At her feet, three women with bowed heads raise their hands in prayer—their sobriety implies mourning as if they foresaw the child’s fate.

This is one of the greatest Gustav Klimt paintings ever made in the pre-modern era

This prophetic painting is titled “Hope, II.”

Why would “Hope” apply to a scene of expectant fatalism? There’s a method to Gustav Klimt’s paradoxical aesthetic.

“Hope, II” recalls his earlier, related painting of a pregnant woman “Hope.” By association with its predecessor, this was Hope, II, revealing Klimt’s pattern of pregnant women and the weight of hope they carried in their wombs.

The unborn child here is the embodiment of the nominal hope, but it has death looming over it.

Hope, a great attribute of Gustav Klimt paintings

In this atmosphere of maternal anxiety, Klimt displays a Freudian flavor to manifest Sigmund Freud’s explorations of the child within every adult persona.

Klimt lived and worked in the turn-of-the-century Vienna, home to Freud, and thus was in proximity of this psychoanalytic inspiration.

Gustav Klimt’s paintings often investigate formative drives, like sex and death, mirrors Freud’s studies of the psyche. Through the Freudian lens, what does the child within the woman reveal?

Pregnant women in art are seldom visible

Women and children make appearances in many historical portraits, but the pregnant mothers, as well as the notion of pregnancy, are curiously invisible and exist outside the artistic consciousness.

Why Hope II is special?

By featuring this expectant mother to the center-stage, Klimt parades the splendor of hope about to emerge.

But by giving her death as a companion, Klimt forces us to confront the reality of birth and death within the same frame.

The woman is entrapped in the irony between the commencement and the endgame of life, poised beneath the possibility of a ‘healthy birth’ or the ‘tragic premature demise’ of her child.

To balance out the solemn gravity, Klimt adorns this woman in a stark richness.

The woman’s gold-patterned robe—drawn flat, as clothes are in Russian icons, although her skin is rounded and dimensional—has an extraordinary decorative beauty.

Gustav Klimt paintings are another great example of great convergence of technique, pattern, and colors

Devoted to his craftwork, Klimt was among the many artists of his time who united old-fashioned traditions—like his Byzantine gold leaf painting—with a modern psychological subject.

In Hope II, Klimt revisits this theme but makes some notable changes:

More Abstract

The pregnant woman in Hope II is more abstract, with her face barely visible. Her body is covered in a richly patterned, ornamental garment, and her figure is surrounded by vibrant golden colors.

Less Death Imagery

Although Hope II retains some darker undertones, it focuses more on ornamental beauty and less on explicit symbols of death, giving it a more positive, serene mood.

Both Hope I and Hope II reflect Klimt’s fascination with the cycles of life and death, conveyed through his unique blend of sensuality, symbolism, and vibrant ornamentation.

Birth and death exist side-by-side, suspended in equilibrium, collaborators in the appetite of living. The Power of art and a curious subject like – pregnant women in art – truly executed by Klimt. Respect!

The post Hope II by Gustav Klimt – The Subject of Pregnant Women in Art appeared first on The Artist.

The purposes, motivations, intentions, and inspirations behind the art are endless.

Being one of the most creative ways of expressing human experience, we have used art as a means of telling stories.

May it be the story of a single person, of a community, or of a nation, art has in many ways contributed to the beautiful way these stories are told.

We’ve put together a list of 25 functions of art based on the viewpoints from renowned artists and philosophers for you to reflect upon

1. Art as an Expression

Art is a human activity, consisting in this, that one person consciously, by certain external signs, conveys to others feelings he has experienced, and other people are affected by these feelings and live them over in themselves.” – Tolstoy

Tolstoy’s famous “Expression Theory” centered on the idea that art elicits and provokes emotion in the viewer.

Out of many styles of expression, Abstract Expressionism is one great example where artists are empowered with the liberty to convey attitudes and emotions through nontraditional and usually nonrepresentational means.

The prominent function of art always drawn toward the expression theory.

Artists like Jackson Pollock believed that it was the viewer (and not the artist) who defines and interprets the meaning of the abstract expressionist artwork thus, there is no relevance on what the artist thinks or conveys while producing the work.

Convergence by Jackson Pollock is one of the initial art pieces of abstract expressionism and considered as the bravest action paintings ever made

The modern artist is working with space and time, and expressing his feelings rather than illustrating” – Jackson Pollock

2. Art empowers our faith in the nobility of man (Humanism)

“Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand” – Pablo Picasso 

One of the most powerful shifts resulted from the Renaissance period is that the Church was never a responsible source for their behavior and beliefs towards God and fellow men and that they themselves are responsible for the actions. One of the key aspects of what makes us human is revolving around our faith in religion, art, and culture

The School of Athens by Raphael remains one of the powerful representation of this shift in human history and also embodies the classical spirit of Renaissance

3. The creation of beauty is art

What is beauty in art? – Beauty is what we see as characteristic and harmonious.

Whatever different reactions art will about inside you, it is clear that the explanation is complicated and definitive.

Every piece of art, whether a painting, a vase or a statue, will have different colors, lines, and textures that will appeal to your soul and heart.

4. Know Thyself

“Creative without strategy is called ‘art.’ Creative with strategy is called advertising” – Jef Richards, educator

Art is a form of expressing oneself

Consciously or unconsciously artists are following Socrates’ command – Know thyself.

During this process, artists are exploring their subject, medium, and material, rebalancing the spiritual value of those elements, thereby experiencing the subtle preciousness of their awareness.

This interaction is beautiful which in fact leads to the inevitable desire for outward expression.

Art is born here.

5. Art is freedom in every sense

“Art is meant to disturb. Science reassures” – Georges Braque, painter

One decides to express the imagination is brave. The value of freedom in our creative expression cannot be overstated.

What about aestheticizing violence? What about creating art in gigantic forms?

What about choosing topics that are controversial? Different expressive media have a tendency to attract different personalities.

Phillipe Perrin, known for his huge artworks revolving around the subjects of evil and crime, chooses subjects that have the power to instill immediate shock and presents them in a bold way that ensures they do.

One of Perrin’s famous works, Bloodymary, blends the line between theatre, sculpture, and performance art through the lens of murder.

The artist uses unconventional medium and subject to place the viewer face to face with images inexorably tied to modern violence, subtly aestheticizing the violence in art.

The true meaning of art can be multifarious, but the purpose of art is met when such artists like Perrin uses art in innovative and unconventional ways.

6. Art sends strong messages from the sidewalk to the world at large

 “Speak softly, but carry a big can of paint” – Bansky 

Street art has proven itself to be a truly expressive art form.

It is not an inferior form of political outcry nor is it the indifferent rebellion of disaffected youth.

Street art thinks, feels, and evokes thoughts and emotions in the people that view it with an open mind.

Using iconic imagery that is often recognizable regardless of language, the street artist is able to speak his opinions and solutions to a global audience, making this a rapidly advancing form of art the world over.

7.  Art is the most intense mode of individualism

“Art is either plagiarism or revolution” – Paul Gauguin, painter

Famous artist Paul Gauguin once written – “One must always feel the plane, the wall; tapestries need no perspective”

Paul Gauguin’s art, style, and legacy reflected strongly in his artworks and often dismantled the traditional perspectives of art.

Gauguin was once of a few ordinary men that were able to leave mundane life to realize and fulfill a dream – to become an artist.

Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? by Paul Gauguin is a great example of individualism where Gauguin said to read from right to left instead of from left to right – which in fact provides an entirely different perspective to the reader, which itself shows the true power and meaning of art

8. Art shifts realism into reality

“Pop Art looks out into the world. It doesn’t look like a painting of something; it looks like the thing itself.” – Roy Lichtenstein

We’re living in a time where our beliefs and messages must be braver and rendered more boldly than ever before.

Popular culture was shrouding everything in the 1950’s and 60’s in America, and maintaining the status quo became more important than ever.

The power of pop art has been emerging since then and continuously breaking all conformist perspectives and definitions of art

Whereas abstract artists sought to let the medium control the image, such as in Pollock’s drops of paint.

Pop Artists went beyond realism into reality.

9. Great art tells meaningful stories

“Art does not reproduce what is visible; it makes things visible.” Paul Klee, artist

The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau – One of the most perceptible modern pieces of art, currently resides in MoMA Newyork,  has been considered as one of the many inspiring works by poets and musicians and also frequently parodied.

In this masterpiece, both, lion and woman display a calm demeanor on this artwork, but actually, both are on the alert warning that the trust between two worlds may get violated anytime.

10. Art validates our sorrows

“Art grows from joy and sorrow, but mostly from sorrow. It grows from human lives” – Edvard Munch

Art helps us see that sorrow can be beautiful and noble and still be one aspect of a good life.

Art also helps us to suffer alone without the input of society so that we can show a dignified face to the world in our public sorrow.

The true meaning of art lies in the emotion, considering sorrow is one prominent expression that we embody, art always validates our sorrows. “They thought I was a Surrealist, but I wasn’t.

I never painted dreams. I painted my own reality.” said Frida Kahlo, a great artist who infused her canvas with her native Mexican birthright and the historical epochs of her life.

11. Art is a personal act of courage

“Art is a personal act of courage” – Seth Godin

Courage is more important than creativity. Great art comes from the heart, doesn’t come from doing what you’re told. The mesmerizing charm of a great work of art doesn’t come from what is painted on the canvas. Rather, it comes from what was in the artist’s heart while he was painting. Franz Krueger’s The Parade auf Opernplatzis a great example of that. Krueger shows us that true art can be created only through courage, the strength of character, and determination. The meaning of art implies a personal and open proliferation of your thoughts.

12. Art is the signature of civilizations

“Art is the Queen of all sciences communicating knowledge to all the generations of the world.” – Leonardo da Vinci

Humanity advances on the great foundations built by ancestors. We transform the heritage of the past, learn the social aspects, identify new opportunities and invent new ways of life. In this journey, the past lives remain as a reference point as a subtle guide to build great things in this modern world.

At Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, you will be amazed by the galleries of  “The art of the Arab Lands, Turkey, Iran, Central Asia, and later South Asia” section, where you will experience some of the finest masterpieces from the Islamic world, moreover enables you to understand the artistic and scientific heritage of an entire civilization. Rightly said by Roger Seruton, the culture of civilization is the art and literature through which it rises to the consciousness of itself and defines the vision of the world – after all the definition of culture derives from greater civilizations

13. Art embodies power and of color

“Color is my day-long obsession, joy and torment” – Claude Monet

Colors are powerful. Doesn’t matter what you might be creating now – a painting, or a powerpoint presentation, or an illustration –  your eyes must be straying over a palette, splashed with many colors, choosing the right one to add to your work.  To a sensitive soul, the impact of a perfect color combination is deeper and intensely moving.

Visual art always played an important role for artists to convey the life, lustre, and power of life through colors

14. Art is Attitude

“Art, freedom and creativity will change society faster than politics”- Victor Pinchuk

Art has taken a different dimension to think, feel and evoke thoughts in the people that view it with an open mind. Art represents the attitude either of an artist or of a belief system. Street art is often considered as vandalism, but it is executed with purpose, design, technique and intention. Street art heightens our experience of the visual landscape outside museum walls.

15. Art is the highest form of hope

“Art is not a thing; it is a way.” Elbert Hubbard, artist

Art can move us to tears. Beautiful art can bring tears of joy when we see a painting, sculpture or photograph of people or creatures experiencing things we want to experience. Experiencing such heart-warming feelings about it encourages us to hope for the same thing for ourselves.

Mutiny of Colours, A Project of Love, Peace, and Unity by Iranian Street Artists is one great example. The powerful messages of peace, love, and hope in a country torn apart by internal conflicts are represented by Iranian street artists through their art, and mostly these works grow in all endless direction, both metaphorically, conceptually and physically.

16. Art is about two things – Life and Death

“The goal of all life is death” – Sigmund Freud

Many artists have used death as a theme for art.

By giving death as a central theme, artists force us to confront the reality of birth and death within the same frame. Hope II by Gustav Klimt is one great art – represents a pregnant woman and the weight of hope the protagonist carried in her womb. The function of art lies around the diverse perspectives of life and death

Birth and death exist side-by-side, suspended in equilibrium, collaborators in the appetite of living.

17. Art rebalances our life

“Art is like soup. There will be some vegetables you don’t like but as long as you get some soup down you it doesn’t matter.” George Wyllie, Sculptor

Viewing art that depicts situations and feelings outside of what we normally experience on a daily basis helps us attain balance in our emotions by filling those voids.

We gain balance through art by taking a moment to observe, judge, and appreciate things we don’t normally see and our responses to them.

18. Art can be surreal

“Art, in itself, is an attempt to bring order out of chaos” – Stephen Sondheim

Surrealism – a philosophical and artistic movement that explored the unconscious mind – reveals human emotions and desires in an irrational, powerful, poetic and revolutionary way. The concept has a greater relevance considering it brought out the repressed inner worlds of sexuality, violence, dream, and desire.

The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali shows us a few seemingly soft or melted pocket watches lying about in open land.  Dali’s message was to show that time and space are relative and that we, in fact, live in a universe of complete disorder.

“Have no fear of perfection – you’ll never reach it.” – Salvador Dali

19. Art is You

“Art is anything you can get away with”- Andy Warhol

Art helps us to complete our own unformed thoughts and ideas. We have an ‘aha’ moment when we see a piece of art that perfectly captures a feeling or thought we have had that we couldn’t express. When this happens, we have gained a piece of new knowledge through the art that we can now communicate to ourselves and to others.

This why the best possible function of art operates via YOU.

20. Art is discovery and exploration

“Art is a discovery and development of elementary principles of nature into beautiful forms suitable for human use”- Frank Lloyd Wright

Is it not more remarkable when a natural talent emerges from nothingness to produce a work of art with an organic honesty that might have been wiped out by years of training in established structures, conventions, and accepted wisdom?

One such unlikely place was a tax collector’s office in Paris, and its unlikely talent came in the form of a Laval­born son of a plumber named Henri Rousseau. The majority of Rousseau’s life is somewhat cloudy, and with good reason—it is wholly unexceptional.

The Snake Charmer by Henri Rousseau is a dream­like depiction of mysterious human and animal forms in a jungle scene. This work is a testament to the attention Rousseau received from prominent artists during his time.

21. Art empowers the heart of people

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see.” – Edgar Degas

When activists are showing images of children suffering from poverty or oppression in their campaigns, this is the art pulling the heartstrings of society’s elite and powerful to make changes. Such moments – using art to raise awareness – truly validate the existence and definition of art

When photographers publish the photos of war-torn areas, it catches the attention of masses whose hearts reach out for those who need help. When the artist creates great music and movies, it entertains people around the world. This is art, making a difference in society.

22. Culture is a great friend of art

“Art speaks the soul of its culture” – Abby Willowroot

Art is also a remarkable mode of depicting culture from all over the world, art and culture complement each other very well.

When you see a Zen garden in Sydney or San Francisco, you know that it’s a practice that originated from China. When you see paper swans swarming a beautiful wedding ceremony, you know that this is origami, an art that came from Japan. When you see films featuring Bollywood music and dancing, you know that it’s a movie from India.

Destinations like Newyork, Berlin, Prague, Sao Paulo, UAE, etc. are on a helm of cultural revolution to uplift their cities with art, design, and imagination – after all culture is the collective term for human behaviors

23. Art is activism

“Art resides in the quality of doing, the process is not magic.” – Charles Eames

Art has been used many times to represent the isolation, claustrophobia, and anxiety of our society due to the tough political times that we’re living at present. Tetsuya Ishida, a Japanese artist, portrayed the Japanese life about the social, economic and academic educational structures. Many of his works exposed the Japanese people’s trials in trying to acclimate to the changes involving social and technological contemporary life. Read – Tetsuya Ishida – Saving the World With A Brushstroke

Similarly, a lot of street art has an obvious, or sometimes very subtle, anti-establishment hint in it. The very mediums it uses, owned by states or corporations, are protected by law from the artist but are used without regard or in spite of it. That illegality is often a part of the message

24. Art is harmony

“Art is harmony” – George Seaurat

The power of art lies neither in the image nor the emotions it arouses in the viewer, rather its greatness is derived from understanding the creative forces which inspired the masterpiece.  Harmony is a subjective concept, rather it emerges within a context that many factors come together. Goya’s black paintings series is a great example that proves this theory. Today, although we are exposed to images of gore, misery, and grief, much of it is sanitized and censored. Goya, on the other hand, unabashedly captures human trauma and sorrow in the paint.

25. Art as Therapy

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time”- Thomas Merton

In the famous book Art as Therapy, the authors have outlined seven functions of art and explain how art helps us grow and evolve in our understanding of ourselves, each other, and the world we live in. Taking your time to mindfully observe artwork can be of true value to your emotional well-being.

Conclusion: The functions of art remain incomprehensible

‘What is art?’— one question continuously steers educators, performers, practitioners, and philosophers to engage in deep analysis. But no matter what the function of art may be, the experience it delivers finally matters, and probably one reason it has been around us for as long as humans have existed. Whether or not we are aware of it, we allow art to affect our lives one way or another.

You may not know it, but your daily existence can be much more colorful with the presence and influence of art, and it only gets better once you allow your own creativity and imagination to take a turn for good.

So go ahead and open yourself up to art. It will be worth the change.

The post 25 Functions of Art That Make Us Better Human Beings appeared first on The Artist.

While many principal characteristics of renaissance art have been influencing the modern world, this phase had led towards a spiritual thinking wherein people began exploring the philosophy of humanism

With the advent of the printing press, knowledge was for the first time in over 1000 years accessible to people outside of the clergy, the noble, the aristocratic, and the royal.

Renaissance brought about several changes. And these are changes that are still influencing the modern world, even up till presently. But germane among its effect was the fact that at the time, it ushered the world into a phase of heightened spiritual thinking. A phase where people began to explore the philosophy of humanism.

Special attention was given to the classical eras in Greece and in Rome, which until the Renaissance were the pinnacle of human achievement.

Renaissance Art – A period of revival and creativity

A renewed passion for learning and for human achievement led to the influence of all of these new studies in the formation of greater art.

Renaissance was a period of greater learning and curiosity that led many learners and artists to develop and engage in new forms of art.

Renaissance brought about several changes. And these are changes that are still influencing the modern world, even up till presently. But germane among its effect was the fact that at the time, it ushered the world into a phase of heightened spiritual thinking. A phase where people began to explore the philosophy of humanism.

Florence, Italy was the birthplace of the Renaissance and that is the reason why many disciplines focused mainly on Italy.

The power of humanists during the Renaissance period was dominating and thus the church sought to become “patron” of the artists’ projects.

The creative ventures involving the church and the artists shot up due to the high education sponsored by the church and the wealthy merchants spending huge amounts of money on the paintings.

Renaissance art was instrumental in the change that the world experienced. Below are five of the characteristics of Renaissance Art that had a major influence on the world. 

Top 5 Characteristics of Renaissance Art that Changed the World

1. A positive willingness to learn and explore

The onset of technology and new discoveries led artists and learners to seek more.

While the Western world saw simultaneous discoveries and innovations, the artists in Italy became more and more curious to explore the world and all the possible aspects of nature.

The discoveries in Europe included new sea routes, continents, and colonies along with new innovations in architecture, sculpting, and painting. They believed that revival of the classical antiquity could lead to a much worthy and standardized stake in that era.

2. Faith in the nobility of man- Humanism

Prior to Renaissance was the Renaissance Humanism which contributed immensely to the rise of the Renaissance.

Note that Renaissance Humanism is not the same as Humanism.

Humanism was a major offshoot, and characteristic of the Renaissance period. While the Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement that began in the 13th century. The major ideal of the philosophy was tied around the study of classical texts, and the alteration of these classical thinking by more contemporary ones. As in the 15th century, Renaissance Humanism had become the dominant form of education. It was so popular that it was divided into a range of sub-developments. Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) is regarded as the Father of Italian Humanism, his contribution to the philosophy was quite huge.

Renaissance Humanism was very instrumental to the reign of the Renaissance. It was popular and predominant during the period. This was to the extent that the church had to support and even “patron” it.

Humanists shared the belief that God created humans with so many potentials and abilities, and to get the best of them, one has to dignify himself and esteem himself rightly. So they felt that they had the responsibility to act on this belief and make the most of it.

Through humanism, Art especially enjoyed the support of the church. The church began to finance and sponsor creative ventures and education. And with the high-rate of patronage from the wealthy royals, there was always a ready market for the paintings that were made.

Intellectuals, artisans and common men concluded that the Church was never a responsible source for their behavior and beliefs towards God and fellow men and that they themselves are responsible for the actions.

The parallel vision between religion and humanism was cleared and the esteem related to self-importance was thought upon. The magnificent Procession of the Magi, portrayed by Gozzoli along with companies, seeks a more regal face rather than a religious one.

3. The discovery and mastery of linear perspective

The revival in math and proportions led to the innovations of two major systems: the use of linear perspective and the introduction of the vanishing point – This is considered to be one of the revolutionary characteristics of renaissance art

This was created by the famous architect of that time, Filippo Brunelleschi.

He used the innovations in math to create a linear perspective using parallel lines, a horizon line and a vanishing point to realistically portray space and depth in art.

Since painting is a two-dimensional activity, the advent of linear perspective created a three-dimensional look through practice.

To achieve this, artists took a horizon line at eye level and marked a vanishing point on it. A receding checkerboard of intersecting lines was created that converged and met the vanishing point. This created a sense of distance and depth.

With constant practice, artists managed to create a three-dimensional effect in their paintings.

Not only did the art with linear perspective shoot high, but the ability to portray convincingly naturalistic figures in illusionistic spaces was praiseworthy too.

The mastermind behind the developments was the author of three mathematical treatises and a wonderful artist, Piero Della Francesca, whose perspective paintings and impressive figures showed technique and finesse. One such classic example of his work is The Flagellation of Christ.

4. Rebirth of Naturalism. 

This is another characteristic of Renaissance Art that brought about change in world patterns.   

At the period, there was the rise of anatomical drawings and paintings. The Italian Renaissance artist-Leonardo da Vinci pioneered this move. He set the standard for drawing and painting anatomically correct bodies. He birthed this out of his quest to thoroughly understand the human body. He did this by performing 20 autopsies while drawing all that he found in the human body, the way he saw them. He then incorporated what he learned of bone structures, musculature, and organ placement (from the bodies he drew or painted), into the body of knowledge.   

Italian Renaissance artists integrated figures into complex scenes that permitted a broader perspective and a glimpse into the lives of the wealthy or rich.

Both light, shadow, and perspective were used effectively to draw attention to figures in paintings. 

Leonardo Da Vinci was considered to be a scientist as well as an artist.

Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo observed cadavers being dissected.

This was for them to study how human muscles lay underneath the skin.  

In Medieval days, the human body was regarded as being sinful, smelly, and disgusting. And therefore, it was to be covered at all times.

But then, during the Renaissance period, this changed. Renaissance thinkers considered the human body to be a beautiful thing. And in fact, a model for God’s universe.

In Da Vinci’s 1487 drawing; “Vitruvian Man,” which meant “universal man”, he expressed how a spread-eagle human body, fits into a perfect circle. And he did this with its arms stretched out into a perfect square.

Michelangelo’s nude statue, “David” is a prime example of the Renaissance’s fascination with the human body. And its belief that the human body is the apex of God’s creation.

Michelangelo painted so many nude characters in his “Last Judgement”. He did this on the wall of the Sistine Chapel. And after a while, the Vatican had to hire another painter to paint modest clothes around his drawings, to cover many of the nude paintings.

5. Secularism 

Secularism; which is the last characteristic I’ll dwell on, was also a useful force. It is the transition of predominant beliefs and thought patterns from religious themes to broader themes. And also the incorporation of practices such as architecture and sculpture. Renaissance artists portrayed non-religious themes, meanwhile, Medieval Art was exclusively religious in nature.

During Medieval times, most people believed the world would end in the year 1,000 A.D., so they believed that any other art subject was inappropriate.

Renaissance art focused on religious subjects, and Bible characters. So the trend gradually shifted toward the painting of scenes that were not religious. 

One of the earliest Renaissance examples of a non-religious theme was van Eyck’s revolutionary “Arnolfini Marriage.” Jan van Eyck employed the art of depth and reflection by adding a mirror on the back wall. That way, the people that viewed the picture got a reflection of themselves in the view of the painting.

The interest in Classical Roman culture was rekindled during this period. Then, the Renaissance put forward artworks that often portrayed scenes from Greek and Roman mythology. 

One of the evidence of the rebirth of the Greek and Roman culture was the revival of sculpture works.

In classical times, only the important cities were filled with statues and sculptures. But during the Renaissance, there was an increased interest in archeology, to rediscover the Classical culture. Michelangelo was present when the Laocoon; carved in the 1st century, was discovered in Rome.

Michelangelo was not only a painter and sculptor of great talent. He also served as the architect of the Dome for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. And this church building is acclaimed to be the largest church building on earth.

Final thoughts

Conclusively, the phase of Renaissance art had countless effects and a great impact on the way the world is now structured.

Painters and sculptors that emerged after this period of great innovations and developments, followed up on the new trends and even made out better designs and artworks. Well, as time passed, innovations proceeded and knowledge got more refined with every passing generation.

The teachings, learnings, and innovations of previous generations led newer ones to thirst after new breakthroughs. Breakthroughs that will typify their own generation. This then kept each person on their toes and helped them to discover and contribute more to the body of art.

Geniuses such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo contributed at a high level with their findings and innovations.

Other fields of expertise like Architecture were also not left out. Architecture and Art experienced a completely different lapse.

This phase in Architecture led to the rise in all of the beautiful designs that characterized the past centuries. Viewed as devotional objects of that time, the paintings are still adorned as great works of art. And it even birthed our present structures; the jaw-dropping ones which we now boast of today. 

The principles of Renaissance art have no doubt, contributed immensely to the state of the world today. It taught us principles and ideals which have remained relevant, through and true.

And have transcended generations, while still strongly influencing our lifestyle and patterns in today’s world.

The 7 most famous of renaissance paintings

Why is Monalisa painting so famous?

The post 5 Characteristics of Renaissance Art That Changed the World Forever appeared first on The Artist.

Villon’s grandfather started training him artistically from a young age, focusing mostly on engraving and printmaking. Villon’s grandfather was the subject of one of his earliest known prints. 

In 1894, Villon and his brother moved to Paris, where he gained permission from his father to study art as long as he continued to study law at the same time. Naturally, his interest in a law career waned quickly and for the next 10 years, he worked in graphic media by submitting cartoons and illustrations to newspapers in Paris. 

Some of these submissions were political in nature, and the story goes that in order to protect his family’s name from this political content he changed his name to Jacques Villon. 

By 1895 Villon was enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts. He also took classes at the Académie Julian between 1904 and 1905 where he exhibited works mostly in the Neo-impressionist style. 

In 1906 Villon moved away from his bustling Parisian neighborhood into the quieter neighborhood of Puteaux on the outskirts of Paris. During this time he devoted more of his time to working on drypoint, his favored method of engraving.

It was this move, along with Villon’s reclusive personality, which led to his work remaining unknown and obscure for many years. 

Villon’s colorful, geometric art took inspiration from the real world and combined this with lively compositions. Even some of his most abstract work offers subtle suggestions of landscapes and recognizable figures. 

Villon is most well-known for his purely graphic form of cubism, Something that no other printmaker, including famous cubist Pablo Picasso, could claim. 

Villon died in his studio in Puteaux in 1963. 

1. The Game Of Solitaire

The Game of Solitaire’ was created in 1904 by Jacques Villon in Art Nouveau (Modern) style showing women playing cards with a dog sitting beside her.

2. The Dining Table

The Dining Table was made in the year 1912 by Jacques Villon in Cubism style.

3. Girl At The Piano (Fillette au piano)

‘Girl at the Piano (Fillette au piano)’ was created in 1912 by Jacques Villon in Cubism style.

4. Birds in Flight

Birds in Flight was made in the year 1958 by Jacques Villon showing a cubism-type image of 3 birds flying.

5. Portrait De  J.L.B

‘Portrait de J.L.B.’ was created by Jacques Villon in Cubism style.

6. La Lutte

La Lutte was created in the year 1957 by Jacques Villon in cubism Style with a touch of abstract artwork.

7. Man Sitting

‘Man sitting’ was created in 1958 by Jacques Villon in Cubism style.

8. Rider In The Ring

‘Rider in the Ring’ was created in 1952 by Jacques Villon in Cubism style.

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“This is so good you wouldn’t know it was done by a woman.” – said by famous German painter, Hans Hoffmann  as a quote of appreciation to the influential abstract expressionist painter Lee Krasner

One would falsely believe that there are too few women artists around the world because those who hog the headlines in the art world are mostly men. This prevailing notion should be put to rest because women have always been at the forefront of art and women in art have consistently contributed heavily to design, fine arts and performance arts.

Strong Participation of Women in Art since the Ancient Times

After a sterling crusade in the late 20^th century that spearheaded the feminist movement, women became more enamored and involved in the world of art. Both as a collector of art and as an artist as well, this emergence started giving credence to the women’s increasing role in both art historical discourse and artistic production.

Women started off with purchasing vast amounts of artworks until this work of art became the driving influence that drove hordes of women to study in the leading art schools all over the world – giving birth to a new generation of women artists that would make waves in the modern art.

During ancient times, women are always portrayed as goddesses and mythological creatures, which influenced the many ancient arts still represented until today by the great ruins in Greece, Italy, Turkey, Iran and other countries.

The ancient art of history also suggests a good number of women artists namely; Alcisthene, Anaxandra, Kora of Sicyon, Lala de Cizique, Stratonice of Pontus and Timarete.

Women in Art – Not merely inspirational or model subjects of art

From merely art inspirations, women have become more active in the creative arena by slowly progressing in various fields of arts, fine arts, visual arts, and design to performance arts.

According to an essay published by Art and Women “Renaissance was a period of transformation in arts and in women’s lives but many customs still remained the same as the Middle Ages for women. Renaissance was a period where women gained more freedom”.

During the Victorian period in England, women started to make a name for themselves with such classic artworks such as Elizabeth Sirani’s “Portia Wounding Her Thigh”, a painting that signifies the message that a woman is now willing to distance herself from gender biasedness.

The painting’s subject depicts an act of a woman possessing the same strength as that of a man. “Portia” represents surrender because she isn’t the same type of woman known in society as weak and prone to gossip.

The earliest pre-modern art female painters played the role that started the revolution that ultimately opened the doors of arts to women in general.

One shining example is Emily Mary Osborn’s “Nameless and Faceless’’.

The painting conveys the uncomfortable state a woman feels in a male-controlled society where the subject is shown inside an art gallery and is being observed at awkwardly by the males surrounding her; she is fiddling with her dress and staring down The men are obviously disregarding her as a serious artist.

Women in Art – Major Contributions and Leading Contributors

• During ancient India, it is said that “For about three thousand years, the women – and only the women – of Mithila have been making devotional paintings of the gods and goddesses of the Hindu pantheon. It is no exaggeration, then, to say that this art is the expression of the most genuine aspect of Indian civilization.” This passage says it all about women’s contribution to art dates back to ancient times.
• During Medieval Period, the role of women in art continued throughout the classical European period where women contributed a lot in poetry, music, textiles and other cultural art performances. The Medieval period saw the emergence of women artists such as Claricia, Diemudus, Ende, Guda, Herrade of Landsberg and Hildegard of Bingen.
• During Renaissance period,  the world had seen art talents of more women namely; Sofonisba Anguissola, Lucia Anguissola, Marietta Robusti (daughter of Tintoretto), Properzia de’ Rossi, Plautilla Nelli, Levina Teerlinc, Mayken Verhulst, Lavinia Fontana, Fede Galizia, Diana Scultori Ghisi, Caterina van Hemessen, Esther Inglis, Barbara Longhi, Maria Ormani and St. Catherine of Bologna (Caterina dei Vigri).
• The Baroque period saw a large number of women painters taking the self-portrait route, this period are flooded with many impressive self-portraits that elevated fine arts more as this presented a healthy competition among the male artists of this period.
• During 20^th Century to Contemporary Era, Women artists started getting known for their artworks, that have now reached a wider audience and portrays an expanded documentation of everyday life. An example of this is Zinaida Serebriakova’s “the Harvest” which simply depicts a life at the farm for a family of farmers. (Featured Image)

Expanded Women’s Contribution to Design, Visual Arts and Performance Arts

The long and winding struggle of the women gender finally reached its peak as clearly, today’s finest artists consists of a large number of women, ranging from design arts, visual arts, cultural arts, to performance arts.

Imagination is one important recipe for surreal art. Surrealism is one style of art where women has truly contributing and leading this space since ages.

Significance of Female Surrealism in a Male-dominated World

From the Dorothea Lange of the Photography world to famous contemporary artists such as Karen Kilimnik, Sarah Lucas, Yoko Ono, Jenny Saville, Carolee Schneeman, Shazia Sikander, Lorna Simpson, Magdalena Abakanowicz, Marina Abramović, Jaroslava Brychtova, Bettina Werner, Lynda Benglis, Lee Bul, Sophie Calle, Janet Cardiff, Marlene Dumas, Marisol Escobar, Jenny Holzer, Runa Islam, Chantal Joffe, Yayoi Kusama, Lisa Steele, Stella Vine, Kara Walker, Rebecca Warren, Bettina Werner and Susan Dorothea White, women’s adventure in the world of art has rightfully completed its long and arduous circle.

Because we live in a fortunate time of history when women can now freely participate and become creators of art, we should further appreciate and celebrate their continuous contributions by being more supportive and constantly on the lookout for that next great woman artist.

Women aren’t only limited to being merely inspirational or model subjects of art; women are now the ones creating art at their own freedom and creativity.

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Many Paul Signac paintings are sold for unbelievable sums of money at art auctions and especially due to the current pandemic, going to art museums can prove difficult.

Here is a list of famous Paul Signac paintings for you to enjoy from the comfort of your own home. 

1.Breakfast

A wonderful painting produced by Signac in 1886-1887, Breakfast is a part of the genre art style.

The subject of the painting appears to be a family setting and depicts three individuals in a room, two of them, enjoying a hot drink and a servant with papers standing nearby.

2.Woman at the Well

Part of the neo-impressionist movement and painted by Signac in 1892, this painting is a piece of genre art.

Woman at the Well shows three women, two drawing water and another walking away.

The bright and vivid colors used and the two women conversing at the well make this famous piece really stand out.

3.The Red Bouy

Produced in 1895, the title of this painting is aptly named Red Bouy.

This piece of marine art, as well as featuring calm and colorful waters, vessels, and buildings, features a bright red body right at the painting’s forefront. 

4.The Papal Palace, Avignon

While much of Signac’s work makes use of bright, vivid colors, The Papal Palace, Avignon makes use of dark and moody shades in the waters and skies of this piece.

Painted in 1900 and a part of the neo-impressionist movement, this famous painting features the Palais des Papes in Avignon, France surrounded by dark waters.

5.Sunday

Painted in 1888-1890 by Signac, Sunday is a piece of genre art. Accordingly, the painting showcases a couple on the weekend, most likely relaxing at home with their feline friend.

The wife is shown looking out the window while the husband stokes the fire. 

6.Grand Canal (Venice)

Painted in 1905, Signac produced a landscape art piece featuring the Grand Canal of Venice.

As beautiful as it is colorful, Grand Canal prominently features the Venetian canals, rows of boats moored at the dock, and buildings in the background. 

7.Van Gogh’s House

While many of the works on this list are from the neo-impressionist or pointillism movements, Van Gogh’s House makes a departure.

As an addition to the post-impressionism movement in Signac’s work, this colorful landscape piece certainly showcases a different technique to all the other artworks on this list.

A bar on the bottom floor, this painting is an amazing work to behold.

8.Two Milliners in the Rue du Caire (Paris)

A genre art piece, Two Milliners in the Rue du Caire (Paris) is one of Signac’s paintings of the neo-impressionist movement.

Produced in 1885-1886, the painting shows two women, milliners, producing the hats that will be sold on the market.

9.The Port of Saint-Tropez

Many vessels are sailing around the port featured in Signac’s art piece The Port of Saint Tropez.

This colorful painting was produced in 1899 and boasts many colorful ships, as well as a lighthouse and buildings to add to the background.

10.The Bay

The Bay is a landscape painting by Signac, which makes use of a vast array of colors to paint a beautiful image of a bay.

This painting was produced in 1906. Some small ships can be seen floating in the colorful waters, with multi-colored trees dotting the hillsides.

Conclusion:

Many of Paul Signac’s paintings convey deeply colorful scenes and for viewers, this is certainly a wonderful artistic experience.

There was much amazing and historic work that this celebrated artist produced, and this is by no means an exaggeration.

All these famous Signac paintings showcase incredible talent and skill for art throughout his artistic career and these works will continually be enjoyed by art enthusiasts for generations to come. 

Also, check out about Art History: A Quick Brief of Post Impressionism [html_block id=”12849″]

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In the Past art was mainly entitled to empower politics and celebrate the dominance of certain reign through symbolic art.

In the current time, art acts as a form of protest and satire, and from this context, here are the 15 most revolutionary paintings which depict the common connection between art and politics.

The Battle of San Romano 

The battle of san romano is a Painting by Paolo Uccello in 1438 ca.

The painting depicts the battle between Florence and Siena.  In This battle, Florentines were about to get defeated but managed to win because of the heroic intervention of Micheletto da Cotignola. This painting was made to celebrate the victory of the winning house which in this case was the Di Bartolomeo Bartolini Salimbeni House. The is an example of how commissioned art worked at that time.

The Surrender of Breda

The famous Siege of Breda, a glorifying victory accomplished by Philip II

The Surrender of Breda is a painting done by Diego Velazquez The aim of the painting was to glorify the French Family. In Particularly one person the commissioner Philip IV of Spain also depicted his ancestors’  military achievement. At this time the freedom of artists was diminished to compositional matters. The Magnificent piece is a perfect example of the service an artist was required to do during the monocracy times and that is to depict the relation between politics and art.

Liberty Leading The People

A Painting Depicting People of Civil War

Liberty Leading the People is a painting done by Eugene Delacroix in the year 1830. It was during the french revolution that art became a way to enhance the spirit of people who set up against monarchic dominance and oppression.  Artists like Eugene Delacroix with great symbolic power to give voice to the people in civil war. In This particular painting, a person is holding a french flag leading the french republic against the monarchic dictatorship. It also describes the necessary violence that came with civil war.

 The Third of May 1808

The Third of May 1808 is a painting done By Francisco Goya in 1814. This Picture depicts the brutality and crudeness of war it depicts the execution by the Napolean army of Madrilenian patriots. This Picture depicts the highest form of what is known as revolutionary. Courageous and honest like the eyes of the people being executed. This is the most famous painting of the 1900s and served as a model for another political masterpiece.

The Execution of Emperor Maximilian

The Executive Of Emperor Maximilian

The Execution Of Emperor Maximilian is a painting made by Edouard Manet in the year 1868-69. Edouard Manet was a very active artist in terms of political art masterpieces.  Moreover, about magnet art, John Elderfield stated: “political art… does not reduce human affairs to slogans; it complicates rather than simplifies”. About The Particular painting. If we are looking at the painting it looks similar to the previous model of painting adopted by Goya. In This painting, as you can see of the general has his arms raised and another soldier is waiting to executed with his hands crossed. The Emperor, Maximilian looks astonished at his unavoidable destiny he is looking very surprised and unprepared for his terrible faith.

Massacre in KoreaMassacre in Korea is a painting done by Pablo in 1950.

The painting titled “Massacre in Korea” Picaso absorbed and translated made his own version. IT looks like communist political work. The focus of the painting is to put a comparison between Napoleonic troops and  Imperialistic forces that reined over North Korea

Guernica By Pablo Picasso

Guernica is a painting done by Pablo Picaso in 1973

One of the most influential political paintings in the world with a strong message against war although critiques interpret it as ambiguous.

Artistic response to the bombing of Basque village Guernica, the painting describes the agony of people, animals, and their environment. Military action was enforced by Italian and German forces but it was requested by Franco, essentially it was the act of supporting his regime. The horror of civil war in Spain is seen by the world, mural-sized paintings with gray, black, and white palettes revive tragedy in the eyes of the spectator. [html_block id=”12849″]

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In his short life, Keith Haring was a prolific artist both on the street and in the studio, making him one of the true street art legends.

His colorful figures are instantly recognizable to many even if they don’t know him, much of the work by Keith Haring revolved around themes of politics, sexuality, war, religion, and AIDS, largely in response to the street culture prevailing at that time in New York City.

Crack Is Wack

Inspired by crack academic and its effect on new york city.

Crack Is Wack was made in the year 1986. This mural at 128th Street and 2nd Avenue was inspired by the crack epidemic and its effect on New York City. It was created to be a warning for crack users and was executed independently initially, without City permission but soon enough The mural was put under the protection and jurisdiction of the City Department of Parks and it still exists to spread awareness.

Andy Mouse

Fusion of Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Andy Warhol.

Andy Mouse was made in the year 1986 which is the fusion between Disney’s Mickey Mouse, a favorite character of Haring’s from his childhood, and Andy Warhol, Haring’s close friend and a leading Pop Art artist. It’s signed by both Keith haring and Andy Warhol which makes a bridge between generations. The cartoonish andy mouse and dollar bills depict the irony found in a money-driven capitalist society.

Lucky Strike

Advertisement for cigarette company lucky strike.

Lucky Strike was made in the year 1987. This painting is one of the Famous Paintings created by Keith Haring for the cigarette company lucky strike as an advertisement. Keith Haring’s work responded to the New York City street culture of the 1980s by expressing concepts of birth, death, sexuality, and war. Haring’s work was often heavily political and his imagery has become a widely recognized visual language of the 20th century.

Radiant Baby

A simple outline of a baby or a person crawling.

The radiant baby was made in the year 1990. It is considered as one of the most recognizable works and part of Famous Paintings by  Keith Haring by haring showing an outline of a baby or a person crawling on the floor on their hands and knees with lines emanating from them. Haring depicts threw the baby in this painting youthful innocence, purity, and goodness and hence forms a part of Keith Haring

Best Buddies

Depicting two figures hugging.

Best Buddies was made in the year 1990. This was one of his final print series before he dies of AIDS-related complications. This artwork depicts two figures hugging, with rays emanating from their embrace. Best Buddies is purposefully uncomplicated, inviting viewers to create their own interpretations of the scene. These figures appear as a symbol of universal love and acceptance.

The Marriage Of Heaven And Hell

The marriage of heaven and hell was made in the year 1984. As the name says this abstract artwork depicts the marriage or we can say the connection between heaven and hell. Streetlife in New York City, drugs, nuclear weapons, AIDS no topic was off-limits to Haring who made social activism a central component of his artistic career.

Barking Dog

Outline of a dog with an open mouth.

Barking Dog was born in the year 1990, featuring colorful canines with their mouths open mid-yap is one of the street artist’s most universally recognizable symbols and remains a testament to his dedication to accessible art. The dog’s cartoonish and simple shape shows Haring’s interest in Egyptian hieroglyphics to depict how humans communicate their experiences through universal shapes and signs.

Ignorance = Fear

Ignorance = Fear Silence = Death poster.

Ignorance = Fear was made in the year 1989. On behalf of the New York-based AIDS activist group, Haring designed and executed this poster which references the three wise monkeys that, see nothing, hear nothing, say nothing. The Artist refers 0 to the public’s ignorance with respect to Aids and calls for critical awareness of the ‘facts’.

Pop Show – III

Pop Shop III was made in the year 1989. It’s a suite of four silkscreen prints on paper. With the typical use of primary colors, the figures were simplified, and easily recognizable as his. They formed glyphs that could be read, like an urban, tribal language. This Pop Shop series emerged as the shops Haring opened in New York and Tokyo and hence forms apart of Famous Paintings Keith Haring

Chocolate Buddha 1

Linear variety lines figure.

Chocolate Buddha 1 was made in the year 1989. Depicted in the artist’s graphic, linear style, Keith Haring’s Chocolate Buddha series consists of five prints rendered in contrasting colors such as red, blue, orange, and pink. Each print consists of a variety of figures creatures and objects. Though the density and maze-like design of the overall imagery filling out the canvas has a somewhat compulsive quality, in contrast to haring’s usual Zen-like simplicity, there is a flow and beauty to his use of energetic lines.

Debbie Dick

Debbie Dick was made in the year 1984. This was a promotional card with Motown recording artist Carrie McDowell. The promotion was for mentor contraceptives to promote safer sex. Safe sex helps avoid uncountable diseases that can be spread through physical intercourse, many healthcare professionals believe there really is no such thing as safe sex. They believe the only way to be truly safe is not to have sex because all forms of sexual contact carry some risk and hence forms a part of famous paintings by Keith Haring

Free South Africa

A political response to the conditions of apartheid that still existed in South Africa.

Free South Africa was made in the year 1985. This art was a response to the harsh conditions of South Africa due to political reasons. The black figure is intentionally much larger than the white figure to show that the black population is the larger was still being oppressed by the white community in the post-colonial area. Black lines representing the sense of dynamic movement and hence forms a part of the famous paintings by  Keith Haring

Rebel With Many Causes

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

Rebel With Many Cause was made in the year 1989. This artwork is an example of the three monkeys speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil from left to right, a criticism of those who would avoid social issues, especially the AIDS crisis. When the federal government was slow to act Haring devoted himself to raising awareness for AIDS.

Houston Bowery Wall

Outside mural by Keith haring in new york city.

Houston Bowery Wall mural was made in the year 1982. Keith Haring created his first major outdoor mural on the Houston Bowery Wall in New York City. The iconic mural is one of the street art legends most recognizable public works and is firmly entrenched in the history of graffiti and street art, created using his signature style figures and bold colors. In 2008, the Houston Bowery Wall became a permanent outdoor exhibition in new york.

Crack Down

Representing abolishing crack, a crackdown on crack.

Crack Down was made in the year 1986. Keith famously declared that art is for everybody, he was drawn to posters because they were a democratic medium, a great way to share his bright designs and graphic characters with the public on a large scale. The concert Crackdown On Crack was organized by famed concert promoter and producer Bill Graham to raise funds to combat the crack-cocaine epidemic in New York.

Pop Show I

Pop Show I was made in the year 1987. Pop Shops were born out of the artist’s desire to make his whimsical aesthetic accessible to the widest audience possible. He wanted it to be a place where not only collectors but the children could also come, creating an immersive environment for visitors to browse and enjoy haring’s beloved art.

Montreux

Montreux was made in the year 1983. Keith Haring was asked to create a poster for the iconic Montreux Jazz Festival, in turn, he submitted 3 designs which were instantly accepted. Haring visited Montreux for the event and spent the entire time painting and creating art around the streets of the area. Pictures truly don’t do the colors of the trilogy of posters justice, the lush, bright colors are almost neon, and have been maintained perfectly over the years.

A Pile of Crowns for Jean-Michel Basquiat

A Pile Of Crowns for Jean- Michel Basquiat was made in the year 1988. The artwork was made to memorialize his friend, artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. It depicts a towering pile of Basquiat’s trademark crowns. It was painted on a triangular canvas, like a warning sign, edged with a red outline. In the center is a pile of 3 pointed crowns which was Basquiat’s signature artistic motif. On the bottom right corner is a copyright symbol, which was one of Basquiat’s signature symbols.

The Boxers

The Boxers was made in the year 1987. Boxers are one of the first group of sculptures that were created in Germany in 1987 and offers convincing proof that Haring is a master of the new medium. You can see two stick figures boxing and fighting each other which depicts the lines and abstract art that haring was involved in.

Monkey Puzzle

Monkey Puzzle was made in the year 1988. This giclée print delivers a vivid image with maximum color accuracy and exceptional resolution. The standard for museums and galleries around the world, giclée is a printing process where millions of ink droplets are “sprayed” onto high-quality paper. With the great degree of detail and smooth transitions of color gradients, giclée prints appear much more realistic than other reproduction prints.

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“Renaissance” literally means “rebirth” and this was indeed a time where human artistry and intellectual pursuits experienced great revival and progress.

Here are 7 of the most famous paintings of the period

Bacchus and Ariadne

This painting produced between 1522 and 1523 is by Italian Venetian painter Titian.

Bacchus and Ariadne is considered one of his most famous, as it tells of Ariadne. She was the daughter of King Menos of Crete, left deserted on an island by Theseus, her lover. His ship can be seen in the distance, leaving her behind. Bacchus, the god of the grape harvest discovers her. He arrives in a chariot, lead by cheetahs. Jumping from his chariot, he attempts to save her from her fate, alone on the island.

Whilst the scene appears chaotic, it is actually divided into two blue triangular sections of action.

Bacchus is shown as desiring Ariadne, the two of them brought into focus thanks to the blue sky behind. Their story ends with their marriage, Bacchus granting Ariadne immortality.

The School of Athens

The School of Athens, another famous painting by Raphael was made between 1509 and 1511.

It embodies many key ideas of the Renaissance theory, as it gathers all the greatest scientists, philosophers, and mathematicians from classical antiquity into one image. Aristotle, Socrates, Plato, Da Vinci and more have been identified in the image.

It depicts them sharing and learning to form each other.

Though they all lived at different times, Raphael brings them together to celebrate the spirit of the age. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II and currently can be seen in the Vatican.

Coronation of the Virgin

On display at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, the Coronation of the Virgin was painted in 1432 by Fra Angelico.

Fra Angelico was a Dominican brother, and the subject of the painting is a common subject of Christian art. This is due to a general increase in devotion to Mary during this period.

Christ is placing an ornate gold crown on the Virgin’s bowed head. The light represents her divinity, and she is witnessed by important divine figures.

Ginevra de’ Benci

Painted by Leonardo da Vinci, Gienvra de’ Benci was painted to commemorate the subject’s wedding to Luigi di Bernarso Niccolini in 1474.

This is one of the famous renaissance paintings, and also one of the few Da Vinci paintings on display in the United States for public viewing. There is a text on the back of the portrait in Latin, which translates to ‘Beauty adorns Virtue’.

Ginevra was the subject of much poetry and art, having been renowned for her beauty.

The juniper tree is suggestive of her name, and the imagery all works in harmony to support the identification of the image.

Mona Lisa

Another Da Vinci painting, the Mona Lisa is one of the most famous renaissance paintings and most reproduced images ever created. It was painted around 1504, and has been considered one of the best known and most valuable masterpieces every created.

The woman in the painting is Lisa Gherardini, whose husband Francesco Del Giocondo commissioned the work. Why Is Mona Lisa Painting So Famous?

The colors are quite muted and there is a strong use of the sfumato technique, in which well-blended and transitional gradients of color are applied to the image. Her mysterious smile and enigmatic expression have added to the intrigue and interest in this artwork.

The title of the painting translates approximately to ‘My Lady Lisa’, a polite form of address. It can be seen today at the Louvre, in Paris.

The Wedding at Cana

One of the many reasons why we make art is to depict a ceremony or a ritual. The Wedding at Cana is a painting by Paolo Veronese, painted around 1563. It depicts the biblical story of the Wedding Feast at Cana, a supernatural, miracle story from the Christian bible’s New Testament.

It is at this wedding celebration that Jesus performs a miracle; as the wine is running low, Jesus tells his disciples to bring him water, which he then turns to wine. The painting features Greco-Roman architecture, a surrounding of Doric and Corinthian columns in an open courtyard.

In the foreground, musicians are playing typically Renaissance instruments, making the painting a mix of contemporary and classical or historical details.

Jesus and his mother Mary are depicted with halos. It is a sumptuous painting, featuring a variety of colors and grand architecture. Out of numerous Renaissance paintings, this grand work of art must be seen on the walls of Museum Louvre in Paris.

The Marriage of the Virgin

Another famous renaissance painting on the list, the Marriage of the Virgin is by Raphael.

It is originally titled “Lo Sposalizio” and was completed in 1504 for the Franciscan order’s church, Citta di Castello. It depicts the marriage ceremony between Mary, the mother of Jesus, and Joseph.

This was one of three commissions intended for Raphael’s teacher, Pietro Perugino, which Raphael completed in his absence. It can now be viewed at the Pinacoteca di Brera.

The Renaissance period produced many great artworks. An outpouring of interest in these pursuits made the Renaissance a particularly captivating period of human history, with Renaissance painting, in particular, is interested in re-thinking the art of Classical history. These paintings embody this spirit, making them 7 of the most famous of their day.

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1. Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth

2. Henri Matisse, The Piano Lesson

   

3. The Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh

   

4. The Red Studio by Henri Matisse

   

5. The Lovers by René Magritte

6. Drowning Girl by Roy Lichtenstein,

7. The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau

8. Willem de Kooning, Woman I

9. The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali

10. Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso

11.  Untitled by Lee Bontecou

12. Self-Portrait with Cropped Hair by Frida Kahlo,

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