The Most Iconic Pieces of Art & Where to Find Them

THE MOST IÇONIC bieces of art 4 WHERE TOMND THEM THE BIRTH OF VENUS THE LAST SUPPER 1486 SANDRO BOTTICELLI 1495 LEONARDO DA VINCI SANTA MARIA DELLE GRAZIE UFFIZI, FLORENCE MONASTERY, MILAN This piece which depicts the goddess Venus emerging This mural, by Leonardo da Vinci, is not found in a from the sea is a deep-rooted symbol of beauty and museum but instead on the back wall of the dining femininity and is also one of the earliest paintings to hall at Santa Maria delle Grazie monastery in Milan. be completed on canvas. It is believed that the piece The painting shows Jesus with his disciples at the Last was commissioned by the wealthy Medici family and is Supper and is one of Milan's most popular attractions. now commonly agreed to be one of the most acclaimed works of the Renaissance. MONA LISA THE CREATION OF ADAM 1503-1506 LEONARDO DA VINCI 1508 - 1512 MICHELANGELO LOUVRE MUSEUM, PARIS THE SISTINE CHAPEL, VATICAN CITY Over 6 million people flock to the Louvre each year to This iconic fresco, found on the ceiling of the Sistine get a glimpse of the mysterious Mona Lisa. The painting, Chapel, depicts the Biblical scene of creation from thought to depict the wife of a wealthy Florentine silk the Book of Genesis in which God breathes life into merchant, is the subject of much discussion and is ' the Adam. The most famous part of this painting is the best known, the most visited, the most written about, outstretched arms of God and Adam, which has the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in become the classical image of humanity and represents the world', according to journalist John Lichfield. the idea that Man has been created in the image and likeness of God. 米 THE LAUGHING THE NIGHT WATCH CAVALIER 1642 REMBRANDT VAN RIJN 1624 FRANS ALS RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM WALLACE COLLECTION, LONDON Completed at the peak of the Dutch Golden Age, Another example of the Dutch Golden Age, the subject the painting portrays a city guard moving out, led by of this portrait was unknown for centuries, although he Captain Frans Banning Cocq, his lieutenant and the has now been identified as wealthy civilian Tieleman guard's men. As with many of Rembrandt's works, it is Roostermann. Pictured in an intricate silk costume and believed that the painting has several layers of meaning an embroidered sleeve and lace cuff, Roosterman seems - including the union between the Dutch Protestants to be smiling which was unusual for pieces of that time. and Catholics, as well as to evoke the war effort against the Spaniards. GIRL WITH A A REGATTA ON THE PEARL EARRING GRAND CANAL 1665 JOHANNES VERMEER 1735 GIOVANNI ANTONIO CANALETTO O MAURITSHUIS GALLERY, THE HAGUE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, LONDON Commonly referred to as 'the Mona Lisa of the North' this serene painting by Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer Canaletto captured the colourful festivities of the 18th features a girl, wearing an oriental headscarf and a pearl century Venetian regatta, an annual event taking place earring. She has sparked much interest and has had a during the carnival period, which still continues to this number of cultural impacts most recently including a day. The painting shows one of the rowing races which recreation by English street artist Banksy, who replaced ran the length of the Grand Canal. the pearl with an alarm box and called his piece 'Girl with a Pierced Eardrum'. WATER LILIES WHISTLER'S MOTHER 1840 - 1926 CLAUDE MONET 1871 JAMES ABBOTT MCNEIL WHISTLER SEVERAL LOCATIONS MUSÉE D'ORSAY, PARIS Not just one painting, but instead a series of 250 pieces, Officially 'Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1' it is not Water Lilies is just what the name suggests - several a surprise that the colloquial name 'Whistler's Mother' paintings depicting a water lily pond in his back garden. became popular, especially as the model is indeed the The various works of art are now spread throughout artist's mother. The image is widely for motherhood many of the world's most famous art galleries, notably and affection for parents as well as for 'family values' in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, London's general and has also been referred to as the Victorian National Gallery and Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris. Mona Lisa. 米 BAL DU MOULIN VASE WITH FIFTEEN DE LA GALETTE SUNFLOWERS 1876 PIERRE-AUGUSTE RENOIR 1888 VINCENT VAN GOGH MUSÉE D'ORSAY, PARIS NATIONAL GALLERY, LONDON Undoubtedly Renoir's most important piece of work The sunflowers displayed in the National Gallery is and an early example of Impressionism, Le Moulin de one of four paintings created by van Gogh during la Galette portrays Parisian life at the garden on the a rare phase of excited optimism. He painted the sunflowers to decorate fellow artist Gaugin's room in the so-called Yellow House that he rented in Arles Butte Montmartre. Renoir incorporated a number of his own friends into the painting, showing them enjoying a typical Sunday afternoon dancing, drinking and eating in the South of France. Although van Gogh dreamed traditional galettes, and conveying the happy and of setting up a community of artists with Gaugin as carefree atmosphere of 19th century Paris. its mentor, the alliance ended in disaster following a series of violent incidents. %23 STARRY NIGHT THE SCREAM 1889 VINCENT VAN GOGH 1893 EDVARD MUNCH MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK THE NATIONAL GALLERY, OSLO Portraying the view from van Gogh's asylum room Expressionist artist Edvard Munch created four versions at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence in France, the oil on of this frightening painting, each using different canvas painting is commonly regarded as among his mediums. The work depicts a figure with an agonized finest works. In popular culture, the painting provided expression against a landscape with an intense orange inspiration for the Don McLean song 'Vincent' sky. Interestingly The Scream has been involved in a commonly known as 'starry starry night', which number of high-profile art thefts; in 1994 it was stolen references the painting along with other van from the National Gallery and in 2004 from the Munch Gogh paintings. Museum in Oslo. OPHELIA THE KISS 1894 JOHN WILLIAM 1908 GUSTAV KLIMT WATERHOUSE ÖSTERREICHISCHE GALERIE BELVEDERE, 오 PRIVATE COLLECTION VIENNA This glitzy geometric yet realistic painting is one of This version of Ophelia, the heroine of Shakespeare's Symbolist artist Gustav Klimt's most famous. The Hamlet, is the second in a series of three paintings painting shows an entwined couple, dressed in detailed robes, sharing a kiss. In addition to oil paints, Klimt which portray her in various stages before her tragic death. The figure of Ophelia was particularly popular applied layers of gold leaf which gives the work an air of Art Nouveau style whilst making it appear strikingly in Victorian art as she personifies the melancholic character of the madwoman. modern at the same time. AMERICAN GOTHIC THE PERSISTENCE 1889 GRANT WOOD OF MEMORY 1931 SALVADOR DALÍ THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO O MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK Wood's painting portrays the typical roles of men and women in colonial America and is one of the most This well-known surrealist piece encourages people to well known (and parodied) images in 20th century reflect on their way of life and the ways in which they American Art. The work was inspired by the American spend their time. It is thought the piece was inspired by Gothic House in lowa and he decided to paint the house Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity although when along with "the kind of people I fancied should live in Dalí himself was asked about this he answered that the that house". images of soft watches were actually his perception of a camembert cheese melting in the sun. ampls amplele Camot pour Soer EN PA Sour Sour VETA SOUP sour SOUP Camplea Campo Cample amplee Cample amp sour APA SOUP ATO SOUP soUP SOUP SOUP SOUP Campl Campl tample tamp SOUP SouP SOUP SOUP sour sour SOUP tampl Campe Campba Camplele Composs SOUP SouP SOUP SOUP SOUP SouP SOUP CAMPBELL'S SOUP CANS GUERNICA 1937 1962 ANDY WARHOL PABLO PICASSO MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK MUSEO REINA SOFIA, MADRID Picasso's most famous painting was inspired by the Warhol's 32 Campbell's soup cans, each one a different bombing of the Spanish village of Guernica during flavour, certainly deserves a place on this list. Unveiled the Spanish Civil War. Despite living in Paris at the time of the bombing, Picasso used an eyewitness at the Los Angeles' Fergus Gallery in 1962, it was part of the exhibition that introduced Pop Art to the West account published in The Times to visualise the Coast and is one of the most iconic pieces of Pop Art. terrible scenes. SOURCES & REFERENCES PARROTPRINT 10mosttoday.com BRING YOUR IMAGES TO LIFE madisonartshop.com wwW.PARROTPRINTCANVAS.COM