19 Most famous paintings in History: The best art of all time

Saint Anthony was a hermit who lived in the desert in the 3rd–4th centuries. He became famous for his spiritual exploits and resistance to the temptations that Satan sent him. The righteous man overcame temptations that presented themselves to him in the form of various sinful visions.

The artist said that while creating his works, he seemed to be guided by some force coming from outside. That is why Friedensreich compared the process of painting to a religious experience.

It not only demonstrates the artist’s skill in depicting mysterious landscapes, but also contains deep symbolism that makes you think about life and death, stability and changeability.

This painting may raise questions even among experienced art critics. Who is the woman here, who is the old man, and where is the flower? And, as they say, “was there a boy?” However, this is precisely the essence of the style - everyone can see in this picture what their imagination and level of knowledge tells them.

Vasily Shulzhenko is an artist with a unique style that combines elements of grotesque and figurative painting. His paintings, dedicated to the lives of ordinary people, are distinguished by their brightness and emotionality.

Not long ago, its previous owners decided to sell this painting. At an auction in Stockholm it was bought for half a million dollars.

Herodias, the granddaughter of Herod the Great, ordered the head of John the Baptist to be brought to her. Her hatred of John was justified, because he sharply condemned her marriage to her uncle, reproaching her for debauchery. Herodias decided to take revenge, choosing the most cruel method.

It is unclear what lurks under the water surface: either a bony monster, or a huge creature. But that doesn't matter. The eyes themselves, glowing with an unnatural light, indicate that their owner is something completely unlike a person: cold, wet and evil.

The canvas depicts a room illuminated by dim light, which creates an atmosphere of mystery and intrigue before the upcoming bright performance.

This is one of the many portraits of Dora Maar created by the artist during their romantic relationship. 29-year-old Dora and 55-year-old Picasso met in 1936 and spent about ten years together.

Juliet wakes up in the tomb and sees Romeo in front of her, who has just committed suicide. There is poison on his lips. She kisses him tenderly and, hearing someone's steps, grabs the dagger that belongs to her lover.

Sirens are beautiful and cunning creatures that can lure travelers to their island, charming them with their voices and songs. But behind this there are terrible consequences - they kill their victims.

It is predicted that these demonic creatures will disappear if even one traveler passes by their island without giving in to temptation.

This canvas is an allegorical composition that contains all the elements that make up nature in different seasons: spring, summer, autumn and winter.

Currently it is kept in the Tretyakov Gallery. On the frame of the canvas you can see the inscription: “Dedicated to all great conquerors - past, present and future.”

This work is a reflection of man in society. Although most of us form a faceless mass that suppresses individuality, each of us is still unique. If you look closely at the men in the picture, you can say with confidence that no two of them are alike.

The artist gave the girl’s body unusual proportions: three additional vertebrae appeared on her back, her right arm became too long, and her left leg was twisted so that in reality such a pose could hardly be comfortable and pleasant. However, for Ingres it was always more important to convey his vision on canvas than to accurately convey anatomical details.

Despite the fact that the artist depicted a scene of a predator attacking a horse, the viewer does not have a feeling of cruelty and threat.

This small genre scene is imbued with lyricism and warmth. Makovsky reveals the rich inner world of simple village women who are not without a desire for beauty.

The morning dome of the sky and the dark night street - what could be more mysterious? Magritte called this phenomenon “parallel day and night,” and the very thought of it evokes surprise and admiration.

This charming girl was destined for the role of a wife from a very early age, which is why so many portraits of her were preserved, created during her growing up.