List of some of the most famous paintings in the World

Some of the most famous paintings in the world have been made by the greatest painters of all times. I acknowledge their mastery and skill and admire all these works, from the Mona Lisa to the melting clocks of Dali
Here is the list of some of the most famous paintings ever and my description for the layman along with links to see the works themselves. If it were my list I’d also include many other works but then it would be a list of Collette’s favourite paintings and not likely to be any where near as interesting, no I hesitate, I think it could well be, so just might compile that list for another day!

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci. Id like to use the description from yesterdays post but I wont, the most famous painting of all, needs no description. See it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mona_Lisa

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. A religious scene of Christ with his apostles at a long table. There are many rumours in regards ot hidden messages in this piece and many spoofs done of it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Supper_%28Leonardo_da_Vinci%29

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt. A beautiful painting of a couple entwined in an embrace, him leaning into kiss her, her head is almost at a right angle making me wonder if she didn’t want to be kissed so not so romantic after all. A very detailed piece. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Kiss_%28Klimt_painting%29

The Scream by Edvard Munch. There is more than one version of this artwork by Munch but is described as being of an agonised figure against a blood red sky. Its memorising but also quite scary. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scream

The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. A swirling mass of fireballs reminiscent of fireworks but meant to be stars and the moon with a silhouetted tree and darkened village. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Starry_Night

Luncheon of the Boating Party by Pierre Auguste Renoir. A beautiful and happy scene of a group enjoying a picnic. The scene doesn’t make me think of boats, more of a restaurant balcony than anything else, but they all seem to be having a wonderful time! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luncheon_of_the_Boating_Party

Impression, Sunrise by Claude Monet. A harbour scene that features a misty sunrise with a silhouetted rowboat, probably its best feature for me. I much prefer Monet’s waterlilies myself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impression,_Sunrise

The Last Judgement by Michaelangelo. A fresco showing the apocalypse, the returning of Christ, it shows many figures said to be angels floating in a sky. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Last_Judgment_%28Michelangelo%29

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali. Everyone who knows art knows the melting clocks or watches of Dali. This is his most famous version. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Persistence_of_Memory

The Old Guitarist by Pablo Picasso. One of Picasso’s works where he painted in realism. The old man possibly a street musician or a beggar sits cross-legged playing a guitar. http://www.dotcalmvillage.net/nowwhatzinesep02/legacysep.html

Café Terrace at Night by Vincent Van Gogh. Having read the book, The Yellow House I can almost picture this scene when he painted it. The gorgeous play on light and perspective make this an amazing artwork. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cafe_Terrace_at_Night

Girl with a Pearl Earring by Jan Vermeer. If you are an artist I highly recommend watching this movie. The story behind this painting is very interesting. A portrait of a female with a head scarf of the era and a dangly pearly earring, I think its beautiful myself. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_with_a_Pearl_Earring

 From the Lake by Georgia O’Keeffe. This one is more of an abstract and looks to me like a wild seascape. Beautiful colours. http://www.globalgallery.com/enlarge/39190/

The Dream by Pablo Picasso. Not one of my favourite pieces of Picasso’s; it’s of a woman with her head to one side sleeping. She is sitting in a red chair. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_R%C3%AAve_%28painting%29

The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli. A beautiful nude woman with really long hair standing in a scallop shell. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_Venus_%28Botticelli%29

American Gothic by Grant Wood. The scary farmer couple who apparently were not even a couple, they were meant to look like father and daughter but weren’t even that. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Gothic

Arrangement in Black & Grey, Portrait of the Artist’s Mother by James McNiell Whistler. Or as I know it, the painting in Mr. Bean The Ultimate Disaster Movie where he ruins the painting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whistler%27s_Mother

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. A huge painting in fact 2metres by 3metres. All done in dots. This is a waterside scene of people with parasols and enjoying a day relaxing. See it here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Sunday_Afternoon_on_the_Island_of_La_Grande_Jatte

The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. You probably think you haven’t seen this piece but chances are you have, check it out here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Great_Wave_off_Kanagawa A huge tidal wave beautifully done. Has been known to be used on surfer type t-shirts and was adopted by 1980s metal bands.

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? By Paul Gauguin. Somewhere in there I expected to see Cotton eyed Joe but it wasn’t to be! This painting is meant to be ‘read’ from left to right as it dictates a story from birth until death. I can see that in it but needed to do more comprehensive study to really understand this piece along with others of Gauguin’s. An artwork depicting many people in a Tahitian setting.  Check it out here at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Where_Do_We_Come_From%3F_What_Are_We%3F_Where_Are_We_Going%3F