Top 10 famous paintings

Painting has been a hobby as well as vocation since very old times. This art evolved to great levels since the inception. Painters experimented with different themes, styles, textures, media but few of the experiments were accepted by the art lovers. This time we are with an “Art-specific” list of world renowned paintings.

10. The Dream (Pablo Picasso):

Look at the head, and their are clearly three sexual images: the phallic shaped object, the red mouth become the opening of the vagina and the head tilted back in ecstasy. And the placement of her folded hands, could also have a sexual meaning. Hand painted oil reproduction of a famous Picasso painting, The Dream.  The original was created in 1932. Today, it has been carefully recreated detail-by-detail, color-by-color to near perfection in order to preserve the sentiment and splendor of the original.

9. The Calling of St. Matthew (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio):

The Calling of St. Matthew is one of the three paintings Caravaggio completed for the Contarelli Chapel in the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome.  The execution of the three great works established Caravaggio as the most renowned and controversial painter in Rome during his time and also changed the direction of his subject to focus almost solely on religious compositions.  The painting depicts the story from the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 9:9): Jesus saw a man named Matthew at his seat in the custom house, and said to him, “Follow me”, and Matthew rose and followed him.

8. Luncheon of the Boating Party (Pierre-Auguste Renoir):

This famous Renoir Boating Party painting marks the high point of Renoir’s Impressionist career. It is a brilliant portrayal of a relaxed summer gathering of his friends and is one of his last works based on the camaraderie of his early life. It remains the best known and most popular work of art at The Phillips Collection, just as Duncan Phillips imagined it would be when he bought it in 1923. The painting captures an idyllic atmosphere as Renoir’s friends share food, wine, and conversation on a balcony overlooking the Seine at the Maison Fournaise restaurant in Chatou.

7. Girl with a pearl Earring (Johannes Vermeer):

The Girl with a Pearl Earring is universally recognized as one of Johannes Vermeer’s absolute masterworks. The girl is seen against a neutral, dark background, very nearly black, which establishes a powerful three-dimensionality of effect. Seen from the side, the girl is turning to gaze at us, and her lips are slightly parted, as if she were about to speak to us. It is an illusionist approach often adopted in Dutch art. She is inclining her head slightly to one side as if lost in thought, yet her gaze is keen.

6. Birth of Venus (William-Adolphe Bouguereau):

Artist William-Adolphe Bouguereau’s lyrical painting that depicts the Birth of Venus  is one of the most recognizable images in the history of art. The work demonstrates his mastery of sinuous line and supple form. And it is evident that the painter has used all of his considerable artistic skill to create a timeless masterpiece – in this image, Venus, the Classical goddess of love and beauty, is brought vividly to life. As the title suggests, the Birth of Venus represents the moment when the goddess was born. According to Classical mythology, Venus emerged, fully grown, from the sea.

5. Starry Night (Vincent Van Gogh):

Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh has risen to the peak of artistic achievements. Although Van Gogh sold only one painting in his life, the aftermath of his work is enormous. Starry Night is one of the most well known images in modern culture as well as being one of the most replicated and sought after prints. Starry Night represents all the drama of a man anxious of communication and integration into nature.

4. The Scream (Edvard Munch):

The Scream was made by the Norwegian painter and print maker Edvard Much (1863-1944), who for many years suffered from anxiety, excessive drinking, hallucinations and feelings of persecution. According to Edvard Munch, the inspiration for this painting was drawn from a past event. “The Scream” was a result of the anxiety and fear he felt on a day while walking with two friends. The serene atmosphere, which he had hoped to enjoy, was suddenly curtailed by the sudden changes in the sky, the setting sun caused. To Munch, the landscape seemed engulfed in flames, triggering an unnerving sense of fear in him.

3. The Kiss (Gustav Klimt):

The glowing themes of The Kiss painting by Klimt showed lovers intertwined into one being, symbolizing the strength of this bond. Some art traditionalists rejected this for its use of eroticism, but others found it refreshing. The Kiss is a discreet expression of Klimt’s emphasis on eroticism and the liberation therein. The Kiss falls in line with Klimt’s exploration of fulfillment and the redeeming, transformative power of love and art.

2. Sistine Chapel (Michelangelo Buonarroti):

Thanks to the extraordinary talents of Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), the Sistine Chapel (Cappella Sistina) in Vatican City has become one of the most famous art galleries in the western world. Michelangelo’s famous Sistine ceiling depicts scenes from Genesis in dramatic and moving detail, while The Last Judgment on the end wall is striking and powerful. As if that were not enough, the side walls are covered with important Renaissance frescoes by other artists, depicting biblical scenes and contemporary popes.

1. Mona Lisa (Leonardo Da Vinci):

The Mona Lisa is 16th century oil painting created by the renowned Leonardo da Vinci. The work of art depicts an enigmatic woman gazing at the viewer, and it is said that if you move across the room while looking into her eyes, they’ll follow you. It is definitely one of the most popular paintings worldwide and has been the center of many artistic, religious, and theoretical debates. The French government currently owns the Mona Lisa and it is featured at the Musee du Louvre in Paris. The painting can also be referred to as La Gioconda or La Joconde.

Written by: earthwit on August 10, 2010.