Highlights
- ‘Las Meninas’ contains a self-portrait of Velázquez himself, as well as a portrait of Spanish royalty
- ‘The Scream’ consists of two paintings, two pastels, and then an unspecified number of prints
- Most of the famous paintings still baffle many art scholars!
An artistic vision is something that not all people are gifted with. Some people are good at various forms of art while others are not. But amongst those, the most valued form of art would be paintings. Paintings were a form of pleasure, expression, and a way of showing one’s status in society. There were many forms of paintings introduced during the 15th-17th century. Some of the most famous paintings are listed below.
Most Famous Paintings That You Should Know
1. Mona Lisa
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1503 to 1519
Mona Lisa is known to all as the most famous painting in the world of a mysterious woman with a mysterious smile. Many people have analyzed this painting for thousands of years and people are still baffled about what it depicts. This picture was a new step into the world of art, as it is the earliest known Italian portrait that focused closely on the person, that too in a half-size portrait. This painting has taken the first spot in the category of most famous paintings.
2. The Last Supper
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1495 to 1498
The Last Supper is a concept known to all, and this painting made by Leonardo manages to portray it perfectly. This was painted during the peak time of religious imagery. The painting has a width of 8.8 meters (28.9 feet) and a height of 4.6 meters (15 feet).
3. The Starry Night
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Even with all the great creations in this world, nothing can ever be compared to the beauty of starry nights. From the beginning of the earth till now, it still mesmerizes everyone, and Vincent van Gogh made sure that his painting would depict it flawlessly. He portrayed the beauty of the starry night with his signature brush strokes technique. His painting techniques have baffled many art lovers for years.
4. The Scream
Artist: Edvard Munch
Date: 1893
‘The Scream’ is different from other famous paintings. It consists of two paintings, two pastels, and then an unspecified number of prints. Munch wanted to portray his experience of a dramatic red-hue that overwhelmed his senses.
5. Guernica
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1937
Amongst others on this list, Guernica would be a painting that was made recently. It depicted the impact of aerial bombings in the Basque region during the Spanish Civil War. While staying true to the Picasso style, this artwork portrayed the various horrors of the war.
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6. The Kiss
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Estimated date: 1907 to 1908
Gustav Klimt made a statement about love through this painting. The Upper Belvedere said that ‘The Kiss’ is a “general allegorical statement about love being at the heart of human existence.” He painted two life-size people wearing highly decorative robes with a Byzantine artistic influence.
7. Girl With A Pearl Earring
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Estimated date: 1665
Most of the art researchers compare this painting with Leonardo Da Vinci’s ‘Mono Lisa’. But these two pictures have close to very little or no similarities. This is not even a portrait, to begin with. It’s a “Tronie”, which is a Dutch word for a painting of an imaginary figure with exaggerated facial expressions. With only a pitch-black backdrop, this “Tronie” is all about a girl in a blue and gold turban, wearing an oversized pearl earring.
8. The Birth Of Venus
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Estimated date: 1485
This is one of the oldest paintings in the most famous paintings category and is also one of the most sensuous ones. This artwork holds two significant features – the first is that the painting was made on canvas rather than on wood which was used by most artisans, and secondly, nudity was not popular around those times, hence this one is regarded as one of the rarest of rare paintings from that era.
9. Las Meninas
Artist: Diego Velázquez
Date: 1656
Diego Velázquez’s famous and largest painting is a spectacular work of art that has dazzled art critics and the public for years. ‘Las Meninas’ contains a self-portrait of Velázquez himself, as well as a portrait of Spanish royalty,
10. Creation Of Adam
Artist: Michelangelo
Date: 1508 to 1512
The “Creation of Adam” is known for its strong yet subtle brush strokes. A part of the Sistine Chapel’s ceiling, it has an image of God and Adam almost touching each other. This is one of the most replicated images in history.
Final Words
These are just a few of the most valued and recognized paintings. Each of these famous paintings holds a different meaning and has been made using different techniques, some invented by the artist themselves and others that were already in use. Most of these paintings still baffle many art scholars!
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