Girl With a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer on Wikipedia.org
Face it; reproductions in books or online are no match for viewing original artwork in person. With a nod to the recent popularity of “bucket lists,” here is my personal short list of seven paintings to see before you die. What’s on your list?
1. Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer, 1665
At 18.5” x 15.7”, this work is relatively small but demonstrates Vermeer’s mastery of light and figure. It is currently located at the Mauritshuis in the Hague.
The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch on Wikipedia.org
2. The Garden of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch, 1510-1515
Not much is known about the artist, but this triptych is one of Bosch’s most famous and most recognizable works. It is located in Madrid at the Museo del Prado.
Study after Velazquez's Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Francis Bacon on Wikipedia.org
3. Study after Velazquez’s Portrait of Pope Innocent X by Francis Bacon, 1953
This dark and haunting portrait is one of 45 works done in the 1950s and 60s which were influenced by Diego Velazquez’s portrait of Pope Innocent X. View it at the Des Moines Art Center in Des Moines, Iowa.
The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse on Wikipedia.org
4. The Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse, 1888
Based on a scene from Lord Alfred Tennyson’s 1832 poem bearing the same name. Located at The Tate Gallery, London, England.
Braids by Andrew Wyeth on Wikipedia.org
5. Braids by Andrew Wyeth, 1979
Part of The Helga Pictures, a group of 247 studies that the artist did of the German model Helga Testorf. Most of the paintings were purchased by millionaire Leonard E.B. Andrews in 1986.
Madonna by Edvard Munch on Wikipedia.org
6. Madonna by Edvard Munch, 1894
One of the five versions of the Madonna painted between 1894 and 1895. This version was stolen from the Munch Museum of Oslo in 2004 but was later recovered and remains there to this day.
Nighthawks by Edward Hopper on Wikipedia.org
7. Nighthawks by Edward Hopper, 1942
At The Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois since its completion in 1942, this painting not only displays Hopper’s love of extreme perspective and effects of light, but also his deep sympathy for the unique scenes and characters of New York City.
Brian Sylvester is a guest blogger on WallSpin, and an artist on Zatista.
Related articles
- Vermeer draws us into a secret world (guardian.co.uk)
- Think Small Art (Zatista.com)
- Maddie On Things – A Dog As Art? (Zatista.com)
Wonderful choices! I’ve seen only one of them in person, The lady of Shalott, at the Tate. Saw a whole bunch more of the Pre-Raphaelites at the Manchester City gallery (England). If you like their work, check the gallery out if you are ever over there.
Cheers!
Allan
Great choices Brian!
Allan and Debu,
Thank you for stopping by. I’m happy that you enjoyed the post!
Have a great weekend,
Brian
Excellent choices.
EX. Cell. ENT.
p.s. i think you are a rockstar
xxa
terrific list – and interesting…
i, too, am drawn to a small vermeer at the met when i visit… and helga – i have a book on those works – they are beautiful… i tried to find your ‘thread’ – light perhaps? because they are stylistically diverse… you have challenged me to make one of my own – we should do one for architecture as well!
wonderful post – thanks for sharing the beauty…