Famous Paintings
Leonardo Da Vinci’s the Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting of all time. Her enigmatic smile, plus the fact that no one really knows whom she represents, has made it one of the most admired artworks in the world. Below are some other great paintings worthy of study and admiration.
Famous Medieval and Renaissance Paintings
Aside from the Mona Lisa, other great artworks during the Renaissance include Michelangelo’s painting of the Sistine Chapel, Titian’s Bacchus and Ariadne, and Botticelli’s the Birth of Venus. Raphael’s School of Athens, depicting the philosophers of ancient Greece, is another fine example of Renaissance art.
Of the medieval artists, Bosch is probably the most well known. His greatest work is the Garden of Earthly Delights. His unique style and the symbolism they employed would be the forerunners of Surrealist art.
Baroque and Rococo
The Baroque style, with its emphasis on color and vivid imagery, dominated the 17th century. One of the most famous paintings of this period was Rubens’ Samson and Delilah. Its rich colors captured the essence of the Baroque style.
Other well known paintings of this era are Caravaggio’s Supper at Emmaus, Belshazzar’s Feast by Rembrandt and Poussin’s a Dance to the Music of Time.
Caravaggio’s work emphasizes color contrasts, while Poussin’s art pieces are more delicate. Rembrandt’s works are noted for the realistic rendition of the human skin. Watteau’s a Journey to Cythera with its delicate colors, is one of the finest examples of the Rococo style.
Expressionism, Cubism and Other Paintings
Modern paintings began with the Impressionism. One of the best examples is Monet’s Autumn Effect at Argenteul. Van Gogh’s Starry Night is a great instance of Expressionism.
Another well known painting from the late 1800s is Manet’s a Bar at the Folies-Bergere. One of Cubism’s finest examples is Pablo Picasso’s Demoiselles D’ Avignon. It was Marcel Duchamp’s Nude Descending a Staircase that paved the way for the merging of Futurism and Cubism.
Well Known American Western Paintings
These include Georgia O’Keeffe’s Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue, Albert Bierstadt’s the Last of the Buffalo, and Frederic Remington’s the Stampede. While these paintings vary, they all provide glimpses of the American West, a way of life and an era that will never happen again.
A study of these famous paintings increases one’s appreciation for the arts as they evolved through the ages. They will also show you the different ways artists express their views about the world.
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