Encompassing centuries of change in Europe between 1300 and 1800, from booms of prosperity to bloody revolutions, Old Masters describes a wide range of artists. The informal term was derived from the title of an artist who trained in a guild long enough to become a master, such as Leonardo da Vinci, who studied in a Florence painters’ guild. However, Old Masters paintings, prints and other art is now used to refer to work made by any artist with a high level of skill in painting, drawing, sculpture or printmaking who worked during this era.
The 15th century’s expansive trade and commerce spread culture across borders. A vibrant period of art emerged, bolstered by studies of anatomy and nature that influenced a new visual realism. From Raphael and Michelangelo in the Renaissance to Rembrandt van Rijn and Johannes Vermeer in the Dutch Golden Age, artists expressed emotion, naturalism, color and light in new ways. El Greco and Paolo Veronese were leaders in the dramatic style of Mannerism, while Caravaggio and Peter Paul Rubens demonstrated the movement and meticulous detail of Baroque art.
Historically, most attention was concentrated on male artists, but recent research and exhibitions have elevated the impactful work of women such as Rachel Ruysch and Artemisia Gentileschi. In late-18th-century France, female artists like Adélaïde Labille-Guiard and Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun were prominent names. Nevertheless, access to the academies and guilds was highly restricted for women, and even those able to establish practices were expected to adhere to portraits and still lifes rather than the grand history paintings being created by men.
Find a collection of Old Masters prints, paintings, drawings and watercolors and other art on 1stDibs.
Hiroshi Sugimoto -The Necklace of Henry VIII's Third Wife Limited Edition Signed
Located in New York, NY
Hiroshi Sugimoto The Necklace of Jane Seymour, Henry VIII's Third Wife, 2000 Limited Edition Signed pendant of silver-plated brass, imitation pearls, Swarovski glass stones, handmade...
Metal
Micromosaic Panel "Casco D’oro (The Man with the Golden Helmet)" After Rembrandt
By Studio Del Mosaico Vaticano
Located in Yardley, PA
An exceptional micromosaic made by the Vatican Mosaic Workshop after Rembrandt’s celebrated “Man in a Golden Helmet.” Composed of thousands of hand-cut glass tesserae, the work captures the brilliance of Rembrandt’s chiaroscuro with extraordinary precision. The armor glows with metallic depth, and the sitter’s expression retains its quiet intensity which made the original painting so famous. The Vatican’s Studio del Mosaico...
Mosaic
Real (Titian)_Greg Miller_Acrylic/Collage/Canvas_Figurative_Portrait_Text
By Greg Miller
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
GREG MILLER "Real (Titian)" Acrylic, Collage on Canvas 36 x 36 in. Drawing from the diverse cultural and geographic makeup of his Californian roots, Greg Miller explores his relati...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Canvas
H 43.31 in W 58.27 in D 3.55 in
The Wave
Located in London, GB
Oil on canvas 33 x 48 ½ inches; 840 x 1235 mm Painted c. 1793 Collections: George Romney; By descent to Elizabeth Romney (1832-1893), the artist’s granddaughter; Romney sale, Chris...
Canvas, Oil
H 13.75 in W 11.5 in D 1.75 in
Oil Portrait of a Victorian Lady, c. 1850
Located in Chicago, IL
Painted in the 19th century, this exquisite miniature portrait wonderfully exemplifies realism in traditional oil painting. The small artwork is painted in the conventional portraiture style of the Old Masters, and achieves soft realism with fine brushwork and a subdued, neutral palette. The half length portrait depicts a fine Victorian woman dressed in all black with a delicate lace collar and bonnet. She wears a ruby broach...
Oil
H 70.87 in W 56.7 in D 3.94 in
Portrait of Sarah Bodvile, Countess of Radnor in a Russet Dress, Manor House
Located in London, GB
Portrait of Sarah Bodvile (c.1640–1720), later Countess of Radnor, c.1660 Studio of Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680) Oil on canvas Few Restoration portraits combine beauty, biography and ...
Canvas, Oil
H 21.88 in W 25.25 in D 1.5 in
17th Century Memento Mori Vanitas Skull Old Master Oil Ex-Christie’s
Located in Yardley, PA
This wonderful 17th-century French School vanitas painting is a meditation on mortality and the transience of earthly pleasures. The composition centers on a finely rendered human sk...
Canvas, Oil
H 55.12 in W 84.65 in D 1.58 in
17th Century Noah's Drunkness Andrea de Ferrari Biblical Theme Oil on Canvas
Located in Sanremo, IT
Oil on canvas, 140 x 215 cm (without frame) and 160 x 235 cm (with a contemporary frame), depicting the Drunkenness of Noah by the painter Giovanni Andrea De Ferrari (Genoa 1598-1669...
Canvas, Oil
H 19.3 in W 24.81 in D 0.79 in
Circle of Francesco Albani, The Discovery of Erichthonius, Italian Oil on Panel
Located in Roma, IT
This Italian oil painting on panel depicts an unusual episode from classical mythology: Erichthonius emerging from the basket opened by Aglauros, Pandrosos and Herse, the three daugh...
Oil, Wood Panel
H 39.38 in W 34.26 in D 2.76 in
Portrait of a Lady in a White Silk Dress with Blue Ribbon Bows c.1745–1755
By Henry Pickering
Located in London, GB
In this captivating mid 18th century portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, a young English lady is presented in a luminous white satin gown trimmed with intricate lace and blue ribb...
Canvas, Oil
H 27 in W 22.75 in D 2.13 in
Landscape Near Felday, Surrey
Located in Hillsborough, NC
Dutch/English artist Abraham Hulk the Younger (1851-1922) is most known for landscapes of the British countryside. This work is one of a pair (the second work is also available by s...
Canvas, Oil
H 21.75 in W 15.25 in
Illuminated Manuscript, 1575-1600, Northern Italy, Sexagesima and Quinquagesima
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Spanish Illuminated Gradual Leaf: Sexagesima and Quinquagesima Sundays Italy, probably Northern Italy Late sixteenth century, circa 1575–1600 Latin manuscript on parchment; Gothic ro...
Ink
H 55.32 in W 46.66 in D 3.15 in
Portrait of a Lady, Elizabeth Percy, Countess of Essex c.1660-1665, Oil Painting
Located in London, GB
Portrait of a Lady, possibly Elizabeth Percy, Countess of Essex (1636–1718) c.1660-1665 Studio of Sir Peter Lely (1618–1680) This portrait, presented by Titan Fine Art, is a particu...
Canvas, Oil
H 14.97 in W 18.9 in
Luca Giordano, The Judgement of Solomon, Important Baroque Oil Sketch
Located in Paris, Île-de-France
Luca GIORDANO (Naples 1634 – 1705) The Judgement of Solomon, circa 1670 Oil on canvas 38 × 48 cm - Unsigned Collection stamp on the reverse depicting a Roman intaglio. The same ma...
Canvas, Oil
H 37.8 in W 30.71 in
17th-Century Flemish Oil - Saint Barbara, A Symbol of Protection and Resilience
Located in Aartselaar, BE
17th century Flemish School, Saint Barbara This accomplished 17th-century Flemish oil painting depicts Saint Barbara, shown as a serene and powerful woman dressed in a luminous red gown, set against a warm, atmospheric background and proudly holding her traditional attribute; a tower. The invention of the present composition stems from 17th century Antwerp and was likely drawn by Theodoor van Thulden...
Canvas, Oil
H 17.5 in W 13.5 in D 1.25 in
The Penance of St. Chrysostom by Albrecht Dürer
Located in New Orleans, LA
Albrecht Dürer 1471-1528 German The Penance of St. Chrysostom Monogrammed in the plate lower center "AD" Copper engraving on laid paper “Whatever was mortal in Albrecht Dürer li...
Copper
The Archangel Gabriel
By Cristobal de Villalpando
Located in New York, NY
Provenance: Private Collection, Cranston, Rhode Island (by the 1950s?); by family descent until sold at: Bill Spicer Auction, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, 26 January 2011; where a...
Canvas, Oil
H 58.27 in W 48.82 in D 3.55 in
Portrait of a Lady, Agatha Halyburton later Countess of Morton Fine Carved Frame
Located in London, GB
This magnificent and exceptionally decorative portrait of a young woman is one of those early Georgian images in which likeness, sumptuous colour and symbolic meaning combine to unus...
Canvas, Oil
Vintage Black Red Gold Picture Frame Ornate Design
Located in Cirencester, Gloucestershire
Ornate Picture Frame Italian, mid 20th century overall frame size: 30 x 22 inches inner frame size : 19 x 15.5 inches Provenance: private collection, France Condition: minor surface ...
Mixed Media, Wood
H 24 in W 48 in D 1 in
Joy of Twins Mother
By Prince Twins Seven - Seven
Located in Ibadan, Oyo
Joy of Twins Mother is an original painting by the late Prince Twins Seven-Seven. About the Artist Twins Seven-Seven was born Taiwo Olaniyi Oyewale Aitoyeje in Ogidi Ikumu, Nigeria,...
Ink, Mixed Media, Oil, Acrylic, Wood
H 28 in W 20 in
Mixed Media, Ukiyo-e Japanese Geisha with Blue Marbling, Handmade Suminagashi
By Kind of Cyan
Located in Barcelona, ES
This is a handmade cyanotype print inspired by Hashiguchi Goyo's 1915 print "Woman After a Bath." This image of a Japanese traditional Ukiyo-e print is then hand-painted with soft to...
Emulsion, Ink, Sumi Ink, Watercolor, C Print, Color, Engraving, Other Me...