Written by Forrest Brown, CNN (Original Text)
Published on November 21, 2019
The 10 most famous paintings in the world
Every year, artworks worth billions of dollars are auctioned in international auction houses, while leading museums have tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of artworks in their collections. But only a few ever achieve the fame necessary to truly be considered household names.
Since "famous" is a subjective term, CNN Style turned to Google to find out which paintings have topped the search results worldwide in the last five years.
"We compared dozens of popular masterpieces - from classics like the "Mona Lisa," "The Great Wave off Kanagawa," and the "Salvator Mundi" to more modern works like "Nighthawks" and even the series "Dogs Playing Poker.""
Based on these results, these are the 10 most searched paintings in the world:
10. 'Creation of Adam'
Artist: Michelangelo
Date: 1508 to 1512
Where it can be seen: Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Michelangelo, Creation of Adam
The most famous work of the renowned artist Michelangelo covers part of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel - one must look up to see it. The scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched arms, their fingers almost touching. It is one of the most copied images in history.
Adams muscular figure points to another talent of Michelangelo - his "David" is probably the most famous sculpture in the world. You can view the towering marble statue in the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.
Did you know? The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel had been clouded by centuries of candle smoke and much more. After a lengthy, comprehensive cleaning that was completed in 1989, people were shocked when they saw the bright, vibrant colors that Michelangelo had originally used.
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9. 'Las Meninas'
Artist: Diego Velázquez
Date: 1656
Where it can be seen: Museo del Prado (Madrid)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Las Meninas, Diego Velázquez
Madrid is the only city in this overview where two of the 10 most famous paintings can be found, namely "Guernica" in 5th place and "Las Meninas" in 9th place.
"Las Meninas," which is located in the famous (and huge) Prado, is not only the most famous painting by Diego Velázquez but also one of his greatest. The complexity of the work has fascinated art critics and the public for centuries.
The painting serves a dual function as a portrait. It acts as a group portrait of the Spanish royal family, but it is also a self-portrait of Velázquez himself at work (on the left).
Did you know that? "Las Meninas" was commissioned by King Philip IV of Spain, who reigned from 1621 to 1665. It was located in the Royal Palace until 1819 and then moved to the Prado.
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8. 'The Birth of Venus'
Artist: Sandro Botticelli
Estimated Date: 1485
Where it can be seen: The Uffizi Galleries (Florence, Italy)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Birth of Venus - original, Birth of Venus - vertical
The oldest painting in the top 10 and, along with "The Kiss," the most sensual, "The Birth of Venus" was probably commissioned by a member of the wealthy and art-loving Medici family, who ruled Florence and the surrounding areas for centuries.
By combining a renewed interest in classical Greek culture with the style of the Early Renaissance, Botticelli created an unforgettable figure of the goddess of love, emerging from a giant seashell.
Did you know? Botticelli's "Venus" differs in two ways from most other works of his contemporaries. Firstly, he painted on canvas instead of the more popular wood. Secondly, nudity was a rarity at that time - hence it was bold that Venus is completely naked, apart from her long, flowing hair and one hand that (just barely) covers her most intimate body parts.
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7. 'Girl With a Pearl Earring'
Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Estimated Date: 1665
Where it can be seen: Mauritshuis (The Hague, Netherlands)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Girl with a Pearl Earring
This fascinating favorite painting is often compared to the "Mona Lisa." Aside from the stylistic differences, the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" is technically not even a portrait, but a "Tronie" - a Dutch word for the painting of an imaginary figure with exaggerated facial features.
The masterpiece in oil on canvas is brilliant in its simplicity. The girl, wearing a blue-gold turban and an oversized pearl earring, is completely in the spotlight and is only accompanied by a dark background.
Did you know that? While the Mauritshuis was renovated from 2012 to 2014, the "Girl with a Pearl Earring" went on tour through the United States, Italy, and Japan. It was a crowd puller, further solidifying its status as one of the most famous works of art in the world.
6. 'The Kiss'
Artist: Gustav Klimt
Estimated Date: 1908 to 1909
Where it can be seen: Upper Belvedere museum (Vienna, Austria)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Gustav Klimt, The Kiss
With No. 6, we move from a study of hate to a study of love with Gustav Klimt's beloved "The Kiss." From Klimt's "Golden Period," Byzantine artistic styles can be recognized in the highly decorative garments of the passionate, life-sized couple.
In the Upper Belvedere, it is said that Klimt makes a "general allegorical statement about love as the core of human existence" with "The Kiss." Given the magnetic attraction of the painting, there seems to be a consensus.
Did you know that? While "The Kiss" is not for sale, other works by Klimt are bought and sold for huge sums. Oprah Winfrey sold the 1907 artwork "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II" for 150 million dollars in 2016 - making a profit of 60 million dollars.
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5. 'Guernica'
Artist: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1937
Where it can be seen: Reina Sofía Museum (Madrid)
It is the most recent painting on this list and depicts the German bombing of the Basque town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
The painting has the unmistakable style of Picasso, and its unflinching engagement with the horrors of war made it an essential part of the culture and history of the 20th century.
Did you know that? "Guernica" was brought to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York for safekeeping during World War II. Picasso requested an extension of its stay until the return of democracy to Spain. In 1981, six years after the death of the long-time Spanish dictator General Francisco Franco, it finally returned to Madrid.
4. 'The Scream'
Artist: Edvard Munch
Date: 1893
Where it can be seen: National Museum (Oslo, Norway -- opening in 2020) and Munch Museum (Oslo -- through May 2020)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Edvard Munch, The Scream
The most important thing first: "The Scream" is not a single artwork. According to a blog from the British Museum, it consists of two paintings, two pastels, and an unspecified number of prints. The paintings are located in the National Gallery and the Munch Museum, and in 2012, one of the pastels was auctioned for nearly 120 million dollars.
Similar to the case of the "Mona Lisa," audacious thefts (in 1994 and 2004) of the two versions of "The Scream" helped draw public attention to the artworks. (Both were eventually found.)
Did you know? The androgynous figure in the foreground of the Art Nouveau painting does not let out a scream, but rather tries to suppress a penetrating scream from nature. The image was inspired by an experience that Munch had during a walk in Oslo at sunset, when a dramatic red hue overwhelmed his senses.
3. 'The Starry Night'
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Where it can be seen: Museum of Modern Art (New York City)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Starry Night, Van Gogh
The comparatively abstract painting is a typical example of van Gogh's innovative and bold use of thick brushstrokes. The striking blues and yellows of the painting and the dreamy, swirling atmosphere have fascinated art lovers for decades.
Did you know that? Van Gogh lived in an asylum in Saint-Rémy, France, where he was treated for a mental illness when he painted "The Starry Night." The view from the window of his room inspired him.
2. 'The Last Supper'
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated Date: 1495 to 1498
Where it can be seen: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Leonardo, the original "Man of the Renaissance," is the only artist to appear on this list twice. Painted at a time when religious images were still a predominant artistic theme, "The Last Supper" depicts the last time Jesus broke bread with his disciples before his crucifixion. The painting is actually a huge fresco - 4.6 meters high and 8.8 meters wide - that offers an unforgettable sight.
Did you know that? The fresco has survived two warlike threats: Napoleon's troops used the wall of the refectory, on which the fresco was painted, for shooting practice. Additionally, it was exposed to the air for several years when bombing raids during World War II destroyed the roof of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
1. 'Mona Lisa'
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated Date: 1503 to 1519
Where it can be seen: Louvre Museum (Paris)
Reprint at ARTLIA: Mona Lisa, Leonardo da Vinci
"It should come as no surprise that the most famous painting in the world is the mysterious woman with the enigmatic smile. However, this is one of the few certainties that exist about this artwork."
It is believed that the subject is Lisa Gherardini, the wife of the Florentine merchant Francesco del Giocondo, but experts are not sure. The painting is the first known Italian portrait in which the subject is so precisely centered in a half-length portrait, according to the Louvre, where it was first exhibited in 1804.
Did you know that? Before the 20th century, the "Mona Lisa" was hardly known outside the art world, according to historians. However, in 1911, a former employee of the Louvre stole the portrait and hid it for two years. This theft contributed to the painting securing a permanent place in popular culture since then, allowing millions of people to discover the art of the Renaissance.
Take a look at the classic artworks printed on canvas at ARTLIA. Your room will transform into a gallery.
