Top popular paintings. The most famous paintings of the world. The most famous Russian paintings

There are many talented individuals among Russian artists. Their work is highly valued all over the world and is a worthy competitor to such world masters as Rubens, Michelangelo, Van Gogh and Picasso. In this article we have collected 10 of the most famous Russian artists.

1. Ivan Aivazovsky

Ivan Aivazovsky is one of the most famous Russian artists. He was born in Feodosia. From childhood, Aivazovsky showed his incredible creative abilities: he loved to draw and taught himself to play the violin.

At the age of 12, the young talent began studying in Simferopol at the Academy of Painting. Here he learned to copy engravings and paint pictures from life. A year later, he managed to enter the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy, although he had not yet reached the age of 14.

For a long time, the artist traveled around Europe and lived in Italy, where his paintings were also recognized. So the young artist from Feodosia became a fairly famous and rich man.

Later, Aivazovsky returned to his homeland, where he received the uniform of the Naval Ministry and the title of academician. The artist also visited Egypt and was present at the opening of the new Suez Canal. The artist described all his impressions in paintings. By this time, he had already developed his own unique style and the ability to write from memory. Aivazovsky quickly sketched complex elements in a notebook in order to later transfer them to the canvas. His paintings “Odessa”, “The Ninth Wave” and “The Black Sea” brought him worldwide fame.

The artist spent the last years of his life in Feodosia, where he built himself a house in the Italian style. A little later, Aivazovsky added a small gallery to it so that everyone could freely enjoy his amazing paintings and drown in the ocean of colors. Today, this mansion still serves as a museum and many visitors come here every day to see with their own eyes the skill of the marine painter, who lived a long and happy life.

2. Viktor Vasnetsov

The list of the most famous Russian artists continues with Viktor Vasnetsov. He was born in the spring of 1848 into the family of a priest in the small village of Lopyal. His passion for painting arose at a very early age, but his parents could not give him a proper education due to lack of money. Therefore, at the age of 10, Victor began studying at a free theological seminary.

In 1866, with virtually no money, he left for St. Petersburg. Vasnetsov easily passed the entrance exam and entered the Academy of Arts. This is where his friendship began with famous artist Repin, with whom he later went to Paris. After returning to St. Petersburg, Vasnetsov begins to write his most famous paintings: “Three Heroes”, “Snow Maiden” and “God of Hosts”.

The artist was able to fully reveal his talent only after moving to Moscow. Here he feels cozy and comfortable, and each subsequent picture turns out better than the previous one. It was in Moscow that Vasnetsov painted such paintings as “Alyonushka”, “Ivan Tsarevich and gray wolf" and "Nestor the Chronicler".

3. Karl Bryullov

This famous Russian artist was born in 1799. Karl's father was a famous painter and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Therefore, the boy’s fate was predetermined in advance. Fortunately, Karl Bryullov managed to inherit the talent of an artist from his father.

Studying was very easy for the young artist. He was many times superior to the rest of the students in his class and graduated from the Academy of Arts with honors. After this, Karl went to travel around Europe, stopping for a long time only in Italy. It was here that he created his masterpiece, “The Last Day of Pompeii,” spending about six years writing it.

Upon his return to St. Petersburg, fame and glory awaited Karl Bryullov. They were glad to see him everywhere and certainly admired his new paintings. During this period, the artist created several of his immortal canvases: “Horsewoman”, “Siege of Pskov”, “Narcissus” and others.

4. Ivan Shishkin

Ivan Shishkin is one of the most famous Russian landscape artists, who in his paintings could present any inconspicuous landscape in the most favorable light. It seems that nature itself plays on the canvases of this artist with living colors.

Ivan Shishkin was born in 1832 in Elabuga, which today belongs to Tatarstan. The father wanted his son to eventually take the post of city official, but Ivan gravitated towards drawing. At the age of 20, he went to Moscow to study painting. After successfully graduating from the Moscow School of Arts, Shishkin entered the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg.

Later he traveled for a long time throughout Europe, sketching amazing landscapes. At this time, he created the painting “View in the vicinity of Düsseldorf”, which brought him great fame. After returning to Russia, Shishkin continues to create with renewed energy. According to him, Russian nature is several hundred times superior to European landscapes.

Ivan Shishkin painted many stunning paintings during his life: “Morning in a Pine Forest”, “First Snow”, “ pine forest"and others. Even death overtook this painter right behind his easel.

5. Isaac Levitan

This great Russian master of landscapes was born in Lithuania, but lived his entire life in Russia. Repeatedly his Jewish origin caused him many humiliations, but never forced him to leave this country, which he idolized and praised in his paintings.

Levitan’s first landscapes already received high marks from Perov and Savrasov, and Tretyakov himself even bought his painting “Autumn Day in Sokolniki.” But in 1879, Isaac Levitan, along with all the Jews, was expelled from Moscow. Only through the enormous efforts of friends and teachers does he manage to return to the city.

In the 1880s, the artist painted many stunning paintings that made him very famous. These were “Pines”, “Autumn” and “First Snow”. But further humiliations forced the author to leave Moscow again and go to Crimea. On the peninsula the artist writes a whole series amazing works and significantly improves your financial condition. This allows him to travel around Europe and get acquainted with the work of world masters. The pinnacle of Levitan’s creativity was his painting “Above Eternal Peace.”

6. Vasily Tropinin

The great Russian portrait artist Vasily Tropinin had an amazing fate. He was born into the family of serfs Count Markov in 1780 and only at the age of 47 received the right to be a free man. Even as a child, little Vasily showed a penchant for drawing, but the count sent him to study to become a pastry chef. Later, he is nevertheless sent to the Imperial Academy, where he shows his talent in all its beauty. For his portraits “The Lacemaker” and “The Old Beggar” Vasily Tropinin was awarded the title of academician.

7. Petrov-Vodkin Kuzma

The famous artist managed to leave behind a rich heritage in world painting. Russian artist Petrov-Vodkin. He was born in 1878 in Khvalynsk, and in his early years was going to become a railway worker. However, fate made him a world-famous painter.

8. Alexey Savrasov

The paintings of this Russian artist were already selling well when he was barely 12 years old. A little later he entered Moscow school painting and instantly became one of the best students. A trip to Ukraine helped Savrasov graduate from college ahead of schedule and receive the title of artist.

The paintings “Stone in the Forest” and “Moscow Kremlin” made this painter an academician at the age of 24! The royal family is interested in the young talent, and Tretyakov himself buys many of his works for international exhibitions. Among them were “Winter”, “The Rooks Have Arrived”, “Rasputitsa” and others.

The death of two daughters and the subsequent divorce greatly affect Savrasov. He drinks heavily and soon dies in a hospital for the poor.

9. Andrey Rublev

Andrei Rublev is the most famous Russian icon painter. He was born in the 15th century and left behind a great legacy in the form of icons “Trinity”, “Annunciation”, “Baptism of the Lord”. Andrei Rublev, together with Daniil Cherny, decorated many churches with frescoes, and also painted icons for iconostases.

10. Mikhail Vrubel

Our list of the most famous Russian artists ends with Mikhail Vrubel, who during his life created many masterpieces in various subjects. He painted the Kyiv Temple, and later in Moscow began creating his famous series of “demonic” paintings. The creative wanderings of this artist did not find proper understanding among his contemporaries. Only several decades after the death of Mikhail Vrubel did art historians give him his due, and the Church agreed with his interpretations of biblical events.

Unfortunately, the artist’s personal life caused him to develop a severe form of mental disorder. The title of academician overtook him in a mental hospital, from which he was never destined to leave. Nevertheless, Mikhail Vrubel managed to create many amazing works of art that are worthy of genuine admiration. Among them, the paintings “Seated Demon”, “The Swan Princess” and “Faust” are especially worth highlighting.

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 painting " Night watch" is one of the most famous paintings by the 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"

This painting is sometimes 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 contemporary 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.

There are works of art that seem to hit the viewer over the head, stunning and amazing. Others draw you into thought and a search for layers of meaning and secret symbolism. Some paintings are shrouded in secrets and mystical mysteries, while others surprise with exorbitant prices.

We carefully reviewed all the main achievements in world painting and selected from them two dozen of the most strange paintings. Salvador Dali, whose works completely fall within the format of this material and are the first to come to mind, were not included in this collection on purpose.

It is clear that “strangeness” is a rather subjective concept and everyone has their own amazing paintings that stand out from other works of art. We will be glad if you share them in the comments and tell us a little about them.

"Scream"

Edvard Munch. 1893, cardboard, oil, tempera, pastel.
National Gallery, Oslo.

The Scream is considered a landmark expressionist event and one of the most famous paintings in the world.

There are two interpretations of what is depicted: it is the hero himself who is gripped by horror and silently screams, pressing his hands to his ears; or the hero closes his ears from the cry of the world and nature sounding around him. Munch wrote four versions of “The Scream,” and there is a version that this painting is the fruit of manic-depressive psychosis from which the artist suffered. After a course of treatment at the clinic, Munch did not return to work on the canvas.

“I was walking along the path with two friends. The sun was setting - suddenly the sky turned blood red, I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned against the fence - I looked at the blood and flames over the bluish-black fjord and city. My friends moved on, and I stood, trembling with excitement, feeling an endless scream piercing nature,” Edvard Munch said about the history of the creation of the painting.

“Where did we come from? Who are we? Where are we going?

Paul Gauguin. 1897-1898, oil on canvas.
Museum fine arts, 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.”

Deep philosophical picture post-impressionist Paul Gauguin was painted by him in Tahiti, where he fled from Paris. Upon completion of the work, he even wanted to commit suicide: “I believe that this painting is superior to all my previous ones and that I will never create something better or even similar.” He lived another five years, and so it happened.

"Guernica"

Pablo Picasso. 1937, oil on canvas.
Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid.

Guernica presents scenes of death, violence, brutality, suffering and helplessness, without specifying their immediate causes, but they are obvious. It is said that in 1940, Pablo Picasso was summoned to the Gestapo in Paris. The conversation immediately turned to the painting. “Did you do this?” - “No, you did it.”

The huge fresco painting “Guernica,” painted by Picasso in 1937, tells the story of a raid by a Luftwaffe volunteer unit on the city of Guernica, as a result of which the city of six thousand was completely destroyed. The painting was painted literally in a month - the first days of work on the painting, Picasso worked for 10-12 hours, and already in the first sketches one could see main idea. This is one of the best illustrations of the nightmare of fascism, as well as human cruelty and grief.

"Portrait of the Arnolfini couple"

Jan van Eyck. 1434, wood, oil.
London national gallery, London.

The famous painting is completely filled with symbols, allegories and various references - right down to the signature “Jan van Eyck was here”, which turned the painting not just into a work of art, but into a historical document confirming the reality of the event at which the artist was present.

The portrait supposedly of Giovanni di Nicolao Arnolfini and his wife is one of the most complex works Western school of painting of the Northern Renaissance.

In Russia, in the last few years, the painting has gained great popularity due to Arnolfini’s portrait resemblance to Vladimir Putin.

"Demon Seated"

Mikhail Vrubel. 1890, oil on canvas.
State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow.

"The hands resist him"

Bill Stoneham. 1972.

This work, of course, cannot be ranked among the masterpieces of world painting, but the fact that it is strange is a fact.

There are legends surrounding the painting with a boy, a doll and his hands pressed against the glass. From “people are dying because of this picture” to “the children in it are alive.” The picture looks really creepy, which gives rise to a lot of fears and speculation among people with weak psyches.

The artist assured that the picture depicts himself at the age of five, that the door is a representation dividing line between real world and the world of dreams, and the doll is a guide who can guide the boy through this world. The hands represent alternative lives or possibilities.

The painting gained notoriety in February 2000 when it was put up for sale on eBay with a backstory saying that the painting was “haunted.” “Hands Resist Him” was bought for $1,025 by Kim Smith, who was then simply inundated with letters from creepy stories and demands to burn the painting.

12.11.2013

Today we will talk about the most famous paintings in the world, which are immortal masterpieces of world art. The cost of a painting does not always reflect it true value, therefore, the most expensive paintings in the world, which were discussed last time, are not always internationally recognized and famous. The works that we will talk about today are priceless examples of painting and are kept in the most famous and revered museums around the world.

Scream

This is the only one sold famous painting from this list, which was won by billionaire Leon Black, paying $119.9 million for it. The painting was painted by Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch. It took about 27 years to create, from 1983 to 1910, and subsequently the artist even created a lithograph following the plot of the painting. The man depicted on the canvas is distinguished by his unusual appearance: A large head, a frightened look, an open mouth and hands placed on the face symbolize despair.

Persistence of memory

Quite a young creation of small size - 24x33 cm. Image famous painting arose in the imagination of the brilliant Salvador Dali when he observed a piece processed cheese. The painting was painted in 1931, and since 1934 it has been the property of the New York Museum of Art.

Sistine Madonna

A work by Raphael, commissioned by Pope Julius II. The main character of the picture is the Madonna, who is holding a baby in her arms. On either side of her are Pope Sixtus II and Barbara, and below is a pair of angels with a pensive look. The canvas, measuring 256x196 cm, decorates the altar of the church in the monastery of St. Sixtus. She is in the top 5 the most famous paintings in the world.

Cossacks write a letter to the Turkish Sultan

The great Russian artist Ilya Repin took eleven years to paint this monumental canvas measuring 2.03 x 3.58 m. The painting depicts the moment the Cossacks, led by Koshe chieftain Ivan Serko, wrote a response letter to the Turkish Sultan Mehmed IV. There are several versions of this painting painted by Repin. One of them is presented in St. Petersburg, and the second is in Kharkov.

Creation of Adam

The Creation of Adam is a masterpiece Italian artist Michelangelo, painted in 1511. This painting is very deep and symbolic; in it the artist expressed his view on the emergence of life on Earth. On the composition, which is part Sistine Chapel, God is depicted surrounded by wingless angels, he touches Adam’s hand and breathes life into his body, after which Adam comes to life and stretches out his hand to meet God. Opens three the most famous paintings in the world.

last supper

Duke Ludovico Sforza commissioned this painting from Leonardo da Vinci. The picture tells us about the last supper of Jesus Christ. In the center of the canvas is Jesus sitting at a table, and around him are the apostles and Mary Magdalene, or perhaps this is the Apostle John? Leonardo da Vinci painted this painting between 1495 and 1498, but the exact date of the masterpiece has not yet been established.

Mona Lisa (La Gioconda)

Authorship of this the most famous painting in the world belongs to the brush of Leonardo da Vinci. Many art connoisseurs consider this work to be the pinnacle of his creativity. Probably every person has heard at least something about the Mona Lisa or seen this mysterious image, a mysterious smile. The full title of the painting is “Portrait of Madame Lisa del Gioconda.” It depicts Lisa Gherardini, the wife of a silk merchant. Now every connoisseur of painting can see this masterpiece of world art in the Louvre in Paris.