“The Principles of True Art is not to portray, but to evoke” – Jerzy
As rightly said in the words of Jerzy Kosinski, the painting is what catches the eye of the viewer and also tells a story behind portraying the emotions of the artist and evokes him to action. Every painting is one of the famous paintings of all time itself as every Artist makes a painting with all his heart and sweat.
There’s always a hidden inspiration behind to prepare that masterpiece whether it be your devotion for someone, your inspiration from something, your depiction of social evils of the society.
We have curated a list of 50 unbeatable paintings of all times and have stood out in the entire art Industry:
Page Contents
50. Composition 8
Composition 8
When: 1923
Artist: Vasily Kandinsky
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Moscow
Periods:Suprematism,Abstract art
Current Status: At Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
This geometrical sort of painting was made in 1923 by Vasily Kandinsky. It was one of the best pieces of postwar by Vasily. Kandinsky also evolved an abstract style that reflected the utopian artistic experiments of the Russian avant-garde.
49. Royal Red and Blue
Royal Red and Blue
When: 1954–1954
Artist: Mark Rothko
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Litvak Descent
Period:Washington Color School
Current Status: At Private collection
This awkward-looking color strokes painting was an abstract color-field art made in 1954 by the Artist Mark Rothko. This Abstract Painting was also one of the highest sold painting in the Sotheby’s Auction fetching a whopping price of $75.1 Million.
48. Starry Night
Starry Night
When: 1889
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Netherlands
Period:Post-Impressionism,Modern art
Current Status: At The Museum of Modern Art
The Starry Night was also one of the most famous paintings of the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh. He created it in 1889. It is the depiction of a view of the east-facing a window of his asylum room, just before the sunrise. The painting became famous because of its modern aesthetic touch and is safeguarded in the Museum of Modern Art in New York City since 1941. Many creators have even tried making something similar too but could not achieve the success.
47. Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
When: 1607–10
Artist: Caravaggio
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Italy
Period:Baroque
Current Status: At St. John’s Co-Cathedral
Italian artist Caravaggio made this Oil painting. This masterpiece is also considered one of the most important works in Western painting. The painting shows also different sides of death and human cruelty and how it’s scale and shadow daunt and possess humans nowadays. This painting was completed in 1608 and was celebrated worldwide by its a clear depiction of the dark world too.
46. Guernica
Guernica
When: 1937
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Paris
Periods:Cubism,Surrealism
Current Status: At Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid, Spain
The Very famous Artist Pablo Picasso of all times also made this portrait in 1937 as a political rejoinder to the Nazi’s devastating casual bombing practice on the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. The picture also depicts the pain and agony of civilians who were attacked too in the tragedies of war. This painting still keeps alive the suffering of people and also the dark massacre day.
45. Night Watch
Night Watch
When: 1642
Artist: Rembrandt van Rijn
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Rijksmuseum
Periods:Baroque,Dutch Golden Age
Current Status: At Amsterdam Museum
The night watch is one of the best and famous paintings in the collection of the Amsterdam Museum. The Night Watch is one of the most famous Dutch Golden Age paintings made in 1642 by Rembrandt Van Rijn. This famous painting also depicts the eponymous company moving out, led by Captain Frans Banninck Cocq and his lieutenant, Willem Van Ruytenburch. The dramatic use of yellow and red shades also highlights the important characters of the famous paintings attracting our eyes towards them too.
44. The Persistence of Memory
The Persistence of Memory
When: 1931
Artist: Salvador Dalí
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: New York
Period:Surrealism
Current Status: At Museum of Modern Art, New York City
This artwork is also one of the very famous paintings by the artist Salvador Dali completed in 1931. The painting is a depiction of Melting clocks and is one of the most recognized works. This Surreal piece of work is the representation of Dali’s theory of Softness and Hardness which is central to the thinking of the time. This modern work of art was very much appreciated by everyone and now this sits in the museum of modern art, New York City.
43. Luncheon on the Boating Party
Luncheon on the Boating Party
When: 1880–1881
Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: France
Periods:Impressionism,Modern art
Current Status: At The Phillips Collection
The Luncheon on the boating party is one of the most famous paintings made in 1881 by the French painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir. This Painting was also one of the best painting in the Seventh Impressionist Exhibition in 1882. This painting is a true example of wealthiness, the beautiful impression of strokes and also an amazing art style.
42. No. 5, 1948
No. 5, 1948
When: 1948
Artist: Jackson Pollock
Medium: Fiberboard
Place: United States
Period:Abstract expressionism
Current Status: At Private collection, New York
One of the most priced painting by Jackson Pollock, an American painter also not surpassed until April 2011. The painting was made from liquid colors and is one kind of an abstract art sold at a whopping price of $140 million. It was also painted on the fibreboard with different hues of brown, grey, white and yellow paint all mixed up together forming the shape of a bird’s nest.
41. Water Lilies
Water Lilies
When: 1840-1926
Artist: Claude Monet
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Giverny
Period: Impressionism
Current Status: At Metropolitan museum of art
Water lilies is not just one single painting but also a series of approximately 250 oil paintings all depicting flower garden at his home in Giverny. These series is painted by French impressionist Claude Monet. All these series were also very expensive and one of them was sold for £18.5 million in an auction in London.
40. Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
Landscape with the Fall of Icarus
When: 1883-1963
Artist: Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Netherlands
Period: Dutch and Flemish Renaissance
Current Status: At Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium
This oil painting is also kept in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts of Belgium in Brussels. This painting is depicting a scene from Greek mythology where Icarus succeeded in flying with wings made of beeswax by his father. However, he flew too close to the sun and ended up drowning in the sea which is also shown in the painting. However, studies also suggest that this painting is probably a version of a lost original by Bruegel.
39. Las Meninas
Las Meninas
When: 1656
Artist: Diego Velázquez
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Madrid
Period:Baroque
Current Status: At Museo Nacional del Prado
The Las Meninas was also made by the leading Spanish artist of Golden age in 1956 by Diego Velazquez in the Madrid city. This painting is considered as one of the best and most important paintings of modern art history depicting different stories and angles in the picture also. Also, every viewer of this picture interprets a different story of the pictures due to the involvement of many subjects in the painting.
38. Three Musicians
Three Musicians
When: 1921
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Fontainebleau, France
Period: Crystal Cubism
Current Status: At Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Three Musicians is the title given to the two similar oil paintings and collage made by the great Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. They both were completed in Paris, France around 1921 and was considered as one of the most Synthetic Cubist Style Paintings. Each of this painting portrays Harlequin, a Pierrot and a Monk also, who is believed to be representing Picasso.
37. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
When: 1884–1886
Artist: Georges Seurat
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: France
Periods:Pointillism,Neo-impressionism
Current Status: At The Art Institute of Chicago
The “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” is one of the most famous paintings of George Seurat made in 1884. This painting depicts a lot of Parisians chilling on a Sunday afternoon on the banks of the River Seine. This painting was also made on a large canvas using the pointillist technique.
36. Impression, Sunrise
Impression, Sunrise
When: 1872–1872
Artist: Claude Monet
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Le Havre
Period:Impressionism
Current Status: At Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris
The Impression, Sunrise portrays depicts the port of Le Havre, the hometown of Cloud Monet, at sunrise, a red sun and also two rowboats being the main elements of the masterpiece. The painting was made by Claude Monet in 1872 and was unique in its own way too.
35. The Triumph of Galatea
The Triumph of Galatea
When: 1514
Artist: Raphael
Place: Villa Farnesina, Rome
Period: High Renaissance
Current Status: Via della Lungara, 230, 00165 Roma RM, Italy
Triumph of Galatea was also a fresco made in 1514 by the Italian Painter Raphael for the Villa Farnesina in Rome. It was a commissioned work by one of the richest men Sienese banker Agostino Chigi. The bright colors and the decoration of different figures in the image are said to be inspired by the ancient Roman sculptures, which make it’s placed also in our top 50 list of famous paintings in the world.
34. View of Toledo
View of Toledo
When: Year 1596-1600
Artist: El Greco
Place: Toledo, Spain
Period: Mannerism
Current Status: At the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City
The view of Toledo is one of the surviving two landscapes, which was painted by El Greco. It is also one of the best depictions of the sky and the perfect example of Western Art. The picture is also very natural and real in accordance with the actual city. Landscape Paintings were pretty rare in Spanish artwork of the renaissance period. In this painting, El Greco rearranged the buildings a bit y taking liberty over toledo.
33. The Tower of Babel
The Tower of Babel
When: Year 1563
Artist: Pieter Bruegel the Elder
Place: Vienna
Period: Dutch and Flemish Renaissance
Current Status: Now at the Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
The tower of Babel was made in the year 1563 by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. This famous painting is one of the best depictions of religious art, also in accordance with the book of Genesis in the Bible. Mythologically, it is the origin of why people of the world speak different languages.
30. The Dance
The Dance
When: 1909
Artist: Henri Matisse
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: New York City
Period:Fauvism
Current Status: Donated
This Dance painting was made in 1910 by Henri Matisse at the special requests of an Art Collector Sergei Shchukin and a Russian Businessman. The Painting of five nude men dancing depicts liberation and hedonism and use of bright warm colors like red against the green and blue landscape is also very mesmerizing to watch and also has an appeal of modern art.
31. The Swing
The Swing
When: 1830
Artist: Eugène Delacroix
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Louvre, Paris
Period:Rococo
Current Status: At The Louvre Museum
The Swing is an 18th-century oil painting made by Jean-Honoré Fragonard in the Wallace Collection in London. The painting portrays a young beautiful woman sitting on a swing amidst the greenery smiling. The painting is also considered to be one of the most beautiful art pieces of all times.
30. The Gleaners
The Gleaners
When: 1857
Artist: Jean-François Millet
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Paris
Period:Realism
Current Status: At Musée d’Orsay
It depicts threepeasantwomengleaninga field of stray stalks ofwheat after the harvest. The painting is famous for featuring in a sympathetic way what were then the lowest ranks of rural society; this was received poorly by the French upper classes. Millet’sThe Gleaners was preceded by a vertical painting of the image in 1854 and etching in 1855. Millet unveiledThe Gleaners at theSalonin 1857. It immediately drew negative criticism from the middle and upper classes, who viewed the topic with suspicion: one art critic, speaking for other Parisians, perceived in it an alarming intimation of “the scaffolds of1793.”
29. The Flower Carrier
The Flower Carrier
When: 1935
Artist: Diego Rivera
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Mexico
Period: Post Impressionism
Current Status: At SF MOMA
The Flower Carrier was a masterpiece in true sense curated by Diego Rivera in 1935. This simple symbolic painting also full of vibrant hues carries a very deep meaning behind to tell to its viewers. The geometrical shapes offering colorful contrasts also show the hidden message of Individualism the way the Peasant’s wife is also helping him carrying the flower basket while he is struggling to stand straight too.
28. The Kiss
The Kiss
When: 1907–1908
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Austria
Periods:Art Nouveau,Symbolism,Modern art,Vienna Secession
Current Status: At Belvedere
This perfect depiction of early modern art was made by the Austrian Painter Gustav Klimt between 1907 and 1908. This painting is also a beautiful depiction of the chemistry of a couple tangled in the silver and gold sheet and embracing each other by making love and kissing. It is one of the most popular Klimt’s work.
27. Portrait de L’artiste Sans Barbe
Portrait de L’artiste Sans Barbe
When: 1889
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Auvers-sur-Oise, France
Period: post-impressionism
Current Status: Sold in $71.5 million in 1998 inNew York City
This is one of the last oil painting of Vincent Van Gogh, which is also the self-portrait without beard and was made in 1889. This self-portrait was one of the most expensive painting of that time, which was sold for a jaw-dropping amount of $71.4 million in New York City in 1998. Van Gogh also gifted this to his mother on her birthday.
26. Whistler’s Mother
Whistler’s Mother
When: 1871
Artist: James Abbott McNeill Whistler
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: United States
Period: Realism
Current Status: At Louvre Abu Dhabi
The Whistler’s Mother is a renowned painting made by the American born Painter Jame McNeill Whistler in 1871. The picture is of James’s Mother Anna McNeill Whistler displayed in also McNeill’s own designed frame. This is one of the most famous paintings made outside of America. This painting is known as the American Icon and also as the Victorian Mona Lisa.
25. Bal du Moulin de la Galette
Bal du Moulin de la Galette
When: 1876
Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Paris
Period:Impressionism
Current Status: At Musée d’Orsay
The Bal du Moulin de la Galette was also painted by a French artist Pierre-Auguste Renoir in 1876. This painting is also kept in Musee d’Orsay in Paris and is one of the most celebrated masterpieces. This picture is a real-life depiction of richness where working-class Persians used to gather together and celebrate with music, dance and beautiful dresses back in the 1870s.
24. The Son of Man
The Son of A Man
When: 1964
Artist: René Magritte
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Belgium
Period:Surrealism
Current Status: In Private collection
This painting is so unique in its known because of the feature of Self-portrait made by the astounding Belgian painter Rene Magritte in 1964. This painting portrays a young man donning a formal suit with a sea, sky background and a hovering green apple also covering his face but still his eyes peeking from aside. This picture tells a deep message of a conflicting opinion of what is visible and what is hidden.
23. Cafe Terrace at Night
Cafe Terrace at Night
When: 1888
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Arles, France
Periods:Post-Impressionism,Cloisonnism
Current Status: At Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo
The Cafe Terrace at night was made by the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh in 1888. This oil painting was also made in first exhibited in 1891, was also entitled Coffeehouse, in the evening(Café, le Soir). The painting is currently housed at the Kroller-Muller Museum in Otterlo, Netherlands.
22. American Gothic
American Gothic
When: 1930–1930
Artist: Grant Wood
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Eldon, Iowa
Period:Modernism
Current Status: At Art Institute of Chicago
The American Gothic was also painted by Grant Wood in 1930, it is right now kept in the Art Institute of Chicago. Wood created this painting of a farmer standing with a woman beside him who is said to be his sister. Wood got the idea of this portrait from an American gothic house in Iowa and also the people residing in it.
21. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
Les Demoiselles d’Avignon
When: 1907–1907
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Spane
Period:Cubism
Current Status: At The Museum of Modern Art
This is one of the greatest and also the most famous paintings of the well-known painter Pablo Picasso created in 1907. This painting model 5 nude prostitutes posing in a brothel with disangular body frame and angles. This painting provokes a lot of criticism and controversy as it was regarded as immoral, sexist and racist at the time of the first exhibition. It was drawn in the era of Cubism as it reflects that itself.
20. The Grand Odalisque
The Grand Odalisque
When: 1814
Artist: Jean Auguste Dominique Ingres
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Kingdom Of Naples
Period:Neoclassicism
Current Status: At Louvre Museum
Grand odalisque is an oil painting made by Jean Auguste Ingres in 1814 depicting an Odalisque. This, depicting a sensual and exotic woman laying in an orgy manner. The picture was also widely criticized because of its obscene nature and is now housed in Louvre museum, Paris. This eclectic mix of styles, combining classical form with Romantic themes, prompted harsh criticism when it was first shown in 1814. Critics viewed Ingres as a rebel against the contemporary style of form and content. When the painting was first shown in the Salon of 1819.
19. The Liberty leading the people
The Liberty leading the people
When: 1830
Artist: Eugène Delacroix
Medium: Oil Paint
Period:Romanticism
Place: Louvre, Paris
Current Status: At Louvre Museum
Liberty leading the people is an illustration of the July revolution in 1830 painted by Eugene Delacroix. This one of the very famous paintings portrays a bare breasts woman holding the flag of the French Revolution in one hand and surrounded by men wearing Phrygian caps is classifying the concept of Liberty. The flag that she held also became the national flag of France.
18. Napoleon crossing the Alps
Napoleon crossing the Alps
When: 1801–1801
Artist: Jacques-Louis David
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Spain
Period: Neoclassicism
Current Status: At Château de Malmaison
One of the most famous paintings made by Jacques -Louis David of Napoleon Bonaparte completed around 1805. The Painting shows a royal image of Napoleon riding his horse with his army through the Great St. Bernard Pass in May 1800. The picture depicts royalty and also greatness in every sense.
17. The Sleeping Gypsy
The Sleeping Gypsy
When: 1897
Artist: Henri Rousseau
Place: Paris
Periods: Primitivism, Modern art, Post-Impressionism, Naïve art
Current Status: At the Museum of Modern Art, New York
Sleeping Gypsy is a beautiful oil painting made in 1897 by the extraordinary French Artist Henri Rousseau. This one of the very famous paintings, depicts a beautiful black woman sleeping under the moonlight and also a lion at the back on a desert. Rousseau described the subject of The Sleeping Gypsy thus: “A mandolin player, lies with her jar beside her (a vase with drinking water), overcome by fatigue in a deep sleep. A lion chance to pass by picks up her scent yet does not devour her. There is a moonlight effect, very poetic.”
16. Primavera
Primavera
When: Year 1470s or early 1480s
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Place: Florence
Periods: Italian Renaissance, Early renaissance
Current Status: At Uffizi Gallery
The Primavera is a very large panel famous painting made in the late 1470s by the Italian Renaissance painter Sandro Botticelli. This is one of the most popular and also the most controversial paintings in the world. The picture is also a depiction of many mythological famous figures in a painting but there is no link behind for all of them to come together in a frame.
15. Dogs Playing Poker
Dogs Playing Poker
When: 1894
Artist: Cassius Marcellus Coolidge
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: United States
Current Status: Auctioned to an undisclosed buyer
The world-famous Dogs Playing Poker is an 1894 painting made exclusively by Cassius Marcellus Coolidge. It is also a 1903 depiction of the sixteen famous paintings on canvas, which was also commissioned by Brown and Bigelow for advertising Cigars. This was one of the most famous paintings of the USA used for home decor and the anthropomorphized dogs used in the painting very appreciated by everybody.
14. Portrait of Dora Maar
Portrait of Dora Maar
When: 1937
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Paris, France
Period:Cubism
Current Status: In Private collection
Pablo Picasso, one of the greatest artists of all time also prepared this alluring famous painting of woman in his life named Dora Markovic in 1937. This picture depicts the lady from different angles and no proper visible features. The play of colors and distortions of her face is the beauty of this lady and the hallmark of Picasso’s art which is a delight for all the Picasso fans.
13. Massacre of the Innocents
Massacre of the Innocents
When: 1608
Artist: Peter Paul Rubens
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Antwerp
Period: Baroque
Current Status: lost
The Massacre of the Innocents is one of the most brutal depictions of the art by Peter Paul Rubens and also depicting one of the episodes of biblical Massacre of the Innocents as related in gospel of Mathew. This painting is almost 400 years old and is brimming with drama and violence. This Painting is one of two and the other one sold at the auction for $76.7 million at Sotheby’s.
12. Portrait of Madame Recamier
Portrait of Madame Recamier
When: May 1800
Artist: Jacques-Louis David
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Paris
Period:Neoclassicism
Current Status: At Louvre Museum
The Portrait of Madame Recamier was a portrait of the very gorgeous Juliette Recamier made by Jacques-Louis David in 1800 showing off her neoclassical taste of fashion. In the painting, the woman is also shown donning a simple linen dress gracefully with her bare arms and short hair and she is shown reclining on a sofa is one of the most graceful and famous paintings of all times.
11. Sistine Chapel Ceiling
Sistine Chapel Ceiling
When: 1508–1512
Artist: Michelangelo
Medium: Gold, Plaster
Place: Italy
Periods:Renaissance,High Renaissance
Current Status: At Sistine Chapel
The Sistine Chapel Ceiling was also painted by Michelangelo between 1508 and 1512 as a linchpin work of High Renaissance Art. The ceiling in this picture is that of the Sistine Chapel made between 1477 to 1480 during the vacations. Apart from that, the ideas of ceiling decoration were also taken from the different excerpts of the Book of Genesis. This is the most famous painting of any religious representation.
10. The Birth of Venus
The Birth of Venus
When: 1485–1486
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Medium: Tempera
Place: Italy
Periods:Renaissance,Italian Renaissance,Florentine painting,Early renaissance
Current Status: Uffizi Gallery
The Birth of Venus is a painting made by the Italian artist Sandro Botticelli which delineates the emergence of Goddess Venus in a nude outlook as a gorgeous woman. This mythological and also very famous painting housed in Florence’s Uffizi Valley. The painting became well known because of the lady’s beautiful face and also the coy posture while standing gracefully in a shell and other people celebrating her modesty.
9. The Arnolfini Marriage
Arnolfini Marriage
When: 1434
Artist: Jan van Eyck
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: The Flemish city of Bruges
Periods:Northern Renaissance,Early renaissance
Current Status: The National Gallery
The Arnolfini Portrait was a 1434 oil painting made by the Jan Van Eyck depicting an Italian Merchant and also his wife in their house. It was considered as one of the most original and beautiful painting because of its modern art style and natural touch. The painting was a Masterpiece in the true sense but it also evoked some controversies in the later stage and was considered as a portrayal of a marriage contract shown in the painting.
8. School of Athens
School of Athens
When: 1509–1511
Artist: Raphael
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Italy
Period:High Renaissance
Current Status: At Raphael Rooms
The Italian Artist Raphael also Made “School of Athens” between 1509 and 1511 as a part of Raphael’s commission to decorate the rooms now known as the Stanze di Raffaello. in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican too. This classic masterpiece was also considered as the perfect embodiment of the situation happening at the place. The painting depicts various people busy with their core duties and the extravagant palace. I personally appreciate this one a lot also.
7. Olympia
Olympia
When: 1863
Artist: Édouard Manet
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Paris
Period:Realism
Current Status: At Musée d’Orsay, Paris
The Olympia was first exhibited at the 1865 Paris salon and was made by Edouard Manet portraying a nude woman Olympia laying nude and her servant serving her flowers. So what became controversial and raised the eyebrows of the people were the hints that portrayed her to be a prostitute like a choker on her neck, flower on her head and also pearl bracelet. The painting was acquired by the French Government and is on display at the Musee d’Orsay, Paris.
6. The Third of May
The Third of May
When: 1814
Artist: Francisco Goya
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Spain
Period:Romanticism
Current Status: At Museo del Prado, Madrid
Spanish Painter Francisco Goya made this in 1808. This painting is the depiction of the cruel reality of the Spanish rebels fighting against Napoleon’s armies during the Peninsular war in 1808. The emotional turmoil depicted by this picture also shows the ugly face of wartime is considered to be one of the greatest pictures of modern art.
5.Creation of Adam
Creation of Adam
When: 1508-1512
Artist: Michelangelo
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Sistine Chapel
Periods:Renaissance,Italian Renaissance,High Renaissance
Current Status: At Sistine Chapel
One of the most iconic famous paintings of all times depicting humanity and life generation is such a heart-winning famous portrait by none other than the famous Italian artist Michelangelo in between 1508-1512. The masterpiece depicts God giving birth to the very first human on this Earth, Adam too by nearly touching his hand. The picture is also an incarnation of religious beliefs and also the depiction of Bible excerpts.
4. The Scream
The Scream
When: 1893
Artist: Edvard Munch
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Norway
Current Status: At National Gallery and Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway
Scream is also the popular name given to the 1893’s one of the most famous paintings made by the finest Norwegian painter Edvard Munch. The original name of the painting was Der Schrei der Natur in German. The point of focus of this exceptional painting is the cloud turned in “blood red” by setting sunlight. The famous painting is kept in the National Gallery of Munch Museum, Oslo, Norway.
3. The Last Supper
The Last Supper
When: 1495–1498
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Medium: Tempera, gesso
Place: Italy
Period: High Renaissance
Current Status: At Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie
Paragon of Art Leonardo da Vinci made this painting in the late 15th century as one of the most recognized paintings of that era. This famous painting also depicts the live scene of the Last Supper of Jesus in Church with his twelve apostles after which Jesus announced that one of them betrayed him. So the interesting fact is he painted the last supper on drywall rather than on wet plaster also.
2. Girl with a Pearl Earring
Girl with a Pearl Earring
When: 1665
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Netherlands
Period:Dutch Golden Age
Current Status: At Mauritshuis, The Hague, Netherlands
The very talented Dutch Painter Johannes Vermeer also made this one of the very famous paintings of the golden era. The painting is a depiction of a beautiful girl donning a nice dress, covering a turban overhead and a huge pearl earring. This painting is kept in Mauritshuis in the Hague since 1902 and is also considered as the most beautiful art piece of the Netherlands in 2006 and since then it has been used for many Literary works as well. You can even see a number of copies around the world because of it’s a great part of decor and design too.
1. Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
When: 1503
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: France
Period: High Renaissance
Current Status: At Louvre Museum
Leonardo Da Vinci also made the Mona Lisa is in some time between 1503-1509. The Government of France owns it. It is on the wall of Louvre in Paris, France. The million dollars Mona Lisa’s Smile is the visual representation of the idea of happiness. People also say that Mona also smiles with you being happy and the smile fades away when you are full of sorrow too.
Special Mentions:
The Great Wave off Kanagawa
The Great Wave off Kanagawa
When: 1830–1831
Artist: Hokusai
Medium: Oil Paint
Place: Numerous
Period: Ukiyo-e
Current Status: unknown
The Great Wave off Kanagawa, also known as The Great Wave or simply The Wave, is a woodblock print by the Japanese ukiyo-e artist Hokusai. The painting is an exceptional depiction of an enormous wave threatening three fishing boats off the coast of the town of Kanagawa and a sneak peek of Mount Fuji is shown at the back.
The Sleepers
The Sleepers
When: 1866
Artist: Gustave Courbet
Medium: Oil Paint on Canvas
Place: Numerous
Period: Realism
Current Status: France Museum
One of the most erotic famous paintings of history. The Sleepers is an erotic oil painting on canvas by French artist Gustave Courbet created in 1866. This painting depicts a lesbian couple making love to each other and it is considered as one of the greatest creations of modern times.
Ajanta Paintings
Ajanta Cave Paintings
When: 2nd Century
Artist: Numerous
Medium: Oil Paint on Rocks (Tempera Technique)
Place: Aurangabad District, Maharashtra State, India
Period: Cave Paintings
Current Status: Ajanta Caves
One of the most ancient and famous paintings in the history of India resides in the Ajanta Caves. This cave is filled with ancient paintings of our old times. The Ajanta cave paintings were done using a technique called Tempera. Most of the paintings tell stories of the Jataka tales involving the stages of becoming a Buddha and the life of Buddha.
Musicians by Caravaggio
Musicians by Caravaggio
When: 1595
Artist: Caravaggio
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: Numerous
Period: Baroque
Current Status: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Musicians, also known as the Concert of Youths is a painting by the Italian Baroque master Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. This painting shows four boys in quasi-classical costumes, three of them playing various musical instruments and singing and the fourth dressed as Cupid and reaching towards a bunch of grapes.
The Bathers by Cezanne
The Bathers by Cezanne
When: 1898
Artist: Paul Cézanne
Medium: Oil Painting
Place: United States
Period: Cubism, Post-Impressionism
Current Status: Philadelphia Museum of Art.
The Bathers is an oil painting by French artist Paul Cézanne first exhibited in 1906. The amazing fact about this painting is Cezanne worked on this painting for 7 long years and it remained unfinished at the time of his death in 1906. This painting is considered one of the masterpieces of modern art and it portrays some nude females sitting and gossiping in the woods.
Conclusion
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Who created Monalisa?
Monalisa was created by Leonardo Da Vinci in between 1503-06 CE.
Which is the most famous painting by Vermeer?
Girl with a Pearl Earring is the most famous painting created by Johannes Vermeer. It was created in 1665 and after going by various names over the centuries, it became known by its present title towards the end of the 20th century after the large pearl earring worn by the girl portrayed there.
Which are some famous portrait paintings?
Portrait of Madame Récamier, Portrait of Dora Maar, Self Portrait of Van Gogh are among the most famous paintings (portrait) of all time.
Which is the most famous painting art style?
Oil on Canvas has been widely used in many famous paintings of art history. Oil is highly pro-claimed for its life-like realism and great detailing.