Historical paintings and their authors. The most famous paintings in the world

In the world of art, there are a huge number of works that shocked the whole world and, breaking the usual stereotypes, left a major mark on history. The creators of world-famous painting masterpieces posed a unique challenge to society, which changed its idea of ​​beauty and pushed the established boundaries. Since there are many such revolutionary works in the history of art and it is impossible to cover them all, we decided to pay attention to the 10 most famous paintings by artists from different centuries.

Mona Lisa (La Gioconda) - Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa

The painting “Mona Lisa” (“La Gioconda”) by Leonardo da Vinci is probably the most famous work genius. This painting is truly beautiful and priceless. It is located in the Louvre Museum. The masterpiece was created in 1514 - 1515. Until recently, it was assumed that the painting was painted earlier - in 1503.

The painting depicts the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, Francesco del Gioconda, Lisa Gherardini, so first the Italians and then the French began to call the painting “Gioconda”. The famous 16th-century historian Giorgio Vasari was delighted with the portrait and in his book “The Lives of Eminent Italian Architects, Sculptors and Artists” called it a shortened version of the word madonna (“my lady”) - Mona Lisa.

In the process of working on a painting, the artist, through careful composition, a soft range of tones and painting techniques, has achieved that harmony thanks to which we see the image as if through an invisible haze. This light coating covers small details, softens outlines and creates an invisible transition between shape and colors. Leonardo da Vinci gave our imagination a lot, so Gioconda never ceases to amaze art connoisseurs over the centuries, looking at us from the portrait as if alive.

The picture is very difficult to describe in words: the longer the viewer looks at it, the more it affects him. He is imbued with her magnetism and begins to feel that alluring charm that has not ceased to captivate people all over the world for centuries.

Black Square - Kazimir Malevich

Kazimir Malevich's painting "Black Suprematist Square", painted in 1915, still remains one of the most scandalous, famous and discussed works in Russian art. This masterpiece is part of the artist’s series of Suprematist works, which also included the paintings “Black Circle” and “Black Cross”. In this cycle, Malevich tried to explore basic color and compositional possibilities.

The canvas is presented in the form of a small canvas with a width and length of 79.5 centimeters. The main background of the work is white, in the center there is an image of a large black square. According to the artist, he worked on the canvas for several months.

It is worth noting that Malevich did not come to painting the painting right away. Work on the scenery of the opera “Victory over the Sun” was a harbinger of its appearance. In particular, the master decided to replace one of the decorations (the sun) with a black square. According to the artist’s idea, this technique would help him convey the idea of ​​the triumph of human creativity over nature.

Critics reacted ambiguously to this work by Malevich. Some of them even argued that the painting was a modern alternative to icons, that the painting testified to the search for some new religion, about the chaos of the world. According to the artist himself, “Black Square” is a kind of symbol of the pinnacle of art and at the same time its end.

It remains undeniable that the picture depicts a mysterious abyss that captivates and gives an endless flight of imagination.

Self-Portrait with Crown of Thorns and Hummingbird - Frida Kahlo

Famous painting Mexican artist Frida Kahlo's Self-Portrait with Crown of Thorns and Hummingbird was painted in 1940. This self-portrait of a brilliant woman expresses the severe mental pain that she experienced after her divorce from her husband, the artist Diego Rivera. This pain is conveyed in the form of thorns that bind her neck. Subsequently, after breaking up with her husband, Frida Kahlo said: “There were two accidents in my life,” Frida said. - The first is a tram, the second is Diego. The second one is worse."

The Scream - Edvard Munch

The painting "The Scream" by Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch was created between 1893 and 1910. The first thing that catches your eye is the figure of a screaming man depicted in the center of the canvas. On the face, contorted with horror, the viewer sees boundless despair on the verge of madness. The artist conveyed powerful human emotions using fairly simple means.

“The Scream” is a symbol of expressionism, a kind of prelude to the art of the 20th century. Munch's work is still one of the most extraordinary and mysterious in world painting today. Some experts even suggest that the plot of the work is a figment of the unhealthy imagination of a mentally ill person.

Viewers also see it differently: some personify it with a premonition of disaster, others believe that the author painted the picture, inspired by the image of a mummy. Everyone sees something different in her.

Girl with a Pearl Earring - Jan Vermeer

The famous work of the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (“Girl in a Turban”) is often called the Dutch Mona Lisa. The painting was painted around 1665. Little is known about this painting. There are several versions of who is depicted in the painting, whether the author painted it to order and who the customer was. According to one of them, Vermeer depicted his daughter Mary on the canvas.

Definitely, this is an unusual work, with unique dynamics. The artist conveyed in the work the moment when the sitter turns her head and looks at the person she just noticed. The author drew the viewer's attention to the pearl earring in the girl's ear. The master managed to convey the connection between the young woman and the artist. Her figure lives a separate life, and her head looks in the other direction.

Self-portrait with a severed ear and pipe - Vincent Van Gogh

His famous “Self-portrait with a cut off ear and pipe” is Dutch and French artist Vincent van Gogh painted in 1889 while in Arles. The artist suffered from mental illness due to his heightened perception of reality and mental imbalance.

The portrait was painted after Van Gogh, in a fit of madness, cut off his earlobe after a quarrel with Gauguin over creative differences. First, Van Gogh threw a glass at the artist’s head, then rushed at him with a razor. That same evening he mutilated himself.

Having examined the picture, we will notice that the background is divided into two equal parts: the lower zone is red, the upper zone is orange with yellow splashes. The author depicted himself with distorted facial features and a lost look.

The Last Supper - Salvador Dali

The famous master of surrealism Salvador Dali created his “Last Supper” in 1955. The painting is in Washington National Gallery. This work the artist painted using complex techniques using photographic materials. The painting depicts a traditional plot conveyed from a futuristic point of view.

Dali depicted Jesus Christ and his followers gathered at one table. The work echoes and contrasts vividly with famous painting brushes by Leonardo da Vinci. However, on Dali’s canvas the setting and characters are different, depicted with minimalism and authenticity.

The picture conveys to the viewer a kind of moral message. The work is filled with light and lightness. From the windows depicted on it we see incredible beautiful landscape with clear blue skies and silvery mountain ranges.

Olympia - Edouard Manet

Olympia - Edouard Manet

The painting “Olympia” was painted by the French impressionist Edouard Manet in 1863. It rightfully occupies a place of honor next to other masterpieces of world painting.

However, in 1865, at the Paris Salon, because of this work, there was loud scandal. The fact is that before Manet, naked women were depicted in paintings as a standard of spiritual beauty. And this work by Manet was recognized as both physically ugly and depraved. For moral reasons, artists were allowed to depict naked only heroines of ancient myths, historical or biblical figures. Whereas the impressionist broke this rule.

His Olympia was mistaken for a representative of the “most ancient profession” who had just received a bouquet from her lover. Society also did not accept the name of the painting, since corrupt women were called this name, and insulting ridicule rained down on the artist.

Dora Maar with a cat - Pablo Picasso

Dora Maar with a cat

One of the most expensive paintings in the world, “Dora Maar with a Cat” by Pablo Picasso, was painted by the artist in 1941. It depicts the artist's lover, Dora Maar, sitting on a chair with a small cat on her shoulder.

In almost all of Picasso’s paintings, Dora looks creepy, this is explained by the fact that they were painted during a difficult period of their relationship. In addition, the World War left its mark on the life and work of the Spanish master. The relationship between Dora Maar and Pablo Picasso was by no means romantic; rather, it was a union of two creative personalities.

In the work “Dora Maar with a cat,” the artist emphasized the sharpness of the nails through the image of a black cat.

One: number 31 - Jackson Pollock

Late 1940s American artist Jackson Pollock invented new technology in painting - he painted on large canvases, placing them on the floor. His paintings were created by splashing paint from his brushes; he did not touch them to the canvas.

When working on his paintings, he used sticks, scoops, knives and pouring paint or mixed paint with sand and broken glass.

The mysterious world of art may seem confusing to the untrained eye, but there are masterpieces that everyone should know. Talent, inspiration and painstaking work on every stroke give birth to works that are admired centuries later.

It is impossible to collect all the outstanding creations in one selection, but we tried to select the most famous paintings, drawing giant queues in front of museums around the world.

The most famous paintings by Russian artists

“Morning in a pine forest”, Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky

Year of creation: 1889
Museum

Shishkin was an excellent landscape painter, but he rarely had to draw animals, so the figures of bear cubs were painted by Savitsky, an excellent animal artist. At the end of the work, Tretyakov ordered Savitsky’s signature to be erased, considering that Shishkin had done much more extensive work.

“Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan November 16, 1581”, Ilya Repin

Years of creation: 1883–1885
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Repin was inspired to create the masterpiece, better known as “Ivan the Terrible Kills His Son,” by Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Antar” symphony, namely its second movement, “The Sweetness of Revenge.” Under the influence of the sounds of music, the artist depicted a bloody scene of murder and subsequent repentance observed in the eyes of the sovereign.

"The Seated Demon", Mikhail Vrubel

Year of creation: 1890
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The painting was one of thirty illustrations drawn by Vrubel for the anniversary edition of the works of M.Yu. Lermontov. “The sitting demon” personifies the doubts inherent in the human spirit, the subtle, elusive “mood of the soul.” According to experts, the artist was to some extent obsessed with the image of a demon: this painting was followed by “The Flying Demon” and “The Defeated Demon.”

“Boyaryna Morozova”, Vasily Surikov

Years of creation: 1884–1887
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The film is based on the plot of the Old Believer life “The Tale of Boyarina Morozova”. Understanding key image came to the artist when he saw a crow spreading its black wings like a blur on the snowy surface. Later, Surikov spent a long time looking for a prototype for the noblewoman’s face, but could not find anything suitable until one day he met an Old Believer woman with a pale, frantic face in a cemetery. The portrait sketch was completed in two hours.

"Bogatyrs", Viktor Vasnetsov

Years of creation: 1881–1898
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The future epic masterpiece was born as a small pencil sketch in 1881; For further work on the canvas, Vasnetsov spent many years painstakingly collecting information about the heroes from myths, legends and traditions, and also studied authentic ancient Russian ammunition in museums.

Analysis of Vasnetsov’s painting “Three Heroes”

“Bathing the Red Horse”, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

Year of creation: 1912
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Initially, the painting was conceived as an everyday sketch from the life of a Russian village, but during the work the artist’s canvas became overgrown with a huge number of symbols. By the red horse, Petrov-Vodkin meant “The Fate of Russia”; after the country joined the First world war he exclaimed: “So that’s why I painted this picture!” However, after the revolution, pro-Soviet art critics interpreted the key figure in the painting as a “harbinger of revolutionary fires.”

"Trinity", Andrei Rublev

Year of creation: 1411
Museum: Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

The icon that laid the foundation for the tradition of Russian icon painting in the 15th–16th centuries. The canvas depicting the Old Testament trinity of angels who appeared to Abraham is a symbol of the unity of the Holy Trinity.

"The Ninth Wave", Ivan Aivazovsky

Year of creation: 1850
Museum

A pearl in the “cartography” of the legendary Russian marine painter, who without hesitation can be considered one of the most famous artists in the world. We can see how the sailors who miraculously survived the storm cling to the mast in anticipation of meeting the “ninth wave,” the mythical apogee of all storms. But the warm shades dominating the canvas give hope for the salvation of the victims.

“The Last Day of Pompeii”, Karl Bryullov

Years of creation: 1830–1833
Museum: Russian Museum, St. Petersburg

Completed in 1833, Bryullov’s painting was initially exhibited in the largest cities of Italy, where it caused a real sensation - the painter was compared to Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael... At home, the masterpiece was greeted with no less enthusiasm, securing the nickname “Charlemagne” for Bryullov. The canvas is truly great: its dimensions are 4.6 by 6.5 meters, which makes it one of the largest paintings among the creations of Russian artists.

The most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci

"Mona Lisa"

Years of creation: 1503–1505
Museum: Louvre, Paris

Masterpiece Florentine genius, needs no introduction. It is noteworthy that the painting received cult status after the incident of theft from the Louvre in 1911. Two years later, the thief, who turned out to be a museum employee, tried to sell the painting to the Uffizi Gallery. The events of the high-profile case were covered in detail in the world press, after which hundreds of thousands of reproductions went on sale, and the mysterious Mona Lisa became an object of worship.

Years of creation: 1495–1498
Museum: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

After five centuries, the fresco with classic plot on the wall of the refectory of the Dominican monastery in Milan is recognized as one of the most mysterious paintings in history. According to Da Vinci's idea, the painting depicts the moment of the Easter meal, when Christ notifies the disciples of imminent betrayal. Huge number hidden symbols gave rise to an equally huge variety of studies, allusions, borrowings and parodies.

"Madonna Litta"

Year of creation: 1491
Museum: Hermitage, St. Petersburg

Also known as "Madonna and Child" painting for a long time was kept in the collection of the Dukes of Litta, and in 1864 was purchased by the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Many experts agree that the figure of the baby was painted not by da Vinci personally, but by one of his students - a pose too uncharacteristic for the painter.

The most famous paintings of Salvador Dali

Year of creation: 1931
Museum: Museum contemporary art, New York

Paradoxically, the most famous work of the genius of surrealism was born from thoughts about Camembert cheese. One evening, after a friendly dinner, which ended with appetizers with cheese, the artist was lost in thought about “spreading pulp,” and his imagination painted a picture of a melting clock with an olive branch in the foreground.

Year of creation: 1955
Museum: National Gallery of Art, Washington

A traditional plot given a surreal twist using arithmetic principles studied by Leonardo da Vinci. The artist put the peculiar magic of the number “12” at the forefront, moving away from the hermeneutic method of interpreting the biblical plot.

The most famous paintings of Pablo Picasso

Year of creation: 1905
Museum: Pushkin Museum, Moscow

The painting became the first sign of the so-called “pink” period in Picasso’s work. Rough texture and simplified style are combined with a sensitive play of lines and colors, the contrast between the massive figure of an athlete and a fragile gymnast. The canvas was sold along with 29 other works for 2 thousand francs (in total) to the Parisian collector Vollard, changed several collections, and in 1913 it was acquired by the Russian philanthropist Ivan Morozov, already for 13 thousand francs.

Year of creation: 1937
Museum: Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid

Guernica is the name of a city in the Basque country that was subjected to German bombing in April 1937. Picasso had never been to Guernica, but was stunned by the scale of the disaster, like “the blow of a bull’s horn.” The artist conveyed the horrors of war in abstract form and showed the real face of fascism, veiling it with bizarre geometric shapes.

The most famous paintings of the Renaissance

"Sistine Madonna", Raphael Santi

Years of creation: 1512–1513
Museum: Gallery of Old Masters, Dresden

If you look closely at the background, which at first glance consists of clouds, you will notice that in fact Raphael depicted the heads of angels there. The two angels located at the bottom of the picture are almost more famous than the masterpiece itself, due to its wide circulation in mass art.

"Birth of Venus", Sandro Botticelli

Year of creation: 1486
Museum: Uffizi Gallery, Florence

At the heart of the picture - ancient greek myth about the birth of Aphrodite from sea foam. Unlike many masterpieces of the Renaissance, the canvas has survived to this day in excellent condition thanks to a protective layer of egg yolk, with which Botticelli prudently covered the work.

"The Creation of Adam", Michelangelo Buonarotti

Year of creation: 1511
Museum: Sistine Chapel, Vatican

One of the nine frescoes on the ceiling Sistine Chapel, illustrating the chapter from Genesis: “And God created man in His own image.” It was Michelangelo who was the first to depict God as a gray-haired old man, after which this image became archetypal. Modern scientists believe that the contours of the figure of God and angels represent the human brain.

"Night Watch", Rembrandt

Year of creation: 1642
Museum: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

The full title of the painting is “Performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” The painting received its modern name in the 19th century, when it was found by art critics who, due to the layer of dirt covering the work, decided that the action in the painting was taking place under the cover of night darkness.

"The Garden of Earthly Delights", Hieronymus Bosch

Years of creation: 1500–1510
Museum: Prado Museum, Madrid “Black Square”

Malevich wrote “Black Square” for several months; Legend has it that a painting is hidden under a layer of black paint - the artist did not have time to finish the work on time and, in a fit of anger, covered up the image. There are at least seven copies of the “Black Square” made by Malevich, as well as a kind of “continuation” of the Suprematist squares – “Red Square” (1915) and “White Square” (1918).

"The Scream", Edvard Munch

Year of creation: 1893
Museum: National Gallery, Oslo

Due to its inexplicable mystical effect on the viewer, the painting was stolen in 1994 and 2004. There is an opinion that the picture created at the turn of the 20th century anticipated numerous disasters of the coming century. The deep symbolism of "The Scream" inspired many artists, including Andy Warhol

This painting still causes a lot of controversy. Some art critics believe that the excitement around the painting, painted using the signature splashing technique, was created artificially. The canvas was not sold until all the artist’s other works were purchased, and accordingly, the price for a non-figurative masterpiece skyrocketed. “Number Five” was sold for $140 million, becoming the most expensive painting in history.

"Marilyn Diptych", Andy Warhol

Year of creation: 1962
Museum: Tate Gallery, London

A week after the death of Marilyn Monroe, the controversial artist began work on the canvas. 50 stenciled portraits of the actress, stylized in the pop art genre based on a 1953 photograph, were applied to the canvas.
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“Every portrait painted with feeling is, in essence, a portrait of the artist, and not of the person who posed for him.” Oscar Wilde

What does it take to be an artist? A simple imitation of a work cannot be considered art. Art is something that comes from within. The author's idea, passion, search, desires and sorrows, which are embodied on the artist's canvas. Throughout the history of mankind, hundreds of thousands, and perhaps millions of paintings have been painted. Some of them are truly masterpieces, known all over the world, even people who have nothing to do with art know them. Is it possible to identify the 25 most outstanding among such paintings? The task is very difficult, but we tried...

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25

"The Persistence of Memory", Salvador Dali

Thanks to this painting, Dali became famous at a fairly young age, he was 28 years old. The painting has several other titles - “Soft Hours”, “Hardness of Memory”. This masterpiece has attracted the attention of many art critics. Basically, they were interested in the interpretation of the painting. It is said that the idea behind Dali's painting is related to Einstein's theory of relativity.

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24

"Dance", Henri Matisse

Henri Matisse was not always an artist. He discovered his love for painting after receiving a law degree in Paris. He studied art so zealously that he became one of greatest artists in the world. This painting has very little negative criticism from art critics. It reflects a combination of pagan rituals, dance and music. People dance in a trance. Three colors - green, blue and red, symbolize Earth, Sky and Humanity.

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23

"The Kiss", Gustav Klimt

Gustav Klimt was often criticized for the nudity in his paintings. "The Kiss" was noticed by critics as it merged all forms of art. The painting could be a depiction of the artist himself and his lover, Emilia. Klimt painted this painting under the influence of Byzantine mosaics. The Byzantines used gold in their paintings. Likewise, Gustav Klimt mixed gold in his paints to create his own style of painting.

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22

"Sleeping Gypsy", Henri Rousseau

No one except Rousseau himself could describe this picture better. Here is his description - “a nomadic gypsy who sings her songs to the accompaniment of a mandolin, sleeps on the ground from fatigue, her jug ​​of drinking water lies nearby. A lion passing by came up to sniff her, but did not touch her. Everything is flooded moonlight, very poetic atmosphere." It is noteworthy that Henri Rousseau is self-taught.

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21

"The Last Judgment", Hieronymus Bosch

Without further ado, the picture is simply magnificent. This triptych is the largest surviving painting by Bosch. The left wing shows the story of Adam and Eve. The central part is the "last judgment" on the part of Jesus - who should go to heaven and who should go to hell. The earth we see here is burning. The right wing depicts a disgusting image of hell.

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20

Everyone knows Narcissus from Greek mythology- a man who was obsessed with his appearance. Dali wrote his own interpretation of Narcissus.

This is the story. The beautiful young man Narcissus easily broke the hearts of many girls. The gods intervened and, to punish him, showed him his reflection in the water. The narcissist fell in love with himself and eventually died because he was never able to embrace himself. Then the Gods regretted doing this to him and decided to immortalize him in the form of a narcissus flower.

On the left side of the picture is Narcissus looking at his reflection. After which he fell in love with himself. The right panel shows the events that unfolded after, including the resulting flower, the daffodil.

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19

The plot of the film is based on the biblical massacre of the infants in Bethlehem. After the birth of Christ became known from the wise men, King Herod ordered the killing of all small male children and infants in Bethlehem. In the picture, the massacre is at its peak, the last few children, who were taken from their mothers, await their merciless death. Also visible are the corpses of children, for whom everything is already behind them.

Thanks to his use of rich colors, Rubens's painting has become a world-famous masterpiece.

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18

Pollock's work is very different from other artists. He placed his canvas on the ground and moved around and around the canvas, dripping paint from above onto the canvas using sticks, brushes and syringes. Thanks to this unique technique, he was nicknamed “Sprinkler Jack” in artistic circles. For some time, this painting held the title of the most expensive painting in the world.

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17

Also known as "Dancing at Le Moulin de la Galette". This painting is considered one of Renoir's most joyful paintings. The idea of ​​the film is to show viewers the fun side of Parisian life. Upon closer examination of the painting, you can see that Renoir placed several of his friends on the canvas. Because the painting appears slightly blurred, it was initially criticized by Renoir's contemporaries.

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16

The plot is taken from the Bible. The painting “The Last Supper” depicts Christ’s last supper before his arrest. He had just spoken to his apostles and told them that one of them would betray him. All the apostles are saddened and tell him that it is, of course, not them. It was this moment that Da Vinci beautifully depicted through his vivid depiction. The great Leonardo took four years to complete this painting.

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15

Monet's "Water Lilies" can be found everywhere. You've probably seen them on wallpaper, posters and art magazine covers. The fact is that Monet was obsessed with lilies. Before he started painting them, he grew countless numbers of these flowers. Monet built a Japanese-style bridge in his garden over a lily pond. He was so pleased with what he had achieved that he drew this plot seventeen times in one year.

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14

There is something sinister and mysterious in this picture; there is an aura of fear around it. Only such a master as Munch was able to depict fear on paper. Munch made four versions of The Scream in oil and pastel. According to the entries in Munch's diary, it is quite clear that he himself believed in death and spirits. In the painting “The Scream,” he depicted himself at the moment when one day, while walking with friends, he felt fear and excitement, which he wanted to paint.

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13

The painting, which is usually mentioned as a symbol of motherhood, was not supposed to become one. It is said that Whistler's model, who was supposed to sit for the painting, did not show up, and he decided to paint his mother instead. We can say that the sad life of the artist’s mother is depicted here. This mood is due to the dark colors that are used in this painting.

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12

Picasso met Dora Maar in Paris. They say that she was intellectually closer to Picasso than all his previous mistresses. Using Cubism, Picasso was able to convey movement in his work. It seems that Maar's face turns to the right, towards Picasso's face. The artist made the woman's presence almost real. Maybe he wanted to feel like she was there, always.

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11

Van Gogh wrote Starry Night while undergoing treatment, where he was only allowed to paint while his condition improved. Earlier in the same year, he cut off his left earlobe. Many considered the artist crazy. From the entire collection of Van Gogh's works " Starry night" gained its greatest fame, perhaps due to the unusual spherical light around the stars.

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10

In this painting, Manet recreated Titian's Venus of Urbino. The artist had notoriety, depicting prostitutes. Although gentlemen at that time visited courtesans quite often, they did not think that anyone would take it into their head to paint them. Back then, it was preferable for artists to paint pictures on historical, mythical or biblical themes. However, Manet, going against the criticism, showed the audience their contemporary.

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9

This painting is a historical canvas that depicts Napoleon's conquest of Spain.

Having received an order for paintings depicting the struggle of the people of Spain against Napoleon, the artist did not paint heroic and pathetic canvases. He chose the moment when the Spanish rebels were shot by French soldiers. Each of the Spaniards experiences this moment in their own way, some have already resigned themselves, but for others the main battle has just arrived. War, blood and death, that's what Goya actually depicted.

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8

It is believed that the girl depicted is eldest daughter Vermeer, Maria. Its features are present in many of his works, but they are difficult to compare. A book with the same title was written by Tracy Chevalier. But Tracy has a completely different version of who is depicted in this picture. She claims that she took this topic because there is very little information about Vermeer and his paintings, and this particular painting exudes a mysterious atmosphere. Later, a film was made based on her novel.

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7

The exact title of the painting is “Performance of the Rifle Company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” The Rifle Society was a civilian militia that was called upon to defend the city. In addition to the militias, Rembrandt added several extra people. Considering that he bought an expensive house while painting this picture, it may well be true that he received a huge fee for " Night watch».

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6

Although the painting contains an image of Velázquez himself, it is not a self-portrait. Main character paintings - Infanta Margaret, daughter of King Philip IV. This depicts the moment when Velázquez, working on a portrait of the king and queen, is forced to stop and look at the Infanta Margarita, who has just entered the room with her retinue. The painting looks almost alive, arousing curiosity in the audience.

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5

This is the only painting by Bruegel that was painted in oil rather than tempera. There are still doubts about the authenticity of the painting, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, he did not paint in oils, and secondly, recent studies have shown that under the layer of painting there is schematic drawing poor quality, which does not belong to Bruegel.

The painting depicts the story of Icarus and the moment of his fall. According to myth, Icarus' feathers were attached with wax, and because Icarus rose very close to the sun, the wax melted and he fell into the water. This landscape inspired W. H. Auden to write his most famous poem on the same topic.

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4

The School of Athens is perhaps the most famous fresco Italian artist Renaissance, Raphael.

In this fresco at the School of Athens, all the great mathematicians, philosophers and scientists have gathered under one roof, sharing their theories and learning from each other. All the heroes lived in different times, but Raphael placed them all in one room. Some of the figures are Aristotle, Plato, Pythagoras and Ptolemy. A closer look reveals that this painting also contains a self-portrait of Raphael himself. Every artist would like to leave their mark, the only difference is the form. Although maybe he considered himself one of these great figures?

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3

Michelangelo never considered himself an artist, he always thought of himself more as a sculptor. But he managed to create an amazing, exquisite fresco that the whole world reveres. This masterpiece is on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Michelangelo was commissioned to paint several biblical stories, one of which was the creation of Adam. In this picture the sculptor in Michelangelo is clearly visible. Adam's human body is rendered with incredible precision using vibrant colors and precise muscle forms. So, we can agree with the author, after all, he is more of a sculptor.

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2

"Mona Lisa", Leonardo da Vinci

Although it is the most studied painting, the Mona Lisa still remains the most mysterious. Leonardo said that he never stopped working on it. Only his death, as they say, completed work on the canvas. "Mona Lisa" is the first Italian portrait in which the model is depicted from the waist up. Mona Lisa's skin appears to glow due to the use of several layers of transparent oils. As a scientist, Leonardo da Vinci used all his knowledge to make the image of Mona Lisa realistic. As for who exactly is depicted in the painting, it still remains a mystery.

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1

The painting shows Venus, the goddess of love, floating on a shell in the wind, which is blown by Zephyr, the god of the west wind. She is met on the shore by Ora, the goddess of the seasons, who is ready to dress the newborn deity. The model for Venus is considered to be Simonetta Cattaneo de Vespucci. Simonetta Cattaneo died at 22, and Botticelli wished to be buried next to her. Connected him with her unrequited love. This painting is the most exquisite work of art ever created.

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Conclusion

This was an article TOP 25 most famous paintings in the world. Thank you for your attention!

Message quote The most famous and significant paintings of the world for the history of art. | 33 masterpieces of world painting.

Below the pictures of the artists they belong to there are links to the posts.

The immortal paintings of great artists are admired by millions of people. Art, classical and modern, is one of the most important sources of inspiration, taste and cultural education of any person, and even more so a creative one.
There are certainly more than 33 world-famous paintings. There are several hundred of them, and all of them would not fit into one review. Therefore, for ease of viewing, we have selected several paintings that are most significant for world culture and are often copied in advertising. Each work is accompanied interesting fact, an explanation of the artistic meaning or the history of its creation.

Kept in the Old Masters Gallery in Dresden.

The painting has little secret: The background, which appears to be clouds from a distance, turns out to be the heads of angels upon closer inspection. And the two angels depicted in the picture below became the motif of numerous postcards and posters.

Rembrandt "Night Watch" 1642
Kept in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

The true title of Rembrandt’s painting is “The Performance of the Rifle Company of Captain Frans Banning Cock and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” Art historians who discovered the painting in the 19th century thought that the figures were standing out against a dark background, and it was called “Night Watch.” Later it was discovered that a layer of soot makes the picture dark, and the action actually takes place during the day. However, the painting has already been included in the treasury of world art under the name “Night Watch”.

Leonardo da Vinci "The Last Supper" 1495-1498
Located in the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

Over the more than 500-year history of the work, the fresco has been destroyed more than once: a doorway was cut through the painting and then blocked, the refectory of the monastery where the image is located was used as an armory, a prison, and was bombed. The famous fresco restored at least five times, with the last restoration taking 21 years. Today, to view the art, visitors must reserve tickets in advance and can spend only 15 minutes in the refectory.

Salvador Dali "The Persistence of Memory" 1931

According to the author himself, the painting was painted as a result of associations that arose in Dali when he saw processed cheese. Returning from the cinema, where she went that evening, Gala quite correctly predicted that no one, once they saw The Persistence of Memory, would forget it.

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "Tower of Babel" 1563
Kept in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.

According to Bruegel, the failure that befell the construction of the Tower of Babel was not due to those who suddenly appeared according to biblical story language barriers, and mistakes made during the construction process. At first glance, the huge structure seems quite strong, but upon closer examination it is clear that all the tiers are laid unevenly, the lower floors are either unfinished or are already collapsing, the building itself is tilting towards the city, and the prospects for the entire project are very sad.

Kazimir Malevich “Black Square” 1915

According to the artist, he painted the picture for several months. Subsequently, Malevich made several copies of “Black Square” (according to some sources, seven). According to one version, the artist was unable to complete the painting on time, so he had to cover the work with black paint. Subsequently, after public recognition, Malevich painted new “Black Squares” on blank canvases. Malevich also painted “Red Square” (in two copies) and one “White Square”.

Kuzma Sergeevich Petrov-Vodkin “Bathing the Red Horse” 1912
Located in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

Painted in 1912, the painting turned out to be visionary. The red horse acts as the Fate of Russia or Russia itself, which the fragile and young rider is unable to hold. Thus, the artist symbolically predicted with his painting the “red” fate of Russia in the 20th century.

Peter Paul Rubens "The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus" 1617-1618
Kept in the Alte Pinakothek in Munich.

The painting “The Rape of the Daughters of Leucippus” is considered the personification of manly passion and physical beauty. The strong, muscular arms of young men pick up young naked women to put them on horses. The sons of Zeus and Leda steal their cousins' brides.

Paul Gauguin "Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we going? 1898
Kept in the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

According to Gauguin himself, the painting should be read from right to left - three main groups of figures illustrate the questions posed in the title. Three women with a child represent the beginning of life; middle group symbolizes the daily existence of maturity; in the final group, according to the artist’s plan, “the old woman, approaching death, seems reconciled and given over to her thoughts,” at her feet “a strange white bird ... represents the uselessness of words.”

Eugene Delacroix "Liberty Leading the People" 1830
Kept in the Louvre in Paris

Delacroix created a painting based on the July Revolution of 1830 in France. In a letter to his brother on October 12, 1830, Delacroix writes: “If I did not fight for my Motherland, then at least I will write for it.” The bare chest of a woman leading the people symbolizes the dedication of the French people of that time, who went bare-chested against the enemy.

Claude Monet "Impression. Rising Sun" 1872
Kept in the Marmottan Museum in Paris.

The title of the work “Impression, soleil levant”, thanks to the light hand of journalist L. Leroy, became the name artistic direction"impressionism". The painting was painted from life in the old outport of Le Havre in France.

Jan Vermeer "Girl with a Pearl Earring" 1665
Kept in the Mauritshuis Gallery in The Hague.

One of the most famous paintings by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer is often called the Nordic or Dutch Mona Lisa. Very little is known about the painting: it is undated and the name of the girl depicted is unknown. In 2003, based on the novel of the same name by Tracy Chevalier, it was filmed feature film“Girl with a Pearl Earring”, in which the history of the creation of the painting is hypothetically restored in the context of biography and family life Vermeer.

Ivan Aivazovsky “The Ninth Wave” 1850
Kept in St. Petersburg in the State Russian Museum.

Ivan Aivazovsky is a world-famous Russian marine painter who devoted his life to depicting the sea. He created about six thousand works, each of which received recognition during the artist’s lifetime. The painting “The Ninth Wave” is included in the book “100 Great Paintings”.

Andrey Rublev “Trinity” 1425-1427

The Icon of the Holy Trinity, painted by Andrei Rublev in the 15th century, is one of the most famous Russian icons. The icon is a board in a vertical format. The kings (Ivan the Terrible, Boris Godunov, Mikhail Fedorovich) “overlaid” the icon with gold, silver and precious stones. Today the salary is kept in the Sergiev Posad State Museum-Reserve.

Mikhail Vrubel “Seated Demon” 1890
Kept in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The plot of the film is inspired by Lermontov’s poem “The Demon”. The demon is an image of the strength of the human spirit, internal struggle, doubts. Tragically clasping his hands, the Demon sits with sad, huge eyes directed into the distance, surrounded by unprecedented flowers.

William Blake "The Great Architect" 1794
Kept in the British Museum in London.

The title of the painting “The Ancient of Days” literally translates from English as “Ancient of Days.” This phrase was used as the name of God. Main character The paintings show God at the moment of creation, who does not establish order, but limits freedom and denotes the limits of imagination.

Edouard Manet "Bar at the Folies Bergere" 1882
Kept at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London.

The Folies Bergere is a variety show and cabaret in Paris. Manet often visited the Folies Bergere and ended up painting this painting, his last before his death in 1883. Behind the bar, in the midst of a drinking, eating, talking and smoking crowd, stands an engrossed own thoughts a barmaid watching a trapeze acrobat, who can be seen in the upper left corner of the painting.

Titian “Earthly Love and Heavenly Love” 1515-1516
Kept in the Galleria Borghese in Rome.

It is noteworthy that the modern name of the painting was not given by the artist himself, but began to be used only two centuries later. Until this time, the painting had various titles: “Beauty, Embellished and Unadorned” (1613), “Three Types of Love” (1650), “Divine and Secular Women” (1700), and, ultimately, “Earthly Love and Heavenly Love” "(1792 and 1833).

Mikhail Nesterov “Vision to the youth Bartholomew” 1889-1890
Kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The first and most significant work from the cycle dedicated to Sergius of Radonezh. Until the end of his days, the artist was convinced that “Vision to the Youth Bartholomew” was his best work. In his old age, the artist liked to repeat: “It’s not me who will live. “The Youth Bartholomew” will live. Now, if thirty, fifty years after my death he still says something to people, that means he’s alive, and that means I’m alive.”

Pieter Bruegel the Elder "Parable of the Blind" 1568
Kept in the Capodimonte Museum in Naples.

Other titles of the painting are “The Blind”, “Parabola of the Blind”, “The Blind Leading the Blind”. It is believed that the plot of the film is based on the biblical parable of the blind: “If a blind man leads a blind man, they will both fall into a pit.”

Victor Vasnetsov “Alyonushka” 1881
Kept in the State Tretyakov Gallery.

It is based on the fairy tale “About Sister Alyonushka and Brother Ivanushka.” Initially, Vasnetsov’s painting was called “Fool Alyonushka.” At that time, orphans were called “fools.” “Alyonushka,” the artist himself later said, “seemed to have lived in my head for a long time, but in reality I saw her in Akhtyrka, when I met one simple-haired girl who captured my imagination. There was so much melancholy, loneliness and purely Russian sadness in her eyes... Some special Russian spirit wafted from her.”

Vincent van Gogh "Starry Night" 1889
Kept in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Unlike most of the artist’s paintings, “Starry Night” was painted from memory. Van Gogh was at that time in the Saint-Rémy hospital, tormented by attacks of madness.

Karl Bryullov “The Last Day of Pompeii” 1830-1833
Kept in the State Russian Museum in St. Petersburg.

The painting depicts the famous eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. e. and the destruction of the city of Pompeii near Naples. The artist's image in the left corner of the painting is a self-portrait of the author.

Pablo Picasso “Girl on a Ball” 1905
Stored in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow

The painting ended up in Russia thanks to industrialist Ivan Abramovich Morozov, who purchased it in 1913 for 16,000 francs. In 1918, the personal collection of I. A. Morozov was nationalized. IN present moment the painting is in the collection of the State Museum fine arts named after A.S. Pushkin.

Leonardo da Vinci "Madonna Litta" 1491

Kept in the Hermitage in St. Petersburg.

Original title paintings - “Madonna and Child”. The modern name of the painting comes from the name of its owner - Count Litt, owner of the family art gallery in Milan. There is an assumption that the figure of the baby was not painted by Leonardo da Vinci, but belongs to the brush of one of his students. This is evidenced by the baby's pose, which is unusual for the author's style.

Jean Ingres "Turkish Baths" 1862
Kept in the Louvre in Paris.

Ingres finished painting this picture when he was already over 80 years old. With this painting, the artist sums up the image of bathers, the theme of which has long been present in his work. Initially, the canvas was in the shape of a square, but a year after its completion the artist turned it into a round painting - a tondo.

Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Savitsky “Morning in a pine forest” 1889
Stored in the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow

"Morning in pine forest"- painting by Russian artists Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky. Savitsky painted the bears, but the collector Pavel Tretyakov, when he acquired the painting, erased his signature, so now Shishkin alone is indicated as the author of the painting.

Mikhail Vrubel “The Swan Princess” 1900
Stored in the State Tretyakov Gallery

The painting is based on the stage image of the heroine of N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan” based on the plot fairy tale of the same name A. S. Pushkin. Vrubel created sketches for the scenery and costumes for the 1900 premiere of the opera, and his wife sang the role of the Swan Princess.

Giuseppe Arcimboldo “Portrait of Emperor Rudolf II as Vertumnus” 1590
Located in Skokloster Castle in Stockholm.

One of the few surviving works of the artist, who composed portraits from fruits, vegetables, flowers, crustaceans, fish, pearls, musical and other instruments, books, and so on. "Vertumnus" is a portrait of the emperor, represented as the ancient Roman god of seasons, vegetation and transformation. In the picture, Rudolph consists entirely of fruits, flowers and vegetables.

Edgar Degas "Blue Dancers" 1897
Located in the Museum of Art. A. S. Pushkin in Moscow.

The Mona Lisa may not have gained worldwide fame if it had not been stolen in 1911 by a Louvre employee. The painting was found two years later in Italy: the thief responded to an advertisement in the newspaper and offered to sell “Gioconda” to the director of the Uffizi Gallery. All this time, while the investigation was ongoing, the “Mona Lisa” did not leave the covers of newspapers and magazines around the world, becoming an object of copying and worship.

Sandro Botticelli "Birth of Venus" 1486
Kept in Florence in the Uffizi Gallery

The painting illustrates the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. A naked goddess swims to the shore in an open shell, driven by the wind. On the left side of the painting, Zephyr (the west wind), in the arms of his wife Chloris, blows on a shell, creating a wind filled with flowers. On the shore, the goddess is met by one of the graces. The Birth of Venus is well preserved due to the fact that Botticelli applied a protective layer of egg yolk to the painting.

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Every year hundreds of paintings go under the hammer into private collections. Collectors spend millions of dollars to expand their private collections. The most famous paintings are not always the most expensive paintings. The most famous paintings of the world belong to the world famous museums, and literally, they are priceless. Let's take a look at different museums around the world and look at these famous works.

"Birth of Venus"

This picture was painted by the great Florentine artist Sandro Botticelli in 1485-1487. It depicts the goddess Venus (in Greek mythology - Aphrodite), emerging from the sea foam. Today this painting is on display in the Uffizi Museum in Florence.

"Water Lilies"

Monet lived for 43 years of his life in Giverny (a small place 80 km from Paris). He rented a house from a Norman landowner, and bought the neighboring plot of land on which the pond was located. Subsequently, the artist laid out two gardens on this site, one of which was on the water. Water garden motifs occupy a significant place in the artist’s work. Works from this series have scattered to museums around the world, however, a decent group of works is presented in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. One of the most famous paintings in the world.

"Night Watch"

Completed in 1642, at the height of the Dutch Golden Age, The Night Watch is one of the most famous paintings by Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting shows the performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg. The picture is presented in State Museum in Amsterdam.

"Scream"

This painting is from a series of works by the Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch. The painting depicts a suffering figure against a blood-red sky. Edvard Munch created several variations of The Scream. The picture presented was painted in 1893 and was in the National Gallery of Norway. However, in 1994 the work was stolen, but a few months later it was found and returned to the museum.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring"

Sometimes this painting is called the "Dutch Mona Lisa". "The Girl with a Pearl Earring" was painted around 1665 Dutch artist Jan Vermeer.

"Starry Night"

"Starry Night" was written Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh. Despite the fact that in his entire life the artist sold only one of his works, his field creative activity very rich. "Starry Night" is one of his most famous works. It shows the village of Saint-Rémy. Since 1941, the painting has been in the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

"Mona Lisa"

The most famous painting in the world is still considered the “Mona Lisa,” which was painted by Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance in Florence. He began painting this masterpiece in 1503 (1504) and completed it shortly before his death in 1519. In 1911, the Mona Lisa was stolen by Louvre employee Vincenzo Peruggio, an Italian patriot who believed that the Mona Lisa should be returned to Italy. After storing the painting for 2 years at his home, Peruggio was caught trying to sell the painting to the director of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. Today, the Mona Lisa hangs again in the Louvre in Paris, where 6 million people see the painting every year.