Famous painters

In the course of human history, there have been some very amazingly brilliant painters. And even among that elite group of painters that have graced the art world, there are still a select few who produced masterpieces that have remained timeless. Their sheer originality, innovation and genius left an unforgettable impact far beyond Western art and culture. From renowned Dutch painter Rembrandt to the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo, WHE has put together a list of the 12 most famous painters of all time. Leonardo da Vinci Presumed self-portrait of Leonardo (c. 1510) at the Royal Library of Turin, Italy. High Renaissance genius of an artist Leonardo da Vinci’s quest for creative ways in all the endeavors that he undertook is the reason why his legacy has endured and will continue to endure. The Italian painter, sculptor and poet who produced the “Mona Lisa”, arguably the most famous painting of all time, is said to have pushed the boundaries of art with his continuous experimentation. Some of the Italian’s most known contributions to art were with mediums and compositions. With regard to the latter, his triangular composition doesn’t appear to be losing its appeal among artists, even more than five hundred years after his death. Painted by the Italian genius Leonardo da Vinci, Mona Lisa is one of the most famous paintings in all of human history. Portrait: Mona Lisa or La Gioconda c. 1503–1516, Louvre, Paris, France Leonardo was able to apply the knowledge gained fr...

Modern artists and their unlikely creations have long puzzled, stirred controversy, and stretched our definition of what art should be. Who wants to look at a urinal placed on a plinth in a gallery? And what’s with the fur-lined teacup posing as art? Admittedly, modern art was a major diversion from centuries-old craft techniques of the past. With the advent of photography, artists had to move beyond just portraying reality and began experimenting with color, form, shape, abstraction, different mediums, and different techniques, paving the way for the contemporary art of today. If you’re curious to know who the most famous modern artists are, here are 13 household names you cannot afford to ignore. Is Modern Art the Same as Contemporary Art? But before we jump to our list of top 13 modern artists, let’s briefly explain what modern art is and how it’s different from contemporary art. Despite the confusion in the popular press and online media outlets, the two terms are not interchangeable. (Yes, the art world has its own separate definitions for both contemporaryand moderntimes.) Modern art is defined as artworks created sometime between the 1860s (some say the 1880s) and the late 1960s. It is called modern because it challenged the traditions and techniques that came before it. It ran through a whole slew of “isms,” including Impressionism, Cubism, Surrealism, and Abstract Expressionism. Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, and Warhol’s Campbell’s So...

Compared to countries like Italy and France, American art is still relatively new. Over the course of a couple of hundred years, however, there have been quite a number of influential artists that have originated from the States, or immigrated there at some point in their lives. How many American artists do you know? While many of us are familiar with household names like Andy Warhol and Georgia O'Keeffe, other names have not received the same level of recognition. Thomas Cole and James Whistler, for instance, are two early American painters that captured real-life settings and figures with beautiful accuracy and style. Likewise, Augusta Savage and Jacob Lawrence were major figures in the cultural “golden age” of the Harlem Renaissance in the early 20th century. Portrait of Thomas Cole, 1845 (Photo: British American painter Thomas Cole is known for capturing the beauty of American landscapes, particularly those located around the Hudson River Valley in New York State. Additionally, he is often referred to as the father of the Famous works of art: The Oxbow (1836) James McNeill Whistler, “Self-Portrait,” c. 1872 (Photo: In 1871, American artist James McNeill Whistler completed one of today's Whistler's Mother, the painting has captivated viewers with its understated simplicity and straightforward composition for nearly 150 years. Famous works of art: Whistler's Mother (1871) Winslow Homer (1836–1910) Photograph of Winslow Homer by Napoleon Sarony, 1880 (Photo: Self-taught p...

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read When we think about the “greatest” of all time, what does that really mean? What earns someone that title? Is it sheer genius and innovation? Hard work and perseverance? In the history of art, there are a lot of incredible painters. But there are some who stand just a hair above the rest and have created a lasting legacy that endures well beyond their lifetime. So who are the greatest painters of all time? Not only are they technically skilled, but these artists have all made important contributions that have changed Western culture. Many of these artists were considered avant-garde because they pushed boundaries and made startling innovations. Most were already considered geniuses during their lifetimes and enjoyed unparalleled success, while others weren't acknowledged until after their death. To be considered one of the greatest painters of all time, one needs to possess a special combination of technical skills, outlandish creative thinking, and determination. Blended together, all of these attributes produce outstanding works of genius that continue to thrill, some hundreds of years after their initial creation. We've put together our list of the 17 greatest painters of all time, taking into consideration all of these factors. While you may have a few names you'd like to see on this list, there's no denying that the artists selected have made an i...