Sculpture
$6,763
Nouna
Pop birds peace & love orange, 2022 10.6 x 8.3 x 2.8 inch Sculpture
$2,809
Fratz & Gio
Pitchou cute puple rain, 2022 18.5 x 9.8 x 19.7 inch Sculpture
$6,451
Jean Amiel
Pélican au petit bec, 2016 9.4 x 6.7 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Javier de la Rosa
Dardo I green, 2018 59.1 x 7.9 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$1,603
Adeline Weber Guibal
Licorne, 2022 8.3 x 9.8 x 3 inch Sculpture
$1,561
Valerian Sioridzé
Éléphant de Namibie, 2020 11.4 x 15.4 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,457
Jim Budish
Stargazer, 2020 39 x 2 x 2 inch Sculpture
Price upon request
Yves Celaire
Ours étoilé, 2020 12.2 x 7.9 x 2 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Philippe Berry
Equilibre d'Eléphants, 2011 24.4 x 6.3 x 6.3 inch Sculpture
$3,954
Patrick Villas
Tête de lion III, 2019 24.8 x 16.5 x 17.7 inch Sculpture
$18,730
Art Kristin
Chanel Brick Doggy Black and White, 2022 7.1 x 11 x 5.5 inch Sculpture
$624
Brandon Vickerd
Wildlife Passenger –Standing, 2015 13 x 4.5 x 4.5 inch Sculpture
$2,000
William Sweetlove
Cloned Bulldog with pet bottle, 2011 18.5 x 19.7 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$6,763
Yoann Merienne
Corbeau II, 2020 19.5 x 24.4 x 12.2 inch Sculpture
$10,405
Cévé
Oscaril 2/8, 2019 2.8 x 6.3 x 3.1 inch Sculpture
$1,353
Vassil
Ruade, 2011 8.7 x 13 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$4,058
Thierry Dehais
Grand chien, 2007 12.2 x 20.1 x 4.3 inch Sculpture
$1,665
Pierre Ilhat
Petit chat, 2019 3.9 x 5.5 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$936
Laurent Deguitre
Tribute to some surrealists, 2021 3.1 x 2.4 x 2.4 inch Sculpture
$936
Art'Mony
Bouledogue qui lève la patte, 2022 22.8 x 15.7 x 11.8 inch Sculpture
$1,378
Saône De Stalh
Thal, 2017 14.2 x 15 x 7.9 inch Sculpture
$1,665
Tegan Pick
Pomme d'Eve, 2021 3.7 x 4.3 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$1,145
Julio Alonso Yañez
El tigre y las cabras con instrumento y espejo / le tigre et les chevres avec instrument et miroir, 2020 23.6 x 9.1 x 1.4 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Danielle Le Bricquir
Le petit prince et le renard, 2021 14.2 x 15.7 x 2 inch Sculpture
$1,873
Christine Guillemin
Arabian Panther, 2018 9.8 x 19.3 x 3.9 inch Sculpture
$7,076
Jenny Jacottet
Impulsion, 2018 13.8 x 8.7 x 4.7 inch Sculpture
$2,081
Florence Jacquesson
Bouledogue Anglais, 2020 6.7 x 6.3 x 5.5 inch Sculpture
$4,682
Nona Gabrielyan
Centaur, 2005 6.3 x 6.3 x 3.1 inch Sculpture
$1,769
Thierry Lefevre-Grave
Matadore, 1994 7.5 x 3.9 x 5.5 inch Sculpture
$1,769
Arnaud Kasper
Cheval des Lumières, 2018 33.1 x 11.8 x 22 inch Sculpture
$18,938
Steve Chaudanson
Dog XL noir mat, 2022 22.8 x 23.6 x 23.6 inch Sculpture
$1,717
Jean-Luc Garioud
Gare à la bête, 2017 7.1 x 6.3 x 5.9 inch Sculpture
$1,873
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