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A collection of famous paintings
to inspire you and expand your art
knowledge.
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Being a famous
artist in your own lifetime is no
guarantee that you'll be remembered by
other artists. Have you heard of the
French painter Ernest Meissonier? He was
a contemporary with Edouard Manet, and
by far the more successful artist in
terms of critical acclaim and sales. The
reverse is also true, with Vincent van
Gogh probably the most famous example.
Van Gogh relied on his brother, Theo, to
provide him with paint and canvas, yet
today his paintings fetch record prices
whenever they come up at art auction and
he's a household name.
Looking at famous paintings past and
present can teach you many things,
including composition and handling of
paint. Though probably the most
important lesson is that you should
ultimately paint for yourself, not for a
market or for posterity.
MONA LISA by
Leonardo Da Vinci
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The Mona
Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci.
Painted c.1503-6. Oil paint on
wood. Size: 30x20" (77x53cm). In
the collection of the Louvre in
Paris.
Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa,
in the Louvre in Paris, is
arguably the most famous painting
in the world. It is probably also
the best known example of sfumato,
a painting technique partly
responsible for her enigmatic
smile.
You'll
have to elbow your way through the
crowds to see it "in the flesh"
rather than as a reproduction. Is
it worthwhile? I'd have to say
"probably" rather than
"definitely". I was disappointed
the first time I saw it as I'd
never truly realized just how
small a painting it was because
I'm used to seeing it
poster-sized. |
But that said,
could you really visit the Louvre and
not go to see it at least once? Just
patiently work your way towards the
front of the admiring horde, then take
your time looking at the way the
colors have been used. Simply because
it's such a familiar painting, doesn't
mean it isn't worthwhile spending time
with it.
There's been a lot of speculation
about who the woman in the painting
was, but it's not known for definite.
It's thought to be a portrait of Lisa
Gherardini, wife of a Florentine cloth
merchant called Francesco del Giocondo.
(The 16th-century art writer Vasari
was among the first to suggest this,
in his Lives of the Artists.)
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leafpaintings@giahoco.com
