The most beautiful paintings in the world. The most famous and significant paintings of the world for the history of art

Every modern man should know what painting is. The masterpieces of world significance that are presented in our article cannot leave anyone indifferent. You can also find out where to find full list paintings that are famous all over the world. Painting plays an important role in everyone's life. Thanks to it, you can form a multifaceted personality.

What is painting? general information

Painting - view visual arts. Thanks to him, the artist conveys visual images by applying paint to any surface. The emergence of painting in Russia is associated with the development of realism and iconicity. Experts identify five main types of painting:

• easel;
• monumental;
• decorative;
• theatrical and decorative;
• miniature.

For a long period of time, it was believed that the story begins with a Dutch artist named Jan van Eyck, who created his paintings in the 15th century. Many experts call him the creator of oil fine art. This theory is also described in specialized literature. However, this cannot be confirmed. There are several known artists who worked oil paints long before van Eyck.

Great masterpieces of painting allow us to find out how people lived many years ago. Leonardo da Vinci argued that paintings are created by man, nature and time. Painting can be executed on absolutely any basis. She participates in the formation of the artificial and natural environment.

Painting is illusory. Plotinus argued that there is no need to copy nature, it is necessary to learn from it. The development of painting has long gone beyond the understanding of its main tasks of “reproducing reality.” That is why many artists abandon irrelevant methods of self-expression and influence on the viewer. New directions in painting are emerging.

Famous masterpieces of painting and this type fine arts in general can perform the following functions:

• cognitive;
• religious;
• aesthetic;
• philosophical;
• ideological;
• social and educational;
• documentary

Color has the main and most meaningful meaning in painting. It is believed that he is the bearer of the idea.

There is a wide variety:

• portrait;
• scenery;
• marina;
• historical painting;
• battle;
• still life;
• genre painting;
• architectural;
• religious;
• animalistic;
• decorative

Painting plays a huge role in self-development. Masterpieces of world significance, demonstrated to a child, help shape his personality and teach him to appreciate a particular object of art. Often painting helps alleviate the condition of a patient who has a particular disease. Art therapy not only involves familiarization with types of fine art, but also allows you to try to create a masterpiece yourself.

Leonardo da Vinci, "Mona Lisa"

Some paintings (masterpieces of world painting) contain many secrets and mysteries. It is still difficult to solve them. "Mona Lisa" is a painting painted by Leonardo da Vinci. She is considered one of the most famous works paintings all over the world. Its original is in the Louvre (Paris). There it is considered the main exhibit. This is no coincidence, because most tourists visit the Louvre every day precisely to look at the painting by Leonardo da Vinci.
Today, the Mona Lisa is not in better condition. That is why the museum’s management announced several years ago that the work of art would no longer be given away to any exhibitions. You can see the portrait only in the Louvre.
The painting became popular after it was stolen by a museum employee in 1911. The search for the stolen masterpiece continued for two years. All this time they wrote about her in magazines and newspapers and featured her on the covers. Gradually, the Mona Lisa became an object of copying and worship.

Paintings (masterpieces of world painting) are actively studied by specialists. "Mona Lisa" was created more than 500 years ago. Scientists say it changes as real woman. Over time, the portrait has faded, yellowed, and in some places there are dark spots. The wooden supports were wrinkled and cracked. It is known that the painting contains 25 secrets.

9 years ago, museum visitors were able to enjoy the original color of the painting for the first time. Unique photographs developed by Pascal Cottet allowed us to see what the masterpiece looked like before it began to fade.

Photographs taken using a unique technology make it possible to find out that after creating the masterpiece, Leonardo changed the position of Gioconda’s hand, her facial expression and smile. It is known that in the area of ​​the eye in the portrait there is dark spot. Scientists claim that this damage occurred due to the fact that water got into the varnish coating. His education is associated with the fact that the painting hung in Napoleon’s bathroom for some time.

The artist worked on the painting for more than two years. It is included in the list of "500 masterpieces of painting of world significance." There is a theory according to which the portrait does not depict the Mona Lisa at all. The painting received its name based on the words. Scientists of our time claim that this could be a mistake, and the masterpiece depicts a completely different woman. The smile of Gioconda raises the most questions. There are many versions of its interpretation. Some argue that Gioconda is depicted as pregnant and her facial expression is associated with the desire to feel the movement of the fetus, while others believe that the smile betrays the hidden homosexuality of the artist himself. Some experts are sure that the Mona Lisa is a self-portrait of Leonardo da Vinci.

"The Coronation of Napoleon", Jacques Louis David

Many people are attracted to painting. Masterpieces of world significance often show the viewer an episode of some important historical event. The painting, painted by Jacques Louis David, was commissioned by the Emperor of France, Napoleon I. "The Coronation of Napoleon" shows the events of December 2, 1804. It is known that the customer asked the artist to depict the coronation better than it actually was.

David created a masterpiece inspired by a painting by Rubens. He worked on it for several years. For a long period of time, the painting remained the property of the artist. She ended up in the museum after Jacques Louis David left. His work has produced good impression on many. In 1808, the artist received an order from an American entrepreneur, who asked to create an identical copy.

The painting depicts about 150 characters. It is known that each image is incredibly accurate and realistic. In the left corner of the canvas all the emperor’s relatives are depicted. Behind Napoleon sits his mother. However, she did not attend the coronation. Experts say that, most likely, this was done in connection with the wishes of Napoleon himself. It is known that he treated her very reverently.

In those days, the film enjoyed fantastic success. After Napoleon was overthrown, the painting was kept in reserve for a long period of time and was not exhibited. Nowadays, the picture, just as before, delights many.

Valentin Serov, "Girl with Peaches"

Masterpieces of Russian painting are no less popular. "Girl with Peaches" is a painting painted by Valentin Serov in 1887. Nowadays you can see her live at the State Tretyakov Gallery. The painting depicts 12-year-old Vera Mamontova. She sits at a table on which there is a knife, peaches and leaves. The girl is wearing a pink blouse with a dark blue bow.

The painting by Valentin Serov was painted in the estate of Savva Ivanovich Mamontov in Abramtsevo. In 1871, trees were planted on the estate peach trees. A specially hired person looked after them. The artist first came to the estate in 1875 with his mother.

In August 1877, 11-year-old Vera Mamontova sat down at the table, picking up a peach. Valentin Serov invited the girl to pose. Vera accepted the artist's offer. She posed every day for almost two months. After the painting was painted, the artist gave it to Elizaveta Mamontova, the girl’s mother. It hung in one of the rooms for a long time. Currently there is a copy there, and the original is located in the museum. In 1888, the author of the painting was awarded the prize of the Moscow Society of Art Lovers.

The masterpieces of Russian painting are kept in themselves a large number of little-known facts. "Girl with Peaches" is no exception. It is known that Vera Mamontova, depicted on canvas, lived only 32 years. The cause of her death was pneumonia. Her husband did not marry after the death of his chosen one. He raised three children on his own.

Special literature

Unfortunately, not everyone can afford to visit museums of world significance. However, many people want to see masterpieces of painting. You can find photos of some of them in our article. It is worth noting that today there is a huge number printed publications, which demonstrate best paintings from all over the world. There you can find both modern and ancient works by various artists. It is worth noting that some editions are produced in limited quantities and are not easy to find.

The magazine "50 Artists. Masterpieces of Russian Painting" is a weekly publication. It will be interesting to readers of absolutely any age. In it you can find photographs of world-famous paintings, the history of their creation and Interesting Facts about them. The first magazine, which was released six years ago, came with a binder for storing the publications and a reproduction of one of the paintings that could be placed on your desktop or wall. Each issue describes the work of one of the artists. The volume of the magazine is 32 pages. You can find it on the territory Russian Federation or nearby countries. "50 Russian Artists. Masterpieces of Russian Painting" is a magazine that will definitely appeal to connoisseurs of fine art. A complete collection of issues will allow you to study basic information about the most popular artists. The cost of the magazine does not exceed 100 rubles.

“Masterpieces of Russian Painting” is a book authored by L. M. Zhukova. It contains 180 pages. The publication includes 150 high-quality images. The book-album attracts many. This is no coincidence, because it demonstrates a huge number of reproductions. Thanks to them, you can trace how Russian painting was formed. The cost of the book ranges from 700 to 1000 rubles.

"Famous Museums of Italy. Masterpieces of Painting" is a book that was published this year. It presents the best paintings from six museums in Italy. In the publication, the reader can also get acquainted with the history of the creation of museums. The book contains 304 pages.

Those who want to see works of world significance will definitely like the electronic gallery of painting masterpieces. Today there are many resources and applications that present the most famous paintings.

Viktor Vasnetsov, "Bogatyrs"

“Bogatyrs (Three Bogatyrs)” is a painting that was painted by Viktor Vasnetsov in 1898. It is one of the masterpieces of art. Vasnetsov's paintings are known to many. The work "Bogatyrs" is considered a symbol Russian art. The basis of all Vasnetsov’s work is folklore themes.

Three Russian heroes are depicted. They symbolize the strength and power of the Russian people. Above creation of this work The artist worked in art for about 30 years. The first sketch was made by Vasnetsov in 1871.

One of the heroes depicted in the painting is Ilya Muromets. He is known to us as a character in Russian epics. However, few people know that this hero really existed. Many stories about his exploits are real, and Ilya Muromets himself is a historical figure.

Dobrynya Nikitich, who is also depicted in the picture, according to folk legends, was very educated and courageous. There are many things associated with his personality incredible stories. You can often hear stories about his enchanted sword and armor.

Alyosha Popovich differs from the other two heroes in age. He is young and slender. In his hands you can see a bow and arrows. There are many in the picture small parts, which will help to carefully study the character of the characters.

Mikhail Vrubel, "The Seated Demon"

Another well-known painting is “Seated Demon”. Its author is Mikhail Vrubel. It was created in 1890. You can see its original in the Tretyakov Gallery. It is believed that the picture personifies the doubts inherent in man.

Experts believe that the artist was obsessed with the image of a demon, because it is known that he wrote many similar works. There is information that during this period, Vrubel’s acquaintances noticed that the artist was developing a mental disorder. The occurrence of the disease is associated with experienced stress. It is known that Vrubel had a son with a so-called cleft lip. The artist’s relatives noted that due to the onset of a mental disorder, his craving for art increased. However, it was almost impossible to be near him. In the spring of 1902, the disease reached a critical point. The artist was placed for treatment in a psychiatric hospital. Despite difficult fate Vrubel, his paintings never cease to attract new fans of his work and art connoisseurs around the world. His works are shown at various exhibitions. "Demon Seated" is one of the most popular paintings artist.

Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, "Bathing the Red Horse"

Every modern person should know the masterpieces of painting. The photos presented in our article will help you familiarize yourself with them. "Bathing the Red Horse" is a painting painted by the artist in 1912. Its author is Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin. Painting the horse in unusual color, the artist uses the traditions of Russian icon painting. The color red is a symbol of the greatness of life and sacrifice. The indomitable horse symbolizes the incomprehensibility of the Russian spirit. Bright pink color associated with the image of the Garden of Eden.

On November 10, 1912, an exhibition was held in Moscow. Above front door placed the painting by Petrov-Vodkin, believing that it would become a kind of banner. However, this opinion was wrong. The painting was not appreciated by both some visitors to the exhibition and the artists. Controversy surrounded the pioneering work. In 1914, an exhibition was held in Sweden, where 10 works by Petrov-Vodkin were presented, including “Bathing the Red Horse.” They were valued at tens of millions of dollars.
The age of the painting is more than 100 years. Today its role in the development of painting is obvious. However, even in our time there are many art connoisseurs who did not like the work of Petrov-Vodkin.

Salvador Dali, "The Persistence of Memory"

Many people are interested in painting. Masterpieces of world art continue to amaze today. All of Salvador Dali's work is paradoxical and difficult to analyze logically. The painting "The Persistence of Memory", painted in 1931, attracted the attention of many critics. Main image The works are most often explained by the complexity and non-linear nature of the time. Salvador Dali's favorite symbols are collected in one painting. The sea symbolizes immortality, the egg symbolizes life, and the olive symbolizes wisdom. The painting shows evening time days. Evening is a symbol of melancholy. It determines the general mood of the work. It is known that the three clocks in the picture are the past, present and future. It is believed that the blurry object with eyelashes is a self-portrait of the sleeping author. Salvador Dali argued that sleep releases all subconscious thoughts, and a person becomes defenseless. That is why in the picture his figure is presented as a blurry object.

Surprisingly, the image of the work arose in the artist after he looked at processed cheese. He created the painting in a few hours.

The painting by Salvador Dali is small in size (24x33 cm). The work has become a symbol of surrealism. The painting was first exhibited in Paris in 1931. There it was sold for $250.

Let's sum it up

Painting plays an important role in our lives. Masterpieces of fine art remain relevant today. There are many worthy paintings that have global significance. Our article contains some of them. Each picture presented has individual details and images. It is worth noting that some of them are associated little known facts and mysteries that are not fully understood today.

Painting plays a role in the lives of children and teenagers special role. By studying masterpieces, they learn to analyze, express their point of view and form an independent and highly intelligent personality. Painting plays an important role not only in the lives of children, but also of adults. It is no secret that a modern person must be a comprehensively developed personality. It is important to study all areas of life, including painting, in order to feel worthy in educated society, and perhaps find your calling in art.

The famous international art fair BRAFA, opening in Brussels, will demonstrate genre diversity for the sixty-second time. We present fifteen masterpieces of world painting, graphics, sculpture and design to choose from ARTANDHOUSES.

Gino Sarfatti. Desk lamp. Gallery Anne Autegarden

Engineer from Venice Gino Sarfatti(1912–1984) made a major contribution to the modernist design of lighting fixtures, one of which - a small (height 21 cm) table lamp with a mobile metal shade - will be presented by the Anne Autegarden gallery, which opened in 1980 in Brussels. The gallery specializes in Italian design, works by Belgian and American authors.

Sonia Delaunay. "Color Rhythm" Gallery Alexis Lartigue

"Color Rhythm" 1971 - small gouache on "late" paper Sony Delaunay, or Sarah Ilyinichna Stern, a native of Gradizhsk, a town near Poltava, the largest master of Art Deco and pictorial abstraction. Look for a signed item at the stand of the Parisian gallery Alexis Lartigue, which has been involved in art since 2006 European avant-garde and contemporary art.

Louis-Leopold Boilly. "Premonition of danger." Gallery Pierre Segoura

Self-taught French painter Louis-Leopold Boilly(1761–1845) specialized mainly in intimate portraits and genre scenes, in which (especially in accurately describing details) he was very successful among the public during the Directory, Consulate and First Empire. The park scene with an excited lady - a very typical piece by Boilly's brush (oil on cardboard) - is offered by the hereditary Parisian antique dealer Pierre Segura, whose refined taste and eye hardly needs any introduction.

Rene Magritte. "Nocturne". Stern Pissarro Gallery

Canvas Magritte(1898–1967) with reliable provenance is represented by the Stern Pissarro Gallery, run by David Stern and Lely Pissarro. Master's style mysterious paintings usually recognizable, but not in this 1923 work. A very decorative piece, reminiscent of a theatrical sketch, was clearly created not without the influence of the Art Deco style emerging in European countries.

Dish, China. Gallery Marc Michot

A Chinese dish (diameter 51 cm) with blue underglaze painting from the Ming era, the reign of Emperor Wanli (1563–1620) is a masterpiece of an unknown porcelain master. The center is marked by a scene with a mythical hornless dragon, a symbol of the Celestial Empire, framed by floral patterns. Gallerist Mark Michaud, co-founder of the Association of Antique Ceramics, believes that this is one of those pieces of porcelain that was produced in China specifically for export, since such natural motifs were not used in decoration for the domestic market.

“Portrait of a boy”, sketch, 17th century. Galerie Grand-Rue Marie-Laure Rondeau

Ritual mask, Côte d'Ivoire. Gallery Yann Ferrandin

Not a single BRAFA is complete without displaying unique works of art from Africa, Oceania and North America. It would be more accurate to say that it is precisely this area of ​​applied art that is the strong point of the Brussels fair. Art dealer and expert Jan Ferrandin, an undisputed authority in tribal art, among other things, will present a ritual mask of the early 20th century from Côte d’Ivoire.

The author of this work is more of a businessman than an artist. He has his own company for the production and sale of such masterpieces. Jeff knows for sure that those who buy works of art are those who already have everything. The dog from balloons it sold for $58 million.

Jeff Koons. I like to look at things and see value in things that others don't notice.

Painting "The Architect's House in the Hollow" by Peter Doig

Anyone can learn to draw realistically, but to draw something incomprehensible and sell it for 12 million dollars is talent. Scotsman Peter Doig is endowed with it.

Peter Doig. I don't like perfectly executed paintings. There is nothing interesting about perfection.

Painting "Untitled" by Cy Twombly

First, strokes with crayons, translucent gauze paint on top, then scrape off the same paint with the opposite end of the brush to show the transition from visible to hidden. This ridiculous painting sold for $2.3 million, and I don't know anything about art.

Cy Twombly. I swear, if I had the opportunity to live my life over again, I would paint pictures and not show them to anyone.

Painting "Cowboy" by Elsworth Kelly

To successfully sell a painting, you need to come up with unusual name, declare it an abstraction, and call yourself not like everyone else. The miracle is that if you buy it for $1.8 million, after a while you start to see it as a cowboy.

Elsworth Kelly. Shape and color are mine strengths. I am inspired by nature and translate it into geometry. These simple lines exist everywhere, even if you don't notice them.

Painting "Dog" by Joan Miró

If you're allergic to animals and have a lot of money, you can buy this dog for just $2.2 million. But only if the current owner agrees to sell it to you.

Joan Miro. For me, every work is alive. This cigarette, box of matches or painting lives a secret life, much more interesting than many people.

Painting "Untitled" by Mark Rothko

You won’t surprise anyone with a bright picture, but if its price is $28 million, maybe you should take a closer look. Friends, those two orange boxes are worth more than the average manager will make in a lifetime.

Mark Rothko. I am not an abstractionist, my task is to express basic human emotions in painting: tragedy, ecstasy, doom. Art is an anecdote of the soul.

Painting “Sunset on the Sea”, author Alina Sevostyanova

Stunning painting from a Russian artist. Realism, lost in hidden details, and a littered horizon as a symbol of the instability of Mother Nature. And Alina is 7 years old.

Alina Sevostyanova. Anyone can draw.

White Fire I by Barnett Newman

Will the $3.8 million fire keep the owner of the painting warm? Hope so.

Barnett Newman. I prefer to let the pictures speak for themselves.

Installation “For the Love of God”, author Damien Hirst

The price of this spectacular skull, lined with diamonds, is 50 million pounds. There are rumors that a buyer was never found and the skull was bought by the White Cube Foundation, which belongs to the artist.

Damien Hirst. Great art is when you look at it, feel it, and then it stays in your mind. Traditional and contemporary creativity no different.

Painting "Green Blot" by Elsworth Kelly

Who knows why this painting costs $1.6 million? Apparently, for any work there is a connoisseur. By the way, Ellsworth Kelly was never able to sell most of the paintings, but after this deal he will be able to buy himself a small island on which he will paint colorful figures for the rest of his life.

Elsworth Kelly. I want to paint something that I have not seen before, but the viewer should not understand what is depicted in the picture. I like the fragments.

The mysterious world of art may seem confusing to the untrained eye, but there are masterpieces that everyone should know. Talent, inspiration and painstaking work on every stroke give birth to works that are admired centuries later.

It is impossible to collect all the outstanding creations in one selection, but we tried to select the most famous paintings that attract giant queues in front of museums around the world.

The most famous paintings by Russian artists

“Morning in a pine forest”, Ivan Shishkin and Konstantin Savitsky

Shishkin was an excellent landscape painter, but he rarely had to draw animals, so the figures of bear cubs were painted by Savitsky, an excellent animal artist. At the end of the work, Tretyakov ordered Savitsky’s signature to be erased, considering that Shishkin had done much more extensive work.

“Ivan the Terrible and his son Ivan November 16, 1581”, Ilya Repin

Repin was inspired to create the masterpiece, better known as “Ivan the Terrible Kills His Son,” by Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Antar” symphony, namely its second movement, “The Sweetness of Revenge.” Under the influence of the sounds of music, the artist depicted a bloody scene of murder and subsequent repentance observed in the eyes of the sovereign.

"The Seated Demon", Mikhail Vrubel

The painting was one of thirty illustrations drawn by Vrubel for anniversary edition works of M.Yu. Lermontov. “The sitting demon” personifies the doubts inherent in the human spirit, the subtle, elusive “mood of the soul.” According to experts, the artist was to some extent obsessed with the image of a demon: this painting was followed by “The Flying Demon” and “The Defeated Demon.”

“Boyaryna Morozova”, Vasily Surikov

The film is based on the plot of the Old Believer life “The Tale of Boyarina Morozova”. Understanding key image came to the artist when he saw a crow spreading its black wings like a blur on the snowy surface. Later, Surikov spent a long time looking for a prototype for the noblewoman’s face, but could not find anything suitable until one day he met an Old Believer woman with a pale, frantic face in a cemetery. The portrait sketch was completed in two hours.

"Bogatyrs", Viktor Vasnetsov

The future epic masterpiece was born as a small pencil sketch in 1881; For further work on the canvas, Vasnetsov spent many years painstakingly collecting information about the heroes from myths, legends and traditions, and also studied authentic ancient Russian ammunition in museums.

Analysis of Vasnetsov’s painting “Three Heroes”

“Bathing the Red Horse”, Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin

Initially, the painting was conceived as an everyday sketch from the life of a Russian village, but during the work the artist’s canvas became overgrown with a huge number of symbols. By the red horse, Petrov-Vodkin meant “The Fate of Russia”; after the country joined the First world war he exclaimed: “So that’s why I painted this picture!” However, after the revolution, pro-Soviet art critics interpreted the key figure in the painting as a “harbinger of revolutionary fires.”

"Trinity", Andrei Rublev

The icon that laid the foundation for the tradition of Russian icon painting in the 15th–16th centuries. The canvas depicting the Old Testament trinity of angels who appeared to Abraham is a symbol of the unity of the Holy Trinity.

"The Ninth Wave", Ivan Aivazovsky

A pearl in the “cartography” of the legendary Russian marine painter, who without hesitation can be considered one of the most famous artists in the world. We can see how the sailors who miraculously survived the storm cling to the mast in anticipation of meeting the “ninth wave,” the mythical apogee of all storms. But the warm shades dominating the canvas give hope for the salvation of the victims.

“The Last Day of Pompeii”, Karl Bryullov

Completed in 1833, Bryullov’s painting was originally exhibited in largest cities Italy, where it caused a real sensation - the painter was compared to Michelangelo, Titian, Raphael... At home, the masterpiece was greeted with no less enthusiasm, securing the nickname “Charle the Great” for Bryullov. The canvas is truly great: its dimensions are 4.6 by 6.5 meters, which makes it one of the largest paintings among the creations of Russian artists.

The most famous paintings of Leonardo da Vinci

"Mona Lisa"

A masterpiece of the Florentine genius that needs no introduction. It is noteworthy that the painting received cult status after the incident of theft from the Louvre in 1911. Two years later, the thief, who turned out to be a museum employee, tried to sell the painting to the Uffizi Gallery. The events of the high-profile case were covered in detail in the world press, after which hundreds of thousands of reproductions went on sale, and mysterious Gioconda became an object of worship.

After five centuries, a fresco with a classical plot on the wall of the refectory of the Dominican monastery in Milan is recognized as one of the most mysterious paintings in history. According to Da Vinci's idea, the painting depicts the moment of the Easter meal, when Christ notifies the disciples of imminent betrayal. Great amount hidden characters gave rise to an equally huge variety of studies, allusions, borrowings and parodies.

"Madonna Litta"

Also known as "Madonna and Child" painting for a long time was kept in the collection of the Dukes of Litta, and in 1864 was purchased by the St. Petersburg Hermitage. Many experts agree that the figure of the baby was painted not by da Vinci personally, but by one of his students - a pose too uncharacteristic for the painter.

The most famous paintings of Salvador Dali

Paradoxically, but the most famous work genius of surrealism, was born from thoughts about Camembert cheese. One evening, after a friendly dinner, which ended with appetizers with cheese, the artist was lost in thought about “spreading pulp,” and his imagination painted a picture of a melting clock with an olive branch in the foreground.

A traditional plot given a surreal twist using arithmetic principles studied by Leonardo da Vinci. The artist put the peculiar magic of the number “12” at the forefront, moving away from the hermeneutic method of interpreting the biblical plot.

The most famous paintings of Pablo Picasso

The painting became the first sign of the so-called “pink” period in Picasso’s work. Rough texture and simplified style are combined with a sensitive play of lines and colors, the contrast between the massive figure of an athlete and a fragile gymnast. The canvas was sold along with 29 other works for 2 thousand francs (in total) to the Parisian collector Vollard, changed several collections, and in 1913 it was acquired by Russian philanthropist Ivan Morozov, already for 13 thousand francs.

Guernica is the name of a city in the Basque country that was subjected to German bombing in April 1937. Picasso had never been to Guernica, but was stunned by the scale of the disaster, like “the blow of a bull’s horn.” The artist conveyed the horrors of war in abstract form and showed the real face of fascism, veiling it with bizarre geometric shapes.

The most famous paintings of the Renaissance

"Sistine Madonna", Raphael Santi

If you look closely at the background, which at first glance consists of clouds, you will notice that in fact Raphael depicted the heads of angels there. The two angels located at the bottom of the picture are almost more famous than the masterpiece itself, due to its wide circulation in mass art.

"Birth of Venus", Sandro Botticelli

At the heart of the picture - ancient greek myth about the birth of Aphrodite from sea foam. Unlike many masterpieces of the Renaissance, the canvas has survived to this day in excellent condition thanks to the protective layer of egg yolk that Botticelli prudently covered the work with.

"The Creation of Adam", Michelangelo Buonarotti

One of the nine frescoes on the ceiling Sistine Chapel, illustrating the chapter from Genesis: “And God created man in His own image.” It was Michelangelo who was the first to depict God as a wise, gray-haired old man, after which this image became archetypal. Modern scientists believe that the contours of the figure of God and angels represent the human brain.

"Night Watch", Rembrandt

The full title of the painting is “Performance of the rifle company of Captain Frans Banning Kok and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburg.” Modern name The painting received its attention in the 19th century, when it was found by art critics who, due to the layer of dirt covering the work, decided that the action in the painting was taking place under the cover of night darkness.

"The Garden of Earthly Delights", Hieronymus Bosch

Malevich wrote “Black Square” for several months; Legend has it that a painting is hidden under a layer of black paint - the artist did not have time to finish the work on time and, in a fit of anger, covered up the image. There are at least seven copies of “Black Square” made by Malevich, as well as a kind of “continuation” Suprematist squares– “Red Square” (1915) and “ White square"(1918).

"The Scream", Edvard Munch

Due to its inexplicable mystical effect on the viewer, the painting was stolen in 1994 and 2004. There is an opinion that the picture created at the turn of the 20th century anticipated numerous disasters of the coming century. The deep symbolism of "The Scream" inspired many artists, including Andy Warhol

This painting still causes a lot of controversy. Some art critics believe that the excitement around the painting, painted using the signature splashing technique, was created artificially. The canvas was not sold until all the artist’s other works were purchased, and accordingly, the price for a non-figurative masterpiece skyrocketed. “Number Five” was sold for $140 million, becoming the most expensive painting in history.

"Marilyn Diptych", Andy Warhol

A week after the death of Marilyn Monroe, the controversial artist began work on the canvas. 50 stenciled portraits of the actress were applied to the canvas, stylized in the “pop art” genre based on a 1953 photograph.
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The world history of fine art remembers many amazing incidents related to the creation and subsequent adventures of famous paintings. This is because for real artists, life and creativity are too closely connected.

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch

Year of creation: 1893
Materials: cardboard, oil, tempera, pastel
Where is it: National Gallery,

The famous painting “The Scream” by the Norwegian expressionist artist Edvard Munch is a favorite subject of discussion among mystics around the world. Some people think that the painting predicted terrible events XX century with its wars, environmental disasters and the Holocaust. Others are sure that the picture brings misfortune and illness to its offenders.

Munch’s own life can hardly be called prosperous: he lost many relatives, was repeatedly treated in psychiatric clinic, has never been married.

By the way, the artist reproduced the painting “The Scream” four times.

It is believed that she is the result of manic-depressive psychosis from which Munch suffered. Anyway, the look of a desperate man with big head, with an open mouth and hands attached to the face, and today shocks everyone who looks at the canvas.

"The Great Masturbator" by Salvador Dali

Year of creation: 1929
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: Reina Sofia Arts Center,

The general public saw the painting “The Great Masturbator” only after the death of the master of shocking art and himself famous surrealist Salvador Dali. The artist kept it in his own collection at the Dalí Theater-Museum in Figueres. It is believed that an unusual painting can tell a lot about the author’s personality, in particular about his painful attitude towards sex. However, we can only guess what motives are actually hidden in the picture.

This is akin to solving a rebus: in the center of the picture there is an angular profile looking down, similar either to Dali himself or to a rock on the coast of a Catalan city, and in the lower part of the head a naked woman rises female figure- a copy of the artist’s mistress Gala. The painting also contains locusts, which caused inexplicable fear in Dali, and ants - a symbol of decomposition.

"Family" by Egon Schiele

Year of creation: 1918
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: Belvedere Gallery,

Beautiful painting in its time Austrian artist Egon Schiele was called pornography, and the artist was sent to prison for allegedly seducing a minor.

At this price he was given the love of his teacher’s model. Schiele's paintings are one of best examples expressionism, while they are naturalistic and full of frightening despair.

Schiele's models were often teenagers and prostitutes. In addition, the artist was fascinated by himself - his legacy includes many different self-portraits. Schiele painted the canvas “Family” three days before his own death, depicting his pregnant wife who died of the flu and their unborn child. Perhaps this is far from the strangest, but definitely the most tragic work of the painter.

“Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” by Gustav Klimt

Year of creation: 1907
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is: New gallery,

History of creation famous painting Austrian artist Gustav Klimt's “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer” can rightfully be called shocking. The wife of the Austrian sugar magnate Ferdinand Bloch-Bauer became the artist's muse and lover. Wanting to take revenge on both of them, the wounded husband decided to resort to an original method: he ordered a portrait of his wife from Klimt and tormented him with endless nagging, forcing him to make hundreds of sketches. Ultimately, this led to Klimt losing his former interest in his model.

Work on the painting continued for several years, and Adele watched as her lover’s feelings faded away. Ferdinand's insidious plan was never revealed. Today the "Austrian Mona Lisa" is considered national treasure Austria.

“Black Supermatic Square” by Kazimir Malevich

Year of creation: 1915
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: State Tretyakov Gallery,

Almost a hundred years have passed since the Russian avant-garde artist Kazimir Malevich created his famous creation, and debates and discussions still do not stop. Appearing in 1915 at the futuristic exhibition “0.10” in the “red corner” of the hall intended for the icon, the painting shocked the public and forever glorified the artist. True, today few people know that supermatic paintings are non-objective paintings in which color rules the roost, and “Black Square” is actually not black and not square at all.

By the way, one of the versions of the history of the creation of the canvas says: the artist did not have time to finish work on the painting, so he was forced to cover the work with black paint, at that moment his friend came into the workshop and exclaimed: “Brilliant!”

"The Origin of the World" by Gustave Courbet

Year of creation: 1866
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: Orsay Museum,

The painting by the French realist artist Gustave Courbet was considered extremely provocative for a very long time and was not known to the general public for more than 120 years. A naked woman lying on a bed with her legs spread still evokes mixed reaction spectators. For this reason, at the Orsay Museum, the painting is guarded by one of the employees.

In 2013, a French collector announced that he had stumbled upon the part of the painting in which the sitter’s head was visible in one of the antique shops in Paris. Experts confirmed the assumption that Joanna Hiffernan (Joe) posed for the artist. While working on the painting, she was in love affair with Courbet's student, the artist James Whistler. The picture provoked their separation.

"Man and Woman in Front of a Pile of Excrement" by Joan Miró

Year of creation: 1935
Materials: oil, copper
Where is it located: Joan Miró Foundation,

For a rare viewer, when looking at a painting Spanish artist and the sculptor Joan Miró would have been associated with horror civil war. But it was precisely the period of pre-war anxiety in 1935 in Spain that served as the theme of the film with the promising title “Man and Woman in Front of a Heap of Excrement.” This is a premonition picture.

She depicts an absurd “cave” couple who are drawn to each other, but cannot budge. Enlarged genitals, poisonous colors, scattered figures on dark background- all this predicted, according to the artist, approaching tragic events.

Most of Joan Miró's paintings are abstract and surreal works, and the mood they convey is joyful.

"Water Lilies" by Claude Monet

Year of creation: 1906
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: private collections

The cult painting of the French impressionist Claude Monet “Water Lilies” has notoriety- It is no coincidence that it is called “fire hazardous”. This series of suspicious coincidences continues to surprise many skeptics. The first incident occurred right in the artist’s studio: Monet and his friends were celebrating the completion of a painting when suddenly a small fire broke out.

The painting was saved, and soon it was bought by the owners of a cabaret in Montmartre, but less than a month later, the establishment also suffered from a severe fire. The next “victim” of the canvas was the Parisian philanthropist Oscar Schmitz, whose office caught fire a year after “Water Lilies” were hung there. Once again, the painting managed to survive. This year, a private collector purchased “Water Lilies” for $54 million.

"Les Demoiselles d'Avignon" by Pablo Picasso

Year of creation: 1907
Materials: oil, canvas
Where is it located: Museum of Modern Art,

“It feels like you wanted to feed us oakum or give us gasoline to drink,” he said about the painting, “ Avignon girls"Picasso's friend the artist Georges Braque. The canvas really became scandalous: the public adored the artist’s previous, tender and sad works, and the abrupt transition to cubism caused alienation.

The female figures with rough male faces and angular arms and legs were too far from the graceful “Girl on the Ball”.

Friends turned their backs on Picasso; Matisse was extremely dissatisfied with the painting. However, it was “Les Demoiselles d’Avignon” that determined not just the direction of development of Picasso’s work, but the future of fine art as a whole. Original title paintings ‒ “Philosophical Brothel”.

"Portrait of the Artist's Son" by Mikhail Vrubel

Year of creation: 1902
Materials: watercolor, gouache, graphite pencil, paper
Where is it located: State Russian Museum,

The brilliant Russian artist of the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Mikhail Vrubel, succeeded in almost all types of fine art. His first-born Savva was born with a “cleft lip,” which deeply upset the artist. Vrubel depicted the boy in one of his canvases frankly, without trying to hide his congenital deformity.

The gentle tones of the portrait do not make it serene - shock can be read in it. The baby himself is depicted with an amazingly wise, childlike look. Soon after completing the painting, the child died. From that moment in the life of the artist, who was grieving the tragedy, a “black” period of illness and madness began.

Photo: thinkstockphotos.com, flickr.com