What are the most famous paintings?
Although there are many works of art, there are some paintings that are more famous than others in the history of the world. This is due to the techniques used, the time in which they were made or the artist who created them. They are all very different, but they have left a lasting mark over the years. Find out which are the 7 most famous paintings in the history of art in this blog.
The 7 most famous paintings in the history of art
The world's major museums preserve tens of thousands of works of art. From sculptures to paintings of various sizes, they are part of the collections that millions of people visit each year. However, few of these works have managed to transcend borders and position themselves in the collective memory of the world. Below, we present the most recognized paintings.
1.- Da Vinci's Mona Lisa
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is estimated to have been created between 1503 and 1519 and is on display at the Louvre Museum in Paris. This enigmatic woman has become the most famous painting in the world due to her many mysteries.
It is believed to be a portrait of Lisa Gherardini, the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo. However, there is no certainty about this information. However, it represented an innovation in painting of the time. It is the first recognized Italian portrait that focuses so closely on the half-length model, according to the Louvre, where it was first installed in 1804.
2.- Most famous paintings: The Starry Night
Vincent Van Gogh is the creator of The Starry Night in 1889, which is located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. This abstract painting was one of the most transformative pieces of art. The thick brushstrokes, the striking colors and the entire atmosphere of the painting have intrigued experts throughout all these years.
3.- The Last Supper
Leonardo Da Vinci was a genius who has managed to establish himself as one of the greatest artists of his time and in the world. The Last Supper will be in Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. It was painted to represent the last time Jesus dined and shared his words with his disciples before he died. The painting is a fresco that measures 4.6 meters high and 8.8 meters wide, which makes it one of the most famous and best paintings to appreciate.
4.- Guernica by Picasso
This 1937 painting depicts the German bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. It is undoubtedly the clear example of Picasso's style. In addition, the great reflection of the horrors of war and the suffering it caused made it a key piece of 20th century culture.
The painting was transferred to the custody of the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York during World War II. The artist requested that its custody be extended until democracy returned to Spain. It arrived in Madrid in 1981, six years after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.
5.- The Scream
Written by Edvard Munch in 1893, “The Scream” is not a single work of art. According to the British Museum blog, there are two paintings and an unspecified number of prints. The most famous paintings are in the National Museum and the Munch Museum, and in 2012, one of them sold for almost $120 million at auction.
Like the “Mona Lisa,” the works have been stolen and found (1994 and 2004). This has helped raise public awareness about the works of art.
6.- The famous work of The Kiss of Kilmt
The Upper Belvedere Museum (Vienna, Austria) houses this work, made between 1907 and 1908. Klimt’s Byzantine artistic influences can be seen in the decorative robes worn by the life-size couple.
The museum’s description of the work states that Klimt makes a “general allegorical statement about love as the heart of human existence.”
7.- Las Meninas by Velázquez
This is Diego Velázquez’s most famous work that transcended the Prado in Madrid. This is due to its large size; according to experts, after Velázquez’s painting the concept of painting changed. It is truly the most enigmatic and conceptual work of art in history. Without a doubt, it is one of the most unique due to its great workmanship and complexity.
This painting has a dual function as a portrait. It serves as a portrait of Spanish royalty, but at the same time it is a self-portrait of Velázquez himself in the work.
These are some of the works that marked a before and after in the history of art. But there is no doubt that there are many more that have also become cultural references over the years. For example, The Creation of Adam, The Garden of Venus, The Girl with the Pearl, The Persistence of Memory, among others.
Source