Famous Paintings of All Time

Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Mona Lisa in 1503. Leonardo painted this painting at the request of a very wealthy silk merchant, Francesco Del Giocondo. This painting was made for Giocondo’s wife Mona Lisa, for the celebration of his second son. This painting is one the most famous paintings of all time in the world. This painting is made of oil color on wood but it’s such a wood that even after six centuries no flaw is observed in it due to environmental phenomena. This painting is famous for many reasons among which one is the fame of the painter itself, as Leonardo Da Vinci was a famous painter and this is his masterpiece. Another, reason for its popularity is that it was made by an Italian painter but exhibited on the wall in the Louvre in Paris, France. Thus, some Italian artists thought that it should be exhibited in Italy. In 1911, this painting was stolen and remained to disappear for 2 years, famous artist Pablo Picasso was suspected of stealing it. Likewise, famous poet Guillaume Apollinaire was arrested as a suspect because he once said that the painting should be burned. Then in 1913, Italian patriot Vincenzo Perugia was suspected and arrested for stealing Mona Lisa to take it to Italy. His theft was caught when he was selling this painting to a gallery in Florence, Italy after two years of stealing it. It was taken back to France and exhibited in Louvre in Paris. In 1956, an unknown person threw acid at the painting to destroy it but he failed to destroy it. Thus, with every incident, its fame became more and more.

Vincent Van Gogh: The Starry Night (1889)

The Starry Night is considered one the most famous paintings of all time in the world and the masterpiece of Vincent Van Gogh painted in 1889. This painting was painted for the expression of the shock and melancholic situation of Vincent Van Gogh. The painter portrayed a starry night view from the asylum to express his degree of shock and sadness that the same sky, he used to see as a symbol of beauty from his balcony seems to him like a melancholic scene from the asylum. The swirling way blue melancholic color in which he composed sky shows the emotions of the painter that how gloomy he was at the asylum. Vincent Van Gough ended his life by shooting his chest with a revolver because of his mental instability.

Johannes Vermeer: Girl with a Pearl Earring (1665)

Dutch artist Johannes Vermeer painted this painting in 1665. Girl with a Pearl Earring is considered one of the most famous paintings of all time in the world. In this painting, the painter portrayed a girl in an exotic dress-wearing earring in a position, where she is accidentally looking towards the viewers in a black background. This painting became one of the most famous paintings of all time because the painter painted the girl in it so seductive that it catches the attention of every man. In the painting, the enigmatic gaze, colors, and delicate quality of the light along with the position of the girl makes this painting so appealing that over five million copies of this have sold worldwide.

Pablo Picasso: Guernica (1937)

Guernica is one of the most famous paintings of all time in the world and the masterpiece of Pablo Picasso painted in 1937. Guernica is the name of the city in Spain that was bombed by a Nazis plane during the civil war in Spain. This invasion caused hundreds of people to get killed and wounded and destroyed the ancient towns of Spain. Pablo Picasso was affected by this invasion mentally so, he named this painting Guernica to show the people how the layers of destruction were floating in Guernica after the Nazis’ attack. In this painting, Pablo Picasso portrayed a chaotic situation where humans and even animals are dying mercilessly. This painting became very popular later on and people appreciated Picasso for highlighting the cruelties of Nazis.

James McNeill Whistler: Whistler's Mother (1871)

American artist James McNeill Whistler created these Portrait Paintings in 1871.  Whistler's Mother is one of the most famous paintings of all time in the world. In this painting, the painter portrayed the mother of the whistler, setting on a chair in her old age. This painting became one of the most famous paintings of all time because the painter portrayed the painting to show the importance of mother and family. This painting is exhibited in the Musée d'Orsay in Paris. The popularity of this painting is known worldwide. This painting has several fans and is considered one of the most famous paintings in the world.

Salvador Dali: The Persistence of Memory (1931)

The main reason for the fame of this painting was the strange subject matter, Salvador Dali chose and its dream-like atmosphere. Salvador Dali was influenced by the Surrealism movement and his painting The Persistence of Memory is considered as a perfect symbol of Surrealism. In 1932, this painting was first exhibited in Julien Levy Gallery 1932. In 1934, The Persistent of Memory was donated by an anonymous donor to the Museum of Modern art paintings in New York City.

Grant Wood– The American Gothic (1930)

American Gothic is one of the most famous paintings of all time in the world. This painting was created by Grant Wood in 1930. This painting is titled American Gothic to highlight its reference to the neo-Gothic architectural style of House in Eldon. Grant Wood painted this painting because he was inspired by the House of Eldon. In American Gothic, Grant Wood painted a farmer who is standing with his daughter in front of his house. The farmer is wearing a modern dress and his daughter is wearing a traditional dress. The farmer’s daughter was considered by most viewers as his wife in the beginning but later on, it was discovered that the woman standing next to the farmer is not his wife but daughter which increased the interest of the people in the painting and it gained popularity.

Pablo Picasso – Les Demoiselles d'Avignon

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon is considered one of the most popular paintings in the world painted by Pablo Picasso in 1907. This painting is famous for a few reasons. One reason for the fame of this painting is the popularity of Pablo Picasso himself since he was a remarkable painter, so his work was highly appreciated. Another reason for the fame of this painting was the style he used, the style used by Pablo Picasso in this painting played an important role in the development of Cubism and Modern art. Another most important reason for the fame of this painting was the title of the painting. Avignon is the name of a street in Barcelona that is popular for its brothel. Picasso made this painting because he was having an intense desire to take the place of Henry Matisse at the center of modern paintings.

Henri Matisse: The Dance (1909-1910)

The Dance is one the most famous painting of all time in the world. This was painted by Henry Matisse in 1910. The main reason for the fame of this painting is the use of the Fauvist style, the composition of dancing characters is painted in such an amusing style that it represents the joyous side of life.