Art is almost as old as humanity itself, and over all the centuries of our existence, countless unique works have been created.
It would probably be too bold to make a list of the most outstanding masterpieces, because the criteria for assessing creativity are too subjective. That is why our rating contains paintings and sculptures that are certainly the most recognizable in the world, which does not mean that they are somehow better than other brilliant works.
Which creations are the most famous? Find out now! Perhaps you don’t know everyone, and it’s time to test your erudition and horizons.
25. Bathers, by Paul Cézanne
This painting is considered a true masterpiece of modern art. “Bathers” is one of the most famous works Paul Cezanne. The work was first presented to the general public at an exhibition in 1906. Oil painting Cezanne paved the way for artists of the future, allowing them to move away from traditional patterns, and built a bridge between Post-Impressionism and 20th century art. 24. Discus thrower, author Miron (Miron) 
"Discobolus" is a legendary Greek statue, executed by the famous Greek sculptor Myron of Eleutherae in the period from approximately 460 to 450 BC. e. The work was greatly admired by the Romans, and they even made several copies of this sculpture before its original disappeared without a trace. Subsequently, the “Disco thrower” became a symbol of the Olympic Games. 23. Apollo and Daphne, by Bernini 
"Apollo and Daphne" is a sculpture in life size, created by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini around 1622-1625. The masterpiece depicts a half-naked woman trying to escape from her pursuer. The sculpture clearly demonstrates the high skill of its creator, who recreated the climax famous story Ovid about Daphne and Phoebus (Daphna, Phoebus). 22. Night Watch, by Rembrandt
A masterpiece by the internationally recognized Danish artist Rembrandt, “ The night Watch"is one of the most famous paintings of the 17th century. The work was completed in 1642, and was commissioned to depict a group portrait of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburgh (Frans Banning Cocq, Willem van Ruytenburgh). Today the painting adorns the exhibition of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. 21. Massacre of the Innocents by Rubens
“The Massacre of the Innocents” is a picture that tells the story of the terrible order of the Jewish king Herod, by whose command all the babies of Bethlehem and its environs under the age of 2 years were killed. The tyrant believed in the prophecy that the day was coming when the King of Israel would remove him from the throne, and hoped that his future rival would be among the murdered children. A representative of the Flemish Baroque, Rubens wrote two versions of the famous biblical story 25 years apart. The first version of the painting is now in front of you, and it was painted between 1611 and 1612. 20. Campbell's Beef Onion Soup by Warhol
Painted by American artist Andy Warhol in 1962, Campbell's Beef Onion Soup is one of the most famous examples of modern art. In his work, Warhol masterfully demonstrated the monotony of the advertising industry by reproducing multiple copies of the same product on his giant canvas. Warhol also said that he ate these soups every day for 20 years. Perhaps this is why a can of onion soup became the subject of his famous work. 19. Starry Night by Van Gogh
Oil painting " Starlight Night"belongs to the brush of the Danish post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh, who completed this legendary work in 1889. The artist was inspired to paint the painting by looking at the night sky through the window of his room in the Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Remy, Southern France (Saint-Paul Asylum, Saint-Remy). It was there that the famous creator at one time sought relief from the emotional suffering that haunted him until the end of his days. 18. Rock paintings of the Chauvet Cave
The drawings, discovered in the south of France in the Chauvet Cave, are among the most famous and best-preserved prehistoric masterpieces of world art. The age of these works is approximately 30,000 - 33,000 years. Hundreds of prehistoric animals are expertly depicted on the cave walls, including bears, mammoths, cave lions, panthers and hyenas. 17. The Kiss, by Rodin 
“The Kiss” is a marble statue created by the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin in 1889. The author was inspired by the plot of the masterpiece sad story Paolo and Francesca, characters from the legendary work of Dante Alighieri “The Divine Comedy” (Paolo, Francesca, Dante Alighieri). The lovers were killed by Francesca's husband, who suddenly caught the young people when the guy and girl, fascinated by each other, exchanged their first kiss. 16. Manneken Pis, authorship unknown
"Manneken Pee" or "Manneken Pis" is a small bronze sculpture that has become a real attraction of the fountain in the center of Brussels. The original authorship of the work is unknown, but in 1619 it was modified by the Belgian sculptor Jerome Duquesnoy. The calling card of the city, “Manneken Pie” was supposedly installed in memory of the events of the Grimbergen War, during which a peeing baby, according to one version, urinated on soldiers, and according to another, extinguished enemy ammunition that threatened to destroy the entire city. During the holidays, the sculpture is dressed up in themed costumes. 15. The Persistence of Memory, by Salvador Dali
Painted in 1931 by the famous Spanish artist Salvador Dali, The Persistence of Memory is one of the most recognizable masterpieces of surrealist art in the history of painting. The work depicts a bleak sandy beach strewn with melting clocks. Dali’s unusual plot was inspired by Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. 14. Pieta or Lamentation of Christ, by Michelangelo
"Pieta" - famous sculpture Renaissance era, created by the Florentine creator Michelangelo in the period from 1498 to 1500. The work describes a biblical scene - Mary holds in her arms the body of Jesus taken from the cross. The sculpture is now in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The Pieta is the only work by Michelangelo that he signed. 13. Water lilies by Claude Monet
“Water Lilies” is a series of approximately 250 oil paintings by the world-famous French impressionist Claude Monet. The collection of these works is recognized as one of the most outstanding achievements of art of the early 20th century. If all the paintings are placed together, it creates the illusion of an endless landscape filled with water lilies, trees and clouds reflected in the water. 12. The Scream by Edvard Munch 
The Scream is an iconic masterpiece by Norwegian expressionist Edvard Munch. He wrote 4 different versions of this story between 1893 and 1910. The artist's famous work was inspired by the artist's real-life experiences during a nature walk during which Munch was abandoned by his companions (who are also depicted in the background of the painting). 11. Moai, authorship unknown
Moai statues are massive stone monoliths discovered on Easter Island in Pacific Ocean, Western Polynesia. The statues are also known as the Easter Island Heads, but in reality they all have bodies hidden underground. The Moai statues date back to approximately 1400 - 1650 and are believed to have been carved from stone by Aboriginal people who once lived on the island of Rapa Nui (local name for Easter Island). In total, about 1000 such gigantic masterpieces of antiquity were discovered in this area. The mystery of their movement around the island still remains unsolved, and the heaviest figure weighs about 82 tons. 10. The Thinker by Rodin 
“The Thinker” is the most famous work of the French sculptor Auguste Rodin. The author completed his masterpiece in 1880 and originally called the sculpture “The Poet.” The statue was part of a composition called “The Gates of Hell” and personified Dante Alighieri himself, the author of the famous “Divine Comedy”. According to Rodin's original idea, Alighieri leans over the circles of Hell, reflecting on his work. Subsequently, the sculptor rethought the character and made him into a universal image of the creator. 9. Guernica, by Pablo Picasso
An oil painting the size of an entire fresco, Guernica is one of the most famous works of the eminent Spanish artist Pablo Picasso. The black and white painting is Picasso's reaction to the Nazi bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during civil war in Spain. The masterpiece demonstrates all the tragedy, the horrors of war and the suffering of all innocent citizens in the person of just a few characters. 8. The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci
You can admire this painting today while visiting the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan. Legendary painting by Leonardo da Vinci, " Last Supper" is one of the most famous masterpieces in the world. The artist worked on this fresco from 1494 to 1498, and depicted on it the famous biblical scene of the last supper of Jesus Christ surrounded by his disciples, which is narrated in detail in the Gospel of John. 7. Statue of Liberty by Eiffel, Bartholdi
The iconic sculpture is located on Liberty Island in New York, and was once a gift as a sign of friendship between the people of France and the United States. Today, the Statue of Liberty is considered an international symbol of freedom and democracy. The author of the composition was French sculptor Bartholdi, and was designed and built by the architect Gustav Eiffel. The gift was presented on October 28, 1886. 6. Hermes with the baby Dionysus or Hermes Olympus, by Praxiteles 
"Hermes with the Child Dionysus" is an ancient Greek sculpture discovered during excavations in 1877 among the ruins of the temple of the goddess Hera in Greece. The right hand of Hermes is lost, but archaeologists believe that in the story the god of trade and athletes held a grapevine in it, showing it to the infant Dionysus, the god of wine, orgies and religious ecstasy. 5. The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo
The Creation of Adam is one of Michelangelo's most famous frescoes. It was created between 1508 and 1512 and is considered the most popular ceiling composition Sistine Chapel, a Catholic religious center located in the Vatican. The painting illustrates the moment of the biblical creation of the first man in history, described in the book of Genesis in the Old Testament. 4. Venus de Milo, or Aphrodite from the island of Milos 
The Venus de Milo was born approximately between 130 and 100 BC and is one of the most famous ancient Greek sculptures. The marble statue was discovered in 1820 on the island of Milos, part of the Cyclades Archipelago in the Aegean Sea. The identity of the heroine has not yet been precisely established, but researchers suggest that the author of the masterpiece carved from stone Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, who was often depicted half-naked. Although there is a version that the statue is molded in the image of the sea goddess Amphitrite, who was especially revered on the island where the artifact was found. 3. Birth of Venus, by Sandro Botticelli
“Birth of Venus” – work Italian artist Sandro Botticelli painted between 1482 and 1485, and it is considered one of the most famous and valuable masterpieces of art in the world. The painting illustrates a scene from famous poem Ovid's "Metamorphoses", in which the goddess Venus first comes ashore from the foam of the sea. The work is on display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. 2. David, by Michelangelo 
The legendary Renaissance sculpture was created between 1501 and 1504 by the brilliant creator Michelangelo. Today, "David" is considered the most famous statue in the world. This delightful masterpiece is the biblical hero David etched in stone. Artists and sculptors of the past traditionally depicted David during battle, the winner over the formidable Goliath, a warlike husband and hero, but Michelangelo chose for his work the image of a charming young man who had not yet learned the art of war and murder. 1. Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci
Perhaps some of the works on this list were unknown to you, but everyone knows the “Mona Lisa” by Leonardo da Vinci. This is the most famous, most talked about, most celebrated and most visited painting in the world. Brilliant Master painted it in 1503-1506, and Lisa Gherardini, the wife of silk merchant Francesco del Giocondo, posed for the canvas ( Lisa Gherardini, Francesco del Giocondo). Famous for its mysterious expression, the Mona Lisa is the pride of the Louvre, the oldest and richest museum in France and the world.Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thank you for that
that you are discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us on Facebook And In contact with
European artists started using oil paint in the 15th century, and since then it has been with its help that the most famous paintings of all times have been created. But even in these high-tech days, oil still retains its charm and mystery, and artists continue to invent new techniques, tearing the mold to shreds and pushing the boundaries of modern art.
website chose works that delighted us and made us remember that beauty can be born in any era.
The owner of incredible skill, Polish artist Justyna Kopania, in her expressive, sweeping works, was able to preserve the transparency of the fog, the lightness of the sail, and the smooth rocking of the ship on the waves.
Her paintings amaze with their depth, volume, richness, and the texture is such that it is impossible to take your eyes off them.
Primitivist artist from Minsk Valentin Gubarev doesn't chase fame and just does what he loves. His work is incredibly popular abroad, but almost unknown to his compatriots. In the mid-90s, the French fell in love with his everyday sketches and signed a contract with the artist for 16 years. The paintings, which, it would seem, should only be understandable to us, bearers of the “modest charm of undeveloped socialism,” appealed to the European public, and exhibitions began in Switzerland, Germany, Great Britain and other countries.
Sergei Marshennikov is 41 years old. He lives in St. Petersburg and works in best traditions classical Russian school realistic portrait painting. The heroines of his canvases are women who are tender and defenseless in their half-nakedness. Many of the most famous paintings depict the artist's muse and wife, Natalya.
In the modern age of pictures high resolution and the rise of hyperrealism, the work of Philip Barlow immediately attracts attention. However, a certain effort is required from the viewer in order to force himself to look at the blurry silhouettes and bright spots on the author’s canvases. This is probably how people suffering from myopia see the world without glasses and contact lenses.
The painting of Laurent Parcelier is an amazing world in which there is neither sadness nor despondency. You won’t find gloomy and rainy pictures in his work. There is a lot of light, air and bright colors, which the artist applies with characteristic, recognizable strokes. This creates the feeling that the paintings are woven from a thousand sunbeams.
Oil on wood panels American artist Jeremy Mann paints dynamic portraits of the modern metropolis. “Abstract shapes, lines, the contrast of light and dark spots - all create a picture that evokes the feeling that a person experiences in the crowd and bustle of the city, but can also express the calm that is found when contemplating quiet beauty,” says the artist.
In the paintings of British artist Neil Simone, nothing is as it seems at first glance. “For me, the world around me is a series of fragile and ever-changing shapes, shadows and boundaries,” says Simon. And in his paintings everything is truly illusory and interconnected. Boundaries are blurred, and stories flow into each other.
Italian-born contemporary American artist Joseph Lorasso (
). However, for the purposes of this article we will only consider object art.
Historically, all genres were divided into high and low. TO high genre or historical painting included works of a monumental nature, carrying some kind of morality, a significant idea, demonstrating historical, military events associated with religion, mythology or artistic fiction.
TO low genre included everything connected with everyday life. These are still lifes, portraits, household painting, landscapes, animalism, images of naked people, etc.
Animalism (lat. animal - animal)
The animalistic genre arose in ancient times, when the first people painted predatory animals on the rocks. Gradually, this trend grew into an independent genre, implying an expressive depiction of any animals. Animalists usually have a great interest in the animal world, for example, they can be excellent equestrians, keep pets, or simply study their habits for a long time. As a result of the artist's intentions, animals can appear realistic or in the form of artistic images.
Among Russian artists, many were well versed in horses, for example, and. Thus, in Vasnetsov’s famous painting “Bogatyrs”, heroic horses are depicted with the greatest skill: the colors, behavior of the animals, bridles and their connection with the riders are carefully thought out. Serov did not like people and considered horses in many ways better than man, which is why he often portrayed her in a variety of scenes. although he painted animals, he did not consider himself an animalist, so bears were his famous painting“Morning in a Pine Forest” was created by animal artist K. Savitsky.
In tsarist times, portraits with pets, which were dear to man, became especially popular. For example, in the painting, Empress Catherine II appeared with her beloved dog. Animals were also present in the portraits of other Russian artists.
Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the everyday genre
History painting
This genre involves monumental paintings that are designed to convey to society a grandiose plan, some truth, morality, or demonstrate significant events. It includes works on historical, mythological, religious themes, folklore, as well as military scenes.
In ancient states, myths and legends for a long time were considered events of the past, so they were often depicted on frescoes or vases. Later artists began to separate the events that took place from fiction, which was expressed primarily in the depiction of battle scenes. IN Ancient Rome, Egypt and Greece, scenes of heroic battles were often depicted on the shields of victorious warriors in order to demonstrate their triumph over the enemy.
In the Middle Ages, due to the dominance of church dogmas, religious themes prevailed; in the Renaissance, society turned to the past mainly for the purpose of glorifying its states and rulers, and since the 18th century, this genre has often been turned to for the purpose of educating youth. In Russia, the genre became widespread in the 19th century, when artists often tried to analyze the life of Russian society.
In the works of Russian artists, battle painting was presented, for example, and. He touched on mythological and religious subjects in his paintings. History painting dominated by , folklore - by .
Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the genre of historical painting
Still life (French nature - nature and morte - dead)
This genre of painting is associated with the depiction of inanimate objects. They can be flowers, fruits, dishes, game, kitchen utensils and other objects, from which the artist often creates a composition according to his plan.
The first still lifes appeared in ancient countries. IN Ancient Egypt It was customary to depict offerings to the gods in the form of various dishes. At the same time, the recognition of the object came first, so ancient artists did not particularly care about chiaroscuro or the texture of still life objects. IN Ancient Greece and in Rome, flowers and fruits were found in paintings and in houses for interior decoration, so that they were depicted more authentically and picturesquely. The formation and flourishing of this genre occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, when still lifes began to contain hidden religious and other meanings. At the same time, many varieties of them appeared, depending on the subject of the image (floral, fruit, scientist, etc.).
In Russia, still life painting flourished only in the 20th century, since before that it was used mainly for educational purposes. But this development was rapid and captured, including abstract art with all its directions. For example, he created beautiful compositions of flowers in, preferred, worked in, and often “revitalized” his still lifes, giving the viewer the impression that the dishes were about to fall off the table or that all the objects were about to start rotating.
The objects depicted by artists were certainly influenced by their theoretical views or worldview, state of mind. Thus, these were objects depicted according to the principle of spherical perspective discovered by him, and expressionist still lifes amazed with their drama.
Many Russian artists used still life mainly for educational purposes. Thus, he not only honed his artistic skills, but also conducted many experiments, arranging objects in different ways, working with light and color. experimented with the shape and color of the line, sometimes moving away from realism into pure primitivism, sometimes mixing both styles.
Other artists combined in still lifes what they had previously depicted with their favorite things. For example, in the paintings you can find his favorite vase, sheet music and a portrait of his wife that he had previously created, and he depicted his favorite flowers from childhood.
Many other Russian artists worked in the same genre, for example, and others.
Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the still life genre
Nude (French nudite - nudity, abbreviated as nu)
This genre is intended to depict the beauty of the naked body and appeared before our era. IN ancient world paid great attention physical development, since the survival of the entire human race depended on it. Thus, in Ancient Greece, athletes traditionally competed naked so that boys and young men could see their well-developed bodies and strive for the same physical perfection. Around the 7th-6th centuries. BC e. Nude male statues also appeared, personifying the physical power of a man. Female figures, on the contrary, always appeared before the audience in robes, since to expose female body was not accepted.
In subsequent eras, attitudes towards nudity changed. Thus, during Hellenism (from the end of the 6th century BC), endurance faded into the background, giving way to admiration of the male figure. At the same time, the first female nude figures began to appear. In the Baroque era, women with curvaceous, in Rococo times sensuality became paramount, and in XIX-XX centuries paintings or sculptures of nude bodies (especially male ones) were often banned.
Russian artists have repeatedly turned to the nude genre in their works. So, these are dancers with theatrical attributes, these are posing girls or women in the center of monumental scenes. This has a lot of sensual women, including in couples, this has a whole series of paintings depicting naked women in various activities, and this has girls full of innocence. Some, for example, depicted completely naked men, although such paintings were not welcomed by the society of their time.
Examples of paintings by famous Russian artists in the nude genre
Landscape (French Paysage, from pays - terrain)
In this genre, the priority is the depiction of natural or man-made environment: natural areas, views of cities, villages, monuments, etc. Depending on the chosen object, natural, industrial, marine, rural, lyrical and other landscapes are distinguished.
The first landscapes of ancient artists were discovered in rock art Neolithic era and were images of trees, rivers or lakes. Later, the natural motif was used to decorate the home. In the Middle Ages, the landscape was almost completely replaced by religious themes, and in the Renaissance, on the contrary, they came to the fore harmonious relationships man and nature.
In Russia, landscape painting developed from the 18th century and was initially limited (landscapes, for example, were created in this style), but later a whole galaxy of talented Russian artists enriched this genre with techniques from different styles and directions. created the so-called low-key landscape, that is, instead of chasing spectacular views, he depicted the most intimate moments in Russian nature. and came to a lyrical landscape that amazed the audience with its subtly conveyed mood.
And this is an epic landscape, when the viewer is shown all the grandeur of the surrounding world. endlessly turned to antiquity, E. Volkov knew how to turn any discreet landscape into a poetic picture, amazed the viewer with his marvelous light in the landscapes, and could endlessly admire forest corners, parks, sunsets and convey this love to the viewer.
Each of the landscape painters concentrated his attention on the landscape that fascinated him especially strongly. Many artists could not ignore large-scale construction projects and painted many industrial and urban landscapes. Among them are works,
The world's collection of paintings amounts to several tens of thousands of paintings, of which more than one hundred are recognized as the world's greatest masterpieces. It is believed that if a person is familiar with the work of at least ten to fifteen artists, whose hand these numerous works belong to, then he can already be called cultured and educated (at least in the field of painting). But the point is not the pretentious swallowing of “grade marks” - these paintings depict wisdom, subtlety, individuality, success, greatness, work... The paintings of great artists contain a sacred meaning, and the one who is able to consider it is truly educated and wise. Next we will talk about the ten most famous paintings in the world. This list is not a rating or anything like it - just a small part of the universe whose name is Art.
1. Mona Lisa (Leonardo da Vinci)
Perhaps there are few civilized people in the world (not to mention wild tribes in pristine places on the planet) who do not know what the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vicni looks like, and even more so - those who have not heard of this famous painting. Today it is located in the Louvre (Paris). The Mona Lisa owes its fame to a fateful event - at the beginning of the last century, the painting was stolen by one of the employees of this museum. For two years, the entire world press tirelessly talked about this case. Another interesting point worthy of many years of worldwide discussion is the smile of Gioconda. In addition, there are even statements that the picture depicts a young man.
2. The Last Supper (Leonardo da Vinci)
The Last Supper is one of best paintings world art. If the previous painting was stolen from a museum and disappeared from public view for two years, then this painting has a truly tragic past. It is a fresco located in one of the Milan monasteries. The Last Supper was a decoration of the building even at a time when it served as an armory, a prison, and was bombed. The fresco was restored at least five times. It depicts Jesus with his twelve disciples seated around a table. The painting is of great importance not only for world art, but also for religion - Orthodoxy in particular.
3. Sistine Madonna (Raphael Santi)
A contemporary of Leonardo da Vicni was Raphael Santi, who painted one of the most famous paintings - the Sistine Madonna. It is noteworthy that the “platform” for the painting was not a wooden board, as in the vast majority of cases in painting of that time, but a canvas. The second point is its size: 265x196 centimeters. A huge picture, handmade, the finest details (for example, the background The paintings are composed of the faces of angels, which many initially mistake for clouds) - this is a gigantic work! The canvas depicts the Madonna and Child, surrounded by Saint Sixtus and Saint Barbara. It is known that the sitters for the Sistine Madonna were his beloved (for main character), dad Julius and the artist's niece (for the other two characters, respectively).
4. Night Watch (Rembrandt)
"The Night Watch" is one of Rembrandt's most famous paintings. Initially, this work was called completely differently. However, art historians who discovered it about two centuries ago thought that the action was taking place at night, and the painting received its current name. In reality, the action takes place during the day, and its darkness is a consequence of soot. But the world recognized the picture as “Night Watch,” and to this day this name has remained unchanged. Among greatest paintings world, this is the rare case when the name of a work was not preserved original, but was practically invented “on the spot.”
5. Starry Night (Vincent Van Gogh)
Van Gogh’s painting “Starry Night” has also become a property of modern art. An interesting fact is that the artist wrote this work from memory, although he and many other artists primarily paint from life - something or someone. It is also interesting that at this time the artist was in a psychiatric hospital, because he suffered from attacks of insanity. This is how a mad artist painted a world masterpiece, this is how he practically created a new direction in fine arts, so he immortalized his name. And the world has seen quite a few crazy people and crazy people who turned out to be geniuses. And the world continues to laugh at the madmen!
6. The Persistence of Memory (Salvador Dali)
“Persistence of memory” is one of the most famous works Salvador Dali. The painting is located in the New York Museum of Modern Art. Continuing on about madmen and geniuses, it is worth saying that the artist got the idea for writing the work when... he saw processed cheese! The associations that the product evoked in Dali prompted the artist to present his ideas on canvas in exactly this form. Dali admitted this to the public personally, without even trying to hide the peculiar oddity that prompted him to paint the picture. And, returning in the evening on the day of painting the canvas from the cinema, Salvador’s beloved prophetically declared that anyone who once sees “The Persistence of Memory” will never be able to forget it.
7. Birth of Venus (Sandro Botticelli)
Among the most famous paintings in the world is “The Birth of Venus” by Sandro Botticelli. The canvas is located at least famous gallery Uffizi, which is located in Florence. In the painting, the artist depicted the mythology of the birth of the goddess Aphrodite: she floats across the sea to the shore on one of the halves of a shell, driven by Zephyr (the god of the west wind), who, being in the arms of his wife, fills the wind streams with flowers. Grace awaits her on the shore, preparing to cover the goddess with a mantle. Botticelli used egg yolk as a protective layer for the painting, thanks to which it has been perfectly preserved to this day.
8. The Ninth Wave (Aivazovsky)
The outstanding work of the Russian artist Ivan Aivazovsky “The Ninth Wave” makes us truly proud that our contribution is among the world’s greatest works of fine art. Aivazovsky is known for the fact that his artistic passion lay in the field of depicting the sea - he devoted his entire career as an artist to this. “The Ninth Wave” received a huge worldwide vocation and was included in one of the hundred greatest paintings in the world.
9. Impression. Rising Sun (Claude Monet)
Claude Monet's canvas “Impression. Rising Sun", stored in a Paris museum, marked the beginning of a whole direction of painting - impressionism. This work was born early in the morning at one of the old French outports, as is clear, from life. Clone Monet, using all his skill, tried to depict a fleeting feeling of pleasure from one single moment, which is the essence of impressionism, which began to develop in subsequent years. And this movement in fine art got its name thanks to the first word in the title of the painting, which in French sounds like “impressio”.
Among Russian artists there are many talented individuals. Their work is highly valued all over the world and is a worthy competitor to such world masters as Rubens, Michelangelo, Van Gogh and Picasso. In this article we have collected 10 of the most famous Russian artists.
1. Ivan Aivazovsky
Ivan Aivazovsky is one of the most famous Russian artists. He was born in Feodosia. From childhood, Aivazovsky showed his incredible Creative skills: He loved to draw and taught himself to play the violin.
At 12 years old young talent began studying in Simferopol at the Academy of Painting. Here he learned to copy engravings and paint pictures from life. A year later, he managed to enter the St. Petersburg Imperial Academy, although he had not yet reached the age of 14.
For a long time, the artist traveled around Europe and lived in Italy, where his paintings were also recognized. So the young artist from Feodosia became a fairly famous and rich man.
Later, Aivazovsky returned to his homeland, where he received the uniform of the Naval Ministry and the title of academician. The artist also visited Egypt and was present at the opening of the new Suez Canal. The artist described all his impressions in paintings. By this time, he had already developed his own unique style and the ability to write from memory. Aivazovsky quickly sketched complex elements in a notebook in order to later transfer them to the canvas. His paintings “Odessa”, “The Ninth Wave” and “The Black Sea” brought him worldwide fame.
The artist spent the last years of his life in Feodosia, where he built himself a house in the Italian style. A little later, Aivazovsky added a small gallery to it so that everyone could freely enjoy his amazing paintings and drown in the ocean of colors. Today, this mansion still serves as a museum and many visitors come here every day to see with their own eyes the skill of the marine painter, who lived a long and happy life.
2. Viktor Vasnetsov
The list of the most famous Russian artists continues with Viktor Vasnetsov. He was born in the spring of 1848 into the family of a priest in the small village of Lopyal. His passion for painting arose at a very early age, but his parents could not give him a proper education due to lack of money. Therefore, at the age of 10, Victor began studying at a free theological seminary.
In 1866, with virtually no money, he left for St. Petersburg. Vasnetsov easily passed the entrance exam and entered the Academy of Arts. Here his friendship began with the famous artist Repin, with whom he later went to Paris. After returning to St. Petersburg, Vasnetsov began to paint his most famous paintings: “Three Heroes,” “Snow Maiden” and “God of Hosts.”
The artist was able to fully reveal his talent only after moving to Moscow. Here he feels cozy and comfortable, and each subsequent picture turns out better than the previous one. It was in Moscow that Vasnetsov painted such paintings as “Alyonushka”, “Ivan Tsarevich and Gray wolf" and "Nestor the Chronicler".
3. Karl Bryullov
This famous Russian artist was born in 1799. Karl's father was famous painter and professor at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts. Therefore, the boy’s fate was predetermined in advance. Fortunately, Karl Bryullov managed to inherit the talent of an artist from his father.
Study was a success to a young artist very easy. He was many times superior to the rest of the students in his class and graduated from the Academy of Arts with honors. After this, Karl went to travel around Europe, stopping for a long time only in Italy. It was here that he created his masterpiece, “The Last Day of Pompeii,” spending about six years writing it.
Upon his return to St. Petersburg, fame and glory awaited Karl Bryullov. They were glad to see him everywhere and certainly admired his new paintings. During this period, the artist created several of his immortal canvases: “Horsewoman”, “Siege of Pskov”, “Narcissus” and others.
4. Ivan Shishkin
Ivan Shishkin is one of the most famous Russian landscape artists, who in his paintings could present any inconspicuous landscape in the most favorable light. It seems that nature itself plays on the canvases of this artist with living colors.
Ivan Shishkin was born in 1832 in Elabuga, which today belongs to Tatarstan. The father wanted his son to eventually take the post of city official, but Ivan gravitated towards drawing. At the age of 20, he went to Moscow to study painting. After successfully graduating from the Moscow School of Arts, Shishkin entered the Imperial Academy in St. Petersburg.
Later he traveled for a long time around Europe, sketching amazing landscapes. At this time, he created the painting “View in the vicinity of Düsseldorf”, which brought him great fame. After returning to Russia, Shishkin continues to create with renewed energy. According to him, Russian nature is several hundred times superior to European landscapes.
Ivan Shishkin painted many stunning paintings during his life: “Morning in a Pine Forest”, “First Snow”, “ Pine forest" and others. Even death overtook this painter right behind his easel.
5. Isaac Levitan
This great Russian master of landscapes was born in Lithuania, but lived his entire life in Russia. Repeatedly Jewish origin caused him many humiliations, but never forced him to leave this country, which he idolized and praised in his paintings.
Levitan’s first landscapes already received high marks from Perov and Savrasov, and Tretyakov himself even bought his painting “Autumn Day in Sokolniki.” But in 1879, Isaac Levitan, along with all the Jews, was expelled from Moscow. Only through the enormous efforts of friends and teachers does he manage to return to the city.
In the 1880s, the artist painted many stunning paintings that made him very famous. These were “Pines”, “Autumn” and “First Snow”. But further humiliations forced the author to leave Moscow again and go to Crimea. On the peninsula, the artist paints a number of amazing works and significantly improves his financial condition. This allows him to travel around Europe and get acquainted with the work of world masters. The pinnacle of Levitan’s creativity was his painting “Above Eternal Peace.”
6. Vasily Tropinin
The great Russian portrait artist Vasily Tropinin had an amazing fate. He was born into the family of serfs Count Markov in 1780 and only at the age of 47 received the right to be a free man. Even as a child, little Vasily showed a penchant for drawing, but the count sent him to study to become a pastry chef. Later, he is nevertheless sent to the Imperial Academy, where he shows his talent in all its beauty. For his portraits “The Lacemaker” and “The Old Beggar” Vasily Tropinin was awarded the title of academician.
7. Petrov-Vodkin Kuzma
The famous artist managed to leave behind a rich heritage in world painting. Russian artist Petrov-Vodkin. He was born in 1878 in Khvalynsk, and in his early years was going to become a railway worker. However, fate made him a world-famous painter.
8. Alexey Savrasov
The paintings of this Russian artist were already selling well when he was barely 12 years old. A little later, he entered the Moscow School of Painting and instantly became one of the best students. A trip to Ukraine helped Savrasov graduate from college ahead of schedule and receive the title of artist.
The paintings “Stone in the Forest” and “Moscow Kremlin” made this painter an academician at the age of 24! Interested in young talent royal family, and Tretyakov himself buys many of his works for international exhibitions. Among them were “Winter”, “The Rooks have Arrived”, “Rasputitsa” and others.
The death of two daughters and the subsequent divorce greatly affect Savrasov. He drinks heavily and soon dies in a hospital for the poor.
9. Andrey Rublev
Andrei Rublev is the most famous Russian icon painter. He was born in the 15th century and left behind great legacy in the form of icons “Trinity”, “Annunciation”, “Baptism of the Lord”. Andrei Rublev, together with Daniil Cherny, decorated many churches with frescoes, and also painted icons for iconostases.
10. Mikhail Vrubel
Our list of the most famous Russian artists ends with Mikhail Vrubel, who during his life created many masterpieces in various subjects. He was engaged in painting the Kyiv temple, and later in Moscow began to create his own famous row"demonic" paintings. The creative wanderings of this artist did not find proper understanding among his contemporaries. Only several decades after the death of Mikhail Vrubel did art historians give him his due, and the Church agreed with his interpretations of biblical events.
Unfortunately, the artist’s personal life caused him to develop a severe form of mental disorders. The title of academician overtook him in a mental hospital, from which he was never destined to leave. Nevertheless, Mikhail Vrubel managed to create many amazing works of art that are worthy of genuine admiration. Among them, the paintings “Seated Demon”, “The Swan Princess” and “Faust” are especially worth highlighting.
