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Created between 1907 and 1908 in Austria, 'The Kiss' now lives at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. Klimt had a proto-expressionist element to his work that can be seen in the grossly bent toes and contorted hands of the painting.
Leonardo da Vinci painted the 'The Mona Lisa' between the years 1503 and 1506 in Italy. Today you can visit it at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Considered to be the most famous painting in the world, 'The Mona Lisa' is an oil painting on poplar wood.
Somewhere between 1501 and 1504, Michelangelo sculpted 'David.' This world wonder now lives at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy. The statue was commissioned for one of the buttresses of the cathedral of Florence and made from marble.
It was 1931 in Spain when Salvador Dali brought us 'The Persistence of Memory.' To see it today, be sure to visit the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, USA. This painting is often interpreted as an exploration of the fidelity of time and the dream state we all experience.
Within the years 1498 and 1499, Michelangelo Buonarroti crafted the 'Pietà' in Italy. Today it calls St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City its home. Michelangelo was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and even poet who heavily influenced the development of Western art.
In 17th-century Italy, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio created the 'Inspiration of Saint Matthew.' Be sure to see it today at the San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, Italy. Caravaggio became famous for his intense and unsettling realism in large-scale religious works.
Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican City in Rome. Today you can visit the famous chapel and gaze up to marvel at his incredible work. The frescoes contain over 300 bible figures. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II.
Between 1495 and 1498, Leonardo da Vinci created 'The Last Supper.' It’s a must-see and is currently located in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. This work is renowned for its use of perspective and emotional intensity.
In 1888 in France, Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh gave us 'The Night Café' painting that now lives at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, USA. Vincent van Gogh used vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes to convey the oppressive atmosphere and psychological intensity of the cafe.
Between 1600 and 1601 in the Netherlands, 'View of Delft' by Johannes Vermeer became a reality. Today you can find it at Mauritshuis in the Hague. Highly praised for its detail and luminous quality, 'View of Delft' was one of the greatest landscape paintings of its time.
In 1830, 'Liberty Leading the People' was painted by Eugène Delacroix. This specific piece can be found today in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. 'Liberty Leading the People' commemorates the July Revolution of 1830 in France.
Between 1884 and 1886 in France, Georges Seurat created 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.' You can now see it at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The painting is a pioneering example of pointillism, where small dots of color create a vibrant, cohesive image.
The 'Water Lilies' series was painted between 1896 and 1926 in France and is found today at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, France. Monet's 'Water Lilies' series exemplifies his impressionist technique and obsession with capturing the effects of light on color and water.
In 1937, Picasso gave us 'Guernica.' To view this piece in person today, you’ll need to check out the Museo Reina Sofía located in Madrid, Spain. 'Guernica' powerfully depicts the horrors of war and the bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, serving as an anti-war statement.
In 1930, Grant Wood brought us 'American Gothic' which is today located in the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The painting portrays a stern-looking farmer and his daughter. It became an iconic depiction of rural American life during the Great Depression.
In Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in 1889, Vincent Van Gogh painted his 'Starry Night.' Today it is located in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City. This particular piece was painted from the window of Vincent van Gogh's asylum room and provides a breathtaking view of the night sky.
In 1434, van Eyck painted 'The Arnolfini Portrait' in Belgium. To visit it today, check out the National Gallery in London. 'The Arnolfini Portrait' is famous for its depiction of textures and use of a convex mirror.
An American piece, 'Nighthawks' was created in 1942 in New York City. Today it’s located in the Art Institute of Chicago and aims to capture the isolation of urban life.
Originating in Spain in 1656, 'Las Meninas' is now located in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It is celebrated for its complex composition and perspective, featuring Velázquez himself within the painting, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.
Sources: (Britannica) (List25)
See also: The most famous (and expensive) paintings in the world
Between 1484 and 1486 the masterpiece known as 'The Birth of Venus' was created in Italy. Today, you can find it in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. After Botticelli trained as a goldsmith in the early Renaissance period he made a name for himself in 1470 with his famous painting 'Fortitude.'
Between 130 and 100 BCE, the 'Venus De Milo' was created in Ancient Greece. Its home today is the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. This piece is celebrated for its beauty and sophistication but mystery surrounds its missing arms.
Somewhere between 1490 and 1500, Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch brought us 'The Garden of Earthly Delights.' Today, the complex triptych is found in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The details and depiction of paradise, Earth, and hell illustrated Bosch’s imaginative vision.
Art is what captures the creativity and great minds of the ages. From paintings to sculptures and everything in between, the beauty and importance of art is undeniable. While art exists everywhere in the world in one form or another, this list compiles 30 pieces that are absolutely worth seeing in person and learning more about. Included in this gallery are facts about each piece of art as well as where to find them today. So, get out there, enjoy some art, and learn about the works that shaped and even defined history.
Curious to learn about which pieces made the list? Click through now.
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LIFESTYLE Culture
Art is what captures the creativity and great minds of the ages. From paintings to sculptures and everything in between, the beauty and importance of art is undeniable. While art exists everywhere in the world in one form or another, this list compiles 30 pieces that are absolutely worth seeing in person and learning more about. Included in this gallery are facts about each piece of art as well as where to find them today. So, get out there, enjoy some art, and learn about the works that shaped and even defined history.
Curious to learn about which pieces made the list? Click through now.