Introduction
Over the past centuries, countless artists have created millions of paintings. Yet, only a few have truly become iconic. In this article, we introduce you to 34 famous paintings and images from various artistic periods. We provide in-depth insights into the background of each artwork and share fascinating facts about the artists and their works.
Famous Paintings and Photos from All Artistic Periods
We have selected famous paintings and images from different artistic periods. While this list is not exhaustive, it includes some of the most influential works in art history.
1. Leonardo Da Vinci - Mona Lisa
Period: Renaissance (1503-1506)
Technique: Oil on panel
Dimensions: 77 cm x 53 cm
Location: Louvre, Paris
Why is it famous? The Mona Lisa is probably the most famous painting in the world. Her mysterious smile and Da Vinci’s revolutionary painting technique make this work legendary. The 1911 theft further contributed to its unprecedented popularity.
Â
2. Michelangelo Buonarroti - The Creation of Adam
Period: High Renaissance (1511-1512)
Technique: Fresco
Dimensions: 2.8m x 5.7m
Location: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City
Why is it famous? This fresco is one of the most iconic religious images in art history. It depicts the touch between God and Adam, symbolizing the creation of mankind.
Â
3. Vincent Van Gogh - The Starry Night
Period: Post-Impressionism (1889)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 74 cm x 92 cm
Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York
Why is it famous? The Starry Night was painted during Van Gogh’s stay in a psychiatric clinic. The expressive brushstrokes and swirling night sky make this painting unique and recognizable.
Â
4. Edvard Munch - The Scream
Period: Expressionism (1893)
Technique: Oil, tempera, and pastel on cardboard
Dimensions: 91 cm x 73.5 cm
Location: National Museum, Oslo
Why is it famous? The Scream is one of the most recognizable and emotionally charged paintings ever. Munch created four versions of this work, one of which was stolen in 1994 and later recovered.
Â
5. Leonardo Da Vinci - Salvator Mundi
Period: Renaissance (ca. 1500)
Technique: Oil on walnut panel
Dimensions: 65 cm x 45 cm
Why is it famous? This painting was auctioned for $450 million in 2017, making it the most expensive painting ever sold. It depicts Christ as the "Savior of the World."
Â
6. Paul Cézanne - The Card Players
Period: Post-Impressionism (1890-1895)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? Cézanne painted five versions of The Card Players. One of these versions was sold for approximately $250 million in 2011.
Â
7. Diego Velázquez - Las Meninas
Period: Baroque (1656)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 318 cm × 276 cm
Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid
Why is it famous? Velázquez included himself in this royal portrait, which was a revolutionary choice.
Â
8. Rembrandt van Rijn - The Night Watch
Period: Dutch Golden Age (1642)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 363 cm × 437 cm
Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
Why is it famous? This masterpiece is one of the most famous paintings in Dutch art history, depicting a lively military scene.
Â
9. Jan Vermeer - Girl with a Pearl Earring
Period: Baroque (1665)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 44.5 cm × 39 cm
Location: Mauritshuis, The Hague
Why is it famous? Vermeer painted a serene, intimate portrait with a mysterious aura, often referred to as the "Dutch Mona Lisa."
Â
10. Pablo Picasso - Guernica
Period: Cubism (1937)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This monumental work is a powerful protest against war and violence.
Â
- Tip: View our painting by number range including painting by number own photo
11. Caspar David Friedrich - Wanderer Above the Sea of Fog
Period: Romanticism (1818)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 94.8 cm × 74.8 cm
Location: Kunsthalle Hamburg, Germany
Why is it famous? This painting symbolizes the power of nature and the insignificance of man, a typical feature of Romanticism.
12. Jean-Étienne Liotard - The Chocolate Girl
Period: Rococo (1745)
Technique: Pastel on parchment
Dimensions: 82 cm × 52 cm
Location: Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden
Why is it famous? An extremely detailed and realistic pastel portrait, unprecedented for its time.
13. Gustav Klimt - Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I
Period: Art Nouveau (1907)
Technique: Oil and gold leaf on canvas
Dimensions: 138 cm × 138 cm
Location: Neue Galerie, New York
Why is it famous? Known for its luxurious appearance due to the use of gold leaf.
14. Claude Monet - Water Lilies
Period: Impressionism (1899-1926)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? Monet painted over 250 versions of his beloved water lilies in Giverny, a masterpiece of color and light.
15. Paul Gauguin - Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?)
Period: Post-Impressionism (1892)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This painting shows the influence of Polynesian culture on Gauguin’s work and was sold for a record amount in 2015.
16. Leonardo Da Vinci - The Last Supper
Period: Renaissance (1495-1498)
Technique: Fresco-secco
Dimensions: 460 cm × 880 cm
Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan
Why is it famous? One of the most famous religious paintings, capturing the moment Jesus tells his disciples about the betrayal.
17. Albrecht Dürer - The Hare
Period: Renaissance (1502)
Technique: Watercolor on paper
Why is it famous? This masterpiece showcases Dürer’s exceptional attention to detail and realism in early European art.
18. Vincent Van Gogh - Twelve Sunflowers
Period: Post-Impressionism (1888)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? Van Gogh painted multiple versions of sunflowers, featuring vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes.
19. Carl Spitzweg - The Poor Poet
Period: Biedermeier (1839)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This humorous and satirical painting depicts a poor poet in a small attic room.
20. Katsushika Hokusai - The Great Wave off Kanagawa
Period: Edo Period (1831)
Technique: Woodblock print
Why is it famous? This iconic Japanese artwork depicts a massive wave with Mount Fuji in the background.
- Tip: View our diamond painting range including diamond painting your own photo
21. Hieronymus Bosch - The Garden of Earthly Delights
Period: Early Netherlandish (ca. 1500)
Technique: Oil on panel
Why is it famous? This triptych, full of symbolism and fantasy, is one of the most mysterious works in art history.
22. Franz Marc - The Tower of Blue Horses
Period: Expressionism (1913)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? One of Marc’s most famous works, where he used animals as spiritual symbols.
23. Sandro Botticelli - The Birth of Venus
Period: Renaissance (1486)
Technique: Tempera on canvas
Why is it famous? An iconic depiction of classical mythology and a pinnacle of the Italian Renaissance.
24. Albrecht Dürer - The Great Piece of Turf
Period: Renaissance (1503)
Technique: Watercolor and gouache on paper
Why is it famous? A detailed nature study that showcases Dürer’s mastery of observation.
25. Raphael - The School of Athens
Period: Renaissance (1511)
Technique: Fresco
Why is it famous? One of the most famous frescoes from the Renaissance, featuring philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.
26. Pablo Picasso - Guernica
Period: Cubism (1937)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This monumental painting is a powerful protest against war and violence.
27. Johannes Vermeer - The Milkmaid
Period: Baroque (ca. 1658)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? Vermeer captures an everyday scene with extraordinary light and detail, making this painting a masterpiece.
28. Francisco Goya - Saturn Devouring His Son
Period: Romanticism (1819-1823)
Technique: Oil on plaster
Why is it famous? One of the most horrifying paintings in art history, depicting the mythological scene of cannibalism.
29. Georges Seurat - A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
Period: Pointillism (1884-1886)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? Seurat introduced pointillism, an innovative painting technique using thousands of dots to form a vibrant image.
30. Edward Hopper - Nighthawks
Period: Modernism (1942)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This iconic work exudes loneliness and isolation in an American diner at night.
31. Caravaggio - The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist
Period: Baroque (1608)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This dramatic painting is a masterpiece of light and shadow, typical of Caravaggio’s style.
32. Jackson Pollock - No. 5, 1948
Period: Abstract Expressionism (1948)
Technique: Drip painting on fiberboard
Why is it famous? This revolutionary painting, created using the "dripping" technique, transformed modern art.
33. Grant Wood - American Gothic
Period: Regionalism (1930)
Technique: Oil on canvas
Why is it famous? This painting is one of the most famous American artworks and a symbol of rural life in the U.S.
34. Gustav Klimt - The Kiss
Period: Art Nouveau (1907-1908)
Technique: Oil and gold leaf on canvas
Why is it famous? One of the most famous romantic paintings and a highlight of Klimt’s "Golden Period."
Conclusion: Famous Paintings and Images from All Artistic Eras
These 34 paintings are among the most influential artworks in history. They represent various movements and styles, each having a unique impact on the art world. Whether it is the symbolism of Guernica, the technical perfection of The Mona Lisa, or the emotional power of The Scream, each artwork has left its mark on the world of painting.
Art continues to evolve, but these masterpieces remain timeless. They inspire artists, critics, and admirers to this day and remain a window into history and human creativity.
Leave a comment