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!
10. 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
11. 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
12. Girl with a
13. From the
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. Sunday Afternoon on the
19. 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.
20. 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
Posted: Monday 25 January 2010
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