Small paintings by famous artists. Masterpieces of world painting

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519) - famous Italian painter, architect, philosopher, musician, writer, researcher, mathematician, engineer, anatomist, inventor and geologist. Known for his paintings, the most famous of which are "The Last Supper" and "Mona Lisa", as well as numerous inventions that were much ahead of their time, but remained only on paper. In addition, Leonardo da Vinci made an important contribution to the development of anatomy, astronomy and technology.

Raphael Santi (March 28, 1483 - April 6, 1520) was a great Italian painter and architect working during the Renaissance, covering the period from the late 15th and early 16th century. Traditionally, Raphael is considered one of the three great masters of this period, along with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Many of his works are in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, in a room called Raphael's stanza. Among others, his most famous work, The School of Athens, is located here.

Diego Rodriguez de Silva y Velazquez (June 6, 1599 - August 6, 1660) - Spanish painter, portrait painter, court painter of King Philip IV, the greatest representative of the golden age of Spanish painting. In addition to numerous paintings depicting historical and cultural scenes from the past, he painted many portraits of the Spanish royal family as well as other famous European figures. The most famous work of Velazquez is considered the painting "Meninas" (or "The Family of Philip IV") in 1656, located in the Prado Museum in Madrid.

Pablo Diego Jose Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuseno Maria de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santisima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Ruiz and Picasso (October 25, 1881 - April 8, 1973) - the world famous Spanish painter and sculptor, the founder of the Cubism movement in the visual arts. He is considered one of the greatest artists who influenced the development of the visual arts in the 20th century. Experts, was recognized as the best artist among those who have lived over the past 100 years, as well as the most "expensive" in the world. During his life, Picasso created about 20 thousand works (according to other sources, 80 thousand).

Vincent Willem Van Gogh (March 30, 1853 - July 29, 1890) was a famous Dutch artist who gained fame only after his death. According to many experts, Van Gogh is one of the greatest artists in the history of European art, as well as one of the most prominent representatives of Post-Impressionism. Author of over 2,100 works of art, including 870 paintings, 1,000 drawings and 133 sketches. His many self-portraits, landscapes and portraits are some of the most recognizable and expensive works of art in the world. The most famous work of Vincent Van Gogh, perhaps, is considered a series of paintings called "Sunflowers".

Michelangelo Buonarroti (March 6, 1475 - February 18, 1564) is a world famous Italian sculptor, artist, architect, poet and thinker who has left an indelible mark on the entire world culture. The most famous work of the artist is perhaps the frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Among his sculptures, the most famous are Pieta (Lamentation of Christ) and David. From the works of architecture - the design of the dome of St. Peter's Basilica. Interestingly, Michelangelo became the first representative of Western European art, whose biography was written during his lifetime.

In fourth place in the list of the most famous artists in the world is Masaccio (December 21, 1401-1428) - the great Italian artist who had a huge influence on other artists. Masaccio lived a very short life, so there is little biographical evidence about him. Only four of his frescoes have survived, which are undoubtedly the work of Masaccio. Others are believed to have been destroyed. Masaccio's most famous work is considered to be the Trinity fresco in the Church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy.

Peter Paul Rubens (June 28, 1577 - May 30, 1640) - Flemish (South Dutch) painter, one of the greatest painters of the Baroque era, known for his extravagant style. He was considered the most versatile artist of his time. In his works, Rubens emphasized and embodied the vitality and sensuality of color. He painted numerous portraits, landscapes and historical paintings with mythological, religious and allegorical subjects. The most famous work of Rubens is the triptych "Descent from the Cross" written in the period from 1610 to 1614 and brought the artist worldwide fame.

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (September 29, 1571 - July 18, 1610) - the great Italian artist of the early Baroque period, the founder of European realistic painting of the 17th century. In his works, Caravaggio skillfully used the contrasts of light and shadow, focusing on details. He often portrayed ordinary Romans, people from the streets and markets in the images of saints and Madonnas. Examples are Matthew the Evangelist, Bacchus, Saul's Conversion, etc. One of the artist's most famous paintings is The Lute Player (1595), which Caravaggio called his most successful painting fragment.

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) is a famous Dutch painter and printmaker who is considered the greatest and most famous painter in the world. Author of about 600 paintings, 300 etchings and 2 thousand drawings. Its characteristic feature is a masterful play with light effects and deep shadows. The most famous work of Rembrandt is considered the four-meter painting "Night Watch", painted in 1642 and now stored in the State Museum in Amsterdam.

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Mona Lisa. Leonardo da Vinci 1503-1506

One of the most recognizable and famous paintings in the world, its full name is Portrait of Mrs. Lisa del Giocondo. The portrait depicts Liza del Giocondo, an Italian middle-class Renaissance mother of six. The model has shaved eyebrows and hair at the top of the forehead, in line with the quattrocento fashion. Leonardo da Vinci attributed this portrait to his favorite works, often described it in his notes and undoubtedly considered it his best work. This picture rightfully heads the list of the most popular paintings in the world.

"The Birth of Venus". Sandro Botticelli 1482 - 1486

An excellent illustration of the myth of the birth of Aphrodite. Naked Venus is heading towards the earth in a shell, driven by the western wind by Zephyr, the wind mixed with flowers - this symbolizes spring and beauty. On the shore, Aphrodite is met by one of the goddesses of beauty. After the creation of this picture, the artist Botticelli received world recognition, in this he was helped by his unique style of writing, he favorably distinguished from his contemporaries with his floating rhythms, which were not used by anyone but him.

"Creation of Adam". Michelangelo 1511

Placed on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, it is the fourth of nine works in the series. Michelangelo clarified the unreality of the symbiosis of the heavenly and the human, according to the artist, the image of God contains not a phenomenal heavenly power, but creative energy that can be conveyed without touching.

"Morning in a pine forest". Ivan Shishkin, Konstantin Savitsky 1889

"Girl on the Ball". Pablo Picasso 1905

A picture of contrasts. It depicts the halt of a wandering circus in a scorched desert. The main characters are also very contrasting: A strong, sad, monolithic man sits on a cube. At that time, a fragile and smiling girl is balancing beside him, on a ball.

"The last day of Pompeii". Karl Bryullov 1833

During a visit to Pompeii in 1828, Bryulov made many sketches and sketches, he already knew what the final work would look like. The painting was presented in Rome, but then it was moved to the Louvre, where many critics and art historians admired Charles's talent, after this work the world classics came to him, but unfortunately, most of his work is associated only with this painting.

One of the most recognizable paintings

"Starlight Night". Vincent van Gogh 1889

A cult painting by a Dutch artist, which he painted from his own memories (which is not typical of Van Gogh), because at that time he was in the hospital. After all, when the fits of rage passed, he was quite adequate and could draw. For this, his brother Theo made an agreement with the doctors, and they allowed him to work with paints in the ward. Why did Van Gogh cut off his ear? Read in my article.

"The Ninth Wave". Ivan Aivazovsky 1850

One of the most famous marine-themed paintings (marina). Aivazovsky was originally from Crimea, so it is not difficult to explain his love for water and the sea. The ninth wave is an artistic image of inevitable danger and tension, you can also say: the calm before the storm.

"Girl with a Pearl Earring". Jan Vermeer 1665

The iconic scene of the Dutch artist, it is also called the Dutch Mona Lisa. This work is not quite a portrait work, but to a greater extent belongs to the genre of "troni", where the emphasis is not on the portrait of a person, but on his head. The girl with a pearl earring is popular in modern culture, and several films have been shot about her.

"Impression. Rising Sun "Claude Monet 1872

The painting that gave rise to the genre "impressionism". The popular journalist Louis Leroy, after visiting the exhibition with this work, defeated Claude Monet, he wrote: "the wallpaper hanging on the wall, and they look more finished than this" Impression "." It is considered the canonical representative of the genre, more popular than many other paintings by great artists.

Afterword and small request

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Many people who are fond of painting are forced to give up such an occupation, since it is not easy to break out into people and become a famous and in-demand artist. And yet, some have succeeded. Find out which artists are the most famous.

The most famous artists

So, the top 10 most famous artists in the world:

He began to draw by chance and not in his childhood years. At the age of 20, Henri underwent removal surgery, and his mother bought him paints and paper. Matisse first copied color cards, and then got so carried away by drawing that he even decided to become a professional artist.

Despite his father's protests, Henri began to study painting. Matisse's drawing style was very unusual and similar to impressionism. At first, Henri copied the works of foreign masters, and then began to create his own masterpieces. The most famous works of Henri Matisse are "Parisian Dance", "Joy of Life", "Conversation", "Family Portrait", "Red Room".

By the way, Matisse even opened his own painting school. Today his paintings are kept in the best museums and are in the collections of the richest people.

He was a difficult teenager and at school lessons, instead of completing assignments, he painted the covers of notebooks with funny portraits of classmates and teachers. Soon, many learned about such a talent of Claude, and he became a very famous cartoonist in his city, and later began to take money for his work. But then Monet met an experienced landscape painter who took on his training.

And only then Claude fell in love with nature and learned to feel it. The guy expressed his emotions in drawings, which later became so popular that today they are included in the best collections of paintings. The most famous works: "Sunset over the sea", "Sunflowers", "Tulips of Holland", "By the sea", "Road in the forest", "Still life with meat".

Today everyone knows his name, as well as the best works, including such as "Girl on a Ball", "Life", "Bathers", "Avignon Maidens" and many others. And his painting Nude, Green Leaves and Bust became the most expensive painting ever sold.

Picasso was a talented painter, graphic artist, designer, ceramist, decorator and sculptor. It was he who is the founder of Cubism. In addition, Picasso made a huge contribution to the development of art of the last century, it probably would not have been like this without this man.

In total, during his life, Pablo completed about 20 thousand works, each of which was unique and unique. Picasso began to draw from an early age, and took his first painting lessons from his father, who was a drawing teacher (later this position was held by Pablo himself). And the young Picasso drew inspiration from fairy tales that his mother invented herself and told her son at night.

4. Vincent van Gogh- Dutch post-impressionist artist, who created many amazing and unusual works. Vincent was a difficult teenager, but to outsiders he seemed thoughtful and serious. Van Gogh began painting later, when he began working for an art and trade company.

Every day Vincent was in contact with works of art, so he learned to appreciate them. After unsuccessful love affairs of the young dealer Van Gogh began to deteriorate, and at some point he decided to try his hand at painting. Still, Vincent had to earn a living, although he did not like the job. After several setbacks, Van Gogh decided to devote himself entirely to painting and presented the world with many masterpieces.

- an artist of Armenian origin (his real name is Hovhannes). From childhood, Ivan showed creative abilities, he even learned to play the violin on his own. Aivazovsky also painted beautifully and constantly developed his abilities.

Ivan especially appreciated and adored the sea, and that is why chic seascapes prevail among his works, which depict storms, shipwrecks, waves and depths. The most famous paintings by the artist are "The Ninth Wave", "Venice", "Chaos", "Sinking Ship", "Ice Mountains", "Wave", "Black Sea".

- an artist who was practically the discoverer of the beauties of Russian nature. He loved everything: trees, every blade of grass, the sky, dewdrops, flowers. And this love of his is perfectly visible in the paintings, each of which is a real masterpiece.

His landscapes proved to everyone that Russia is not a gray boring country, as they used to think, but an incredibly beautiful place. Here are some of the artist's most famous works: "Evening Bells", "March", "Golden Autumn". By the way, many of his landscapes are still used as illustrations and are printed in textbooks.

Is a truly unique and legendary artist who changed the way society views painting. A distinctive feature of Pollock's works was that they looked little like paintings. It may seem that someone has spilled paint on paper, but upon closer and closer examination, you can see something mysterious and deep.

And Jackson himself was completely immersed in the process and expressed his emotions through the canvas. He laid the paper on the floor and used broken glass, liquid paints, scoops, knives and sticks to paint. The most famous works of Pollock are "Number 5" (this is the most expensive painting of the artist), "Woman-moon, cutting a circle" and "Wolf".

Known for painting portraits of most famous people. But the stars turn to Nikas for a reason, he is very talented. Safronov was born in a simple family and achieved everything himself. In addition, he is one of the few artists who managed to become famous during his lifetime. Nikas's list of works includes portraits of such celebrities as Mike Tyson, Sophia Loren, Mick Jagger, Julio Iglesias, Elton John, Sting, Steven Spielberg, Jack Nicholson and many others.

- perhaps the most iconic and significant person in the history of pop art. Andy started drawing in childhood. At first he illustrated magazines, but then decided to create independent works, drawing inspiration from food, drinks and other consumer goods.

He painted canned food, fruits, alcoholic beverages. But all the pictures were distinguished by a special manner of execution. The drawings were so eccentric and vibrant that they simply could not fail to be noticed.

- master of figurative painting and expressionist painter. The main theme of his work is the human body. But Francis painted bodies usually elongated, distorted, enclosed in some kind of figures or objects. The most famous works of Bacon - "The Sleeping Man", "Woman", the triptych "The Crucifixion", as well as "Three Sketches for the Portrait of Lucian Freud."

These were the most famous artists of all time.

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

"The Birth of Venus"

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

"Water lilies"

For 43 years of his life, Monet lived in Giverny (a small town 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, on this site, the artist laid out two gardens, one of which was on the water. The motives of the water garden occupy a significant place in the artist's work. Works from this series have spread to museums around the world, however, a decent group of works are presented at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. One of the most famous paintings in the world.

"The night Watch"

Completed in 1642, at the height of the Dutch Golden Age, Night Watch is one of the most famous paintings by the Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. The painting shows the performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruutenbürg. The painting is on display at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

"Scream"

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

"Girl with a Pearl Earring"

This painting is sometimes called the "Dutch Mona Lisa". Girl with a Pearl Earring was painted around 1665 by the Dutch artist Jan Vermeer.

"Starlight Night"

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

"Mona Lisa"

The most famous painting of 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 kidnapped by Louvre employee Vincenzo Perugio, an Italian patriot who believed the Mona Lisa should be returned to Italy. After storing the painting for 2 years at home, Perugio 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.

In the world of art, there is a huge number of works that shocked the whole world and, breaking the usual stereotypes, left the most important mark in history. The creators of world-famous masterpieces of painting threw down a kind of challenge to society, which changed its idea of ​​beauty and pushed the established framework. Since there are many such revolutionary works in the history of art and it is impossible to cover all of them, we decided to pay attention to the 10 most famous canvases of artists of 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 of a genius. This canvas is really 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 Gerardini, so at first the Italians and then the French began to call the painting "La Gioconda". The famous 16th century historian Giorgio Vasari was delighted with the portrait and in his book The Lives of Outstanding Italian Architects, Sculptors and Painters, he called it an abbreviated version of the word madonna ("my lady") - Mona Lisa.

In the process of working on the picture, the artist, through careful composition, soft gamut of tones and painting techniques, achieved that harmony, thanks to which we see the image as if through an invisible haze. This light touch covers small details, softens the lines and creates an invisible transition between shape and color. Leonardo da Vinci gave our imagination a lot, so Gioconda never ceases to amaze art lovers throughout the centuries, looking at us from a 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 never ceases to conquer 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 a series of Suprematist works by the artist, which also includes the paintings "Black Circle" and "Black Cross". In this cycle, Malevich tried to explore the basic color and compositional possibilities.

The canvas is presented in the form of a small canvas 79.5 centimeters wide and 79.5 centimeters long. 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 immediately come to writing the picture. The work on the scenery for 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 of Malevich. Some of them even argued that the painting is a modern alternative to icons, that the canvas testifies to the search for a certain new religion, to 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 indisputable that the painting depicts a mysterious abyss, which draws in and gives an endless flight of imagination.

Self-portrait with a crown of thorns and a hummingbird by Frida Kahlo

The famous painting by Mexican artist Frida Kahlo "Self-portrait with a crown of thorns and a hummingbird" was painted in 1940. This self-portrait of a brilliant woman expresses the severe mental pain she experienced after her divorce from her husband, the artist Diego Rivera. This pain is transmitted in the form of thorns that pinch 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 is worse. "

The Scream - Edvard Munch

The Scream by the Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch was created between 1893 and 1910. First of all, the figure of a screaming man depicted in the center of the canvas is striking. On the face, twisted 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 20th century art. Munch's work is still one of the most extraordinary and mysterious in world painting. Some experts even suggest that the plot of the work is the product of the unhealthy imagination of a mentally ill person.

The audience also sees it in different ways: someone personifies it with a premonition of a catastrophe, someone believes that the author painted a picture inspired by the image of a mummy. Everyone sees something of their own 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 picture, whether the author wrote it to order and who was the customer. According to one of them, Vermeer captured his daughter Maria on the canvas.

Definitely, this is an unusual job with unique dynamics. The artist conveyed in the work the moment when the model turns her head and looks at the one 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 the other way.

Self-Portrait with Severed Ear and Pipe - Vincent Van Gogh

The Dutch and French artist Vincent van Gogh painted his famous "Self-portrait with a severed ear and pipe" in 1889 while in Arles. The artist suffered from mental illness due to his heightened perception of reality and mental instability.

The portrait was painted after, in a fit of insanity, Van Gogh cut off his earlobe after a quarrel with Gauguin on the basis of 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 one is orange with yellow splashes. The author portrayed himself with distorted features and a lost gaze.

The Last Supper - Salvador Dali

The famous master of surrealism Salvador Dali created his "Last Supper" in 1955. The painting is in the Washington National Gallery. The artist painted this work using a complex technique using photographic materials. The painting depicts a traditional plot, conveyed from the point of view of futurism.

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

The picture conveys a kind of moral message to the viewer. The piece is filled with light and lightness. From the windows depicted on it, we see an incredibly 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 takes pride of place alongside other masterpieces of world painting.

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

His Olympia was considered a representative of the "ancient profession" who had just received a bouquet from her lover. The society itself did not accept the name of the painting either, since this name was given to corrupt women, and offensive ridicule fell 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 beloved 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 due to the fact that they were written in 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 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

In the late 1940s, American artist Jackson Pollock invented a new technique in painting - he painted on large canvases on the floor. His paintings were created by splashing paint from brushes, he did not touch the canvas with them.

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