Discover the 20 Most Celebrated Paintings Ever Created

Have you ever wondered which famous paintings of famous painters are talked about the most? Here’s a quick list of the most iconic and celebrated works, all considered famous paintings of famous painters:

• Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

• Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh

• The Scream by Edvard Munch

• Guernica by Pablo Picasso

• The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí

• Three Musicians by Pablo Picasso

• A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat

• The Arnolfini Portrait by Jan van Eyck

• The Ambassadors by Hans Holbein the Younger

• Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh

• The Fighting Temeraire by J.M.W. Turner

• The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai

• The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

• Irises by Vincent van Gogh

• The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli

• The Creation of Adam by Michelangelo

• American Gothic by Grant Wood

• The Swing by Jean-Honoré Fragonard

• The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

• The Night Watch by Rembrandt

What makes these famous paintings of famous painters so special? You’ll find them everywhere—from postcards and textbooks to movies and pop culture references. Museums that display these masterpieces attract huge crowds. These classic works are admired for their incredible skill, emotional impact, and cultural influence. Art lovers and collectors often consider these the greatest paintings ever created. When you view these famous paintings of famous painters, you’re stepping into the world of legendary artists and their most remarkable achievements.

Key Takeaways

• Famous paintings are well-known because they are important and have a big effect on culture. People know them and they matter to many generations.

• Artworks like the Mona Lisa and Starry Night use new ways to show feelings and ideas. These techniques changed how artists work.

• Many famous paintings talk about big ideas like love, power, and what it means to be human. This helps people feel close to the art.

• Learning about the history behind these great works helps you enjoy them more. It also shows how they helped start new art styles.

• Going to museums or looking at art online can help you learn more. It can also make you want to be creative yourself.

Start Your Artistic Journey with Tucocoo

Learn More!

Criteria for Most Famous Paintings

Iconic Status

When you think of famous paintings, you picture ones everyone knows. A painting gets this status for more than age or the artist’s name. It becomes iconic when it stands out in history and culture. People know it right away, even if they don’t study art.

• Paintings shown in big exhibitions many times get noticed more.

• Artists who work with other famous artists get more attention.

• If a painting sells for a lot of money, people talk about it more.

• News stories and museum displays make some paintings very well known.

The greatest art often comes from artists who know other creative people. These friendships help their art become more popular. That’s why many famous paintings are made by artists who inspire each other and start new styles.

Cultural Impact

A painting’s cultural impact can change how people think or act. Some famous art has started movements, challenged ideas, or become symbols for generations. Here are ways some famous artworks have shaped society:

When you look at the most famous paintings, you see how they do more than just look nice. They change minds, inspire people, and leave a mark on the world. This is what makes a painting important in history and helps it stand out among famous paintings.

Famous Paintings of Famous Painters

You are about to see some of the best art ever made. These famous paintings of famous painters changed how people think about art, feelings, and history. Let’s look at each artwork and find out why they are special.

Mona Lisa – Leonardo da Vinci

• Painted: 1503–1517

• Location: Louvre Museum, Paris

Most people know the Mona Lisa, even if they have not seen it in person. The woman in the painting has a mysterious smile and looks right at you. Leonardo da Vinci used new ways to blend colors softly. He also made the background look deep and real. The Mona Lisa’s pose was new for its time. Her gentle smile and real-looking skin show da Vinci understood the human body well. The painting was once in royal homes and even in Napoleon’s room. Now, the Mona Lisa is a famous symbol and inspires many other artworks.

Starry Night – Vincent van Gogh

• Painted: 1889

• Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York

Starry Night shows swirling skies and bright stars over a quiet town. Van Gogh wanted to show feelings, not just what he saw. He used strong colors and thick paint to make the scene move and feel alive. Starry Night helped start new art styles like Expressionism and Fauvism. Van Gogh hoped his night paintings would inspire others. This painting changed how artists use color and shapes to show feelings.

The Scream – Edvard Munch

• Painted: 1893

• Location: National Gallery, Oslo

The Scream is a painting almost everyone knows. Munch painted it after feeling very sad. The person in the painting looks scared and upset. Some people see a mummy or a baby in the figure, so many people can relate. The Scream shows strong feelings and makes you wonder why the person is screaming. Munch’s art shows the worries of city life and feeling alone.

Guernica – Pablo Picasso

• Painted: 1937

• Location: Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid

Guernica is a painting against war. Picasso used black, white, and gray to make it feel sad. The painting shows people suffering during a bombing in the Spanish Civil War. You see wild shapes and twisted bodies, like a woman holding her child. Guernica made people think about how bad war is and became a sign for peace. Picasso’s sharp lines and no color make you think about death and sadness. Guernica is one of the most famous paintings that changed how people see war.

The Persistence of Memory – Salvador Dalí

• Painted: 1931

• Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York

You might know this painting because of its melting clocks. Dalí used smooth paint and strong lines to make a dreamlike picture. He had a special way to paint what he saw in his mind. The Persistence of Memory makes you think about time and what is real. Strange shapes and normal things in odd places make it feel like a dream.

Three Musicians – Pablo Picasso

• Painted: 1921

• Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York

Three Musicians is a bright and fun painting. Picasso used flat colors and shapes that fit together like a puzzle. The three musicians look like shapes you have to figure out. This painting shows how Cubism made people see art in new ways.

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte – Georges Seurat

• Painted: 1884–1886

• Location: Art Institute of Chicago

Seurat made this painting with tiny dots of color. His style, called Pointillism, lets your eyes mix the colors. Seurat thought science could help art, so he used color rules. The painting looks bright and neat, and it shows a change from Impressionism to Post-Impressionism.

The Arnolfini Portrait – Jan van Eyck

• Painted: 1434

• Location: National Gallery, London

This painting shows a couple in a fancy room. Van Eyck used slow-drying oils to add layers and make things look real. You can see every detail, like the clothes and shadows. The painting uses light and dark to make the room look real. Van Eyck’s work helped other artists learn new ways to use oil paint.

The Ambassadors – Hans Holbein the Younger

• Painted: 1533

• Location: National Gallery, London

The Ambassadors is full of hidden meanings. The floor pattern connects people to the universe. Tools on the top shelf stand for the sky, and things below show daily life. A strange skull reminds you of death, and a cross hints at forever life. The painting also shows fights about religion and hopes for peace.

Sunflowers – Vincent van Gogh

• Painted: 1888–1889

• Location: Various museums

Van Gogh painted many Sunflowers. He liked using bright yellow to show energy and feelings. The flowers stand for friendship and growing as a person. Each painting shows a different part of Van Gogh’s life. The thick paint and strong colors make Sunflowers very famous.

The Fighting Temeraire – J.M.W. Turner

• Painted: 1839

• Location: National Gallery, London

This painting shows an old warship being pulled away. Turner showed the end of old times as steam ships replaced sailboats. The Fighting Temeraire reminds people of Britain’s past and big changes from the Industrial Revolution. Turner’s use of light and color makes the scene feel sad and important.

The Great Wave off Kanagawa – Katsushika Hokusai

• Painted: 1831

• Location: Various collections

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is a famous Japanese artwork. Hokusai’s wave has inspired many artists and musicians. Claude Debussy wrote music about its power. Vincent van Gogh liked its drawing style. Sculptors like Camille Claudel and William Pye made art inspired by the wave. You can find the Great Wave on book covers, Lego sets, anime, and even emoji. Hokusai’s print shows nature’s power and connects people around the world.

The Kiss – Gustav Klimt

• Painted: 1907–1908

• Location: Österreichische Galerie Belvedere, Vienna

The Kiss might show Klimt and his partner Emilie Flöge. Some think the woman is someone else. The painting uses gold and fancy patterns, mixing old and new styles. Klimt mixes tradition with new ideas, making the couple look real and dreamy. The Kiss is about love, closeness, and how romance does not last forever.

• The painting shows a private moment.

• It might tell old stories like Apollo and Daphne.

• The woman’s see-through shape shows love does not last long.

Irises – Vincent van Gogh

• Painted: 1889

• Location: J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles

Irises is a colorful and neat painting. Van Gogh balanced warm reds and yellows with cool greens and blues. He put colors together to make the scene easy to see. Bright yellow in the blue flowers stands out. Van Gogh cared more about color than light and shadow, making a lively nature scene. Irises is a great example of post-impressionist painting.

The Birth of Venus – Sandro Botticelli

• Painted: 1484–1486

• Location: Uffizi Gallery, Florence

This painting shows Venus, the goddess of love, coming from the sea. Zephyrus, the wind god, and Chloris, a sign of spring, are with her. Botticelli mixed old myths with Christian ideas, showing beauty and meaning. The Birth of Venus is one of the most famous paintings and still inspires artists.

The Creation of Adam – Michelangelo

• Painted: 1512

• Location: Sistine Chapel, Vatican City

Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam shows God giving life to Adam. The people look perfect because Michelangelo studied the human body. The shape around God looks like a brain, showing a link between God and human thought. This painting shows Renaissance ideas and deep religious meaning.

American Gothic – Grant Wood

• Painted: 1930

• Location: Art Institute of Chicago

American Gothic became famous during hard times in America. The painting shows a farmer and his daughter in front of a house. Some people think it jokes about small towns, others think it honors them. Grant Wood wanted to show respect for hardworking people. The painting makes you think about what it means to be American.

The Swing – Jean-Honoré Fragonard

• Painted: 1767

• Location: Wallace Collection, London

The Swing is fun and full of secrets. A young woman swings while her lover watches, and her husband pushes her without knowing. The woman shows her ankle, which was bold back then. Fragonard used bright colors and careful brushwork to show the rich having fun. The painting is a classic Rococo style.

1. Swinging was a favorite thing for rich people and often meant romance.

2. The woman throws her shoe, adding a playful touch.

3. A Cupid invites you into the scene, making it feel private and fun.

The Last Supper – Leonardo da Vinci

• Painted: 1495–1498

• Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie, Milan

The Last Supper shows Jesus telling his friends that one will betray him. Da Vinci made each person look different, showing their feelings. The painting uses the number three to hint at the Holy Trinity. The setting looks like a dining hall, reminding you of community and prayer. The Last Supper is one of the most famous paintings and an important part of Christian art.

• Jesus is in the middle, showing he is important.

• The apostles react in different ways, making the scene exciting.

• The painting makes you think about your own beliefs.

The Night Watch – Rembrandt

• Painted: 1642

• Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Rembrandt changed group portraits with The Night Watch. Instead of still poses, he showed people moving and talking. The painting feels alive, with people doing things. Rembrandt used light and color to make the scene dramatic. The Night Watch is a famous painting that makes you feel part of the action.

• The painting broke old rules by showing movement.

• Rembrandt got a big job for this painting.

• The busy scene shows teamwork and community.

These famous paintings of famous painters come from many times and places, but they all have a big impact. You see new ideas, strong feelings, and history in each one. Whether you like the Mona Lisa, Starry Night, The Scream, or Guernica, you are looking at some of the best art ever made.

Famous Historical Oil Paintings

Artistic Legacy

When you look at famous historical oil paintings, you see more than paint. These artworks show how artists changed the world. Many painters tried new styles and bold ideas. Their art still inspires people today. Here are some features that make these paintings special:

These famous historical oil paintings broke old rules. They made people think in new ways. Many artists wanted to show real life, strong feelings, or big ideas. Their work helped shape what you see in museums as great art.

Influence on Modern Art

You might wonder how these paintings connect to art today. Famous historical oil paintings did not just stay in the past. They helped start new art movements and inspired artists everywhere. Here are some ways these oil paintings changed modern art:

• Édouard Manet’s Olympia surprised people with its bold style and message. It helped modern artists try new things.

• Eugène Delacroix’s Liberty Leading the People used wild brushwork and strong feelings. This painting helped Romanticism grow.

• Gustave Courbet’s The Stone Breakers showed workers with respect. He made everyday life important in art.

• These painters used oil paint to show deep emotions and big ideas. Their work became the base for many new styles.

When you look at famous art from the past, you see how each painting connects to the next. These artists made choices that still matter. They showed that art can tell stories, share feelings, and even change the world. That is why so many people call these works the best art ever.

Tucocoo Jigsaw Puzzles

Shop Now!

Common Themes

Universal Stories

When you look at the best art of all time, you notice that many paintings tell stories everyone can understand. These stories cross borders and speak to people from different backgrounds. Artists use symbols and scenes that feel familiar, even if you come from another country. You might see a painting of a hero, a family, or a moment of love. These themes help you connect with the artwork.

Here are some common themes you’ll spot in famous art pieces:

You might notice that some paintings, like Edvard Munch’s "The Scream," show feelings like anxiety. Others, such as Picasso’s "Guernica," talk about war and peace. These stories feel real because they reflect what people everywhere go through. Paintings can also show national pride or challenge unfairness, making you think about your own world.

Emotional Expression

Great paintings do more than tell stories—they make you feel something. When you stand in front of a famous painting, you might feel joy, sadness, or even wonder. Artists use color, light, and brushstrokes to share their feelings with you. Sometimes, a single brushstroke can show energy or calm. Other times, a quiet scene feels personal, like the artist is sharing a secret.

• Paintings that stir your emotions stay in your memory.

• You might see sadness in a face or hope in a bright sky.

• Art can spark your imagination and help you see the world in new ways.

• These feelings connect you to the artist and to people from other times and places.

When you explore famous art pieces, you join a long line of people who have felt the same things. That’s why these works remain powerful and unforgettable.

You just explored some of the best art of all time. These masterpieces still inspire people everywhere. Want to learn more? Visit a museum, read about artists, or look up new paintings online.

• Which painting speaks to you the most?

• Do you have a favorite artist?

Art can change how you see the world. Share your thoughts or your favorite painting in the comments!