10 Greatest Works of Art of All Time

A selection of the ten greatest works of all time. This is a personal selection, but if you wish to nominate another work of art, you can nominate a piece of art on this link.

1. Pieta - Michelangelo

Michelangelo's Pieta - The magnificent depiction of Mother Mary holding her crucified son, Jesus Christ. Beauty, elegance, restrained yet intense emotion. It is a poignant, beautiful and awe inspiring. It is a Divinity sacrificing itself for humanity. It is the epitome of a mother's love for her beloved son.

2. Mona Lisa - Leonardo Da Vinci

The enigmatic smile of Mona Lisa has captured the imagination of the world. The Mona Lisa gives a glimpse of immortality in an anonymous lady. Leonardo Da Vincispent a lifetime on this painting; he carried it around for many years - always working and perfecting it. Why has the Mona Lisa captured the imagination of humanity? - Because there is something in the painting that transcends the ordinary human consciousness - there is beauty and simplicity, but aslo the unknowing smile of the beyond.

3. David - Michelangelo

The sublime depiction of the human form. Michelangelo transcended the great classic masters of the past with this flawless sculpture. David shows that man has a beautiful symmetry combining beauty, grace and power.

4. Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo

Michelangelo's four year epic. Unsurpassed in scale and greatness that leaves visitors breathless. The Pope who commissioned Michelangelo hoped that he would choose scenes from the New Testament, but Michelangelo chose scenes from the Old Testament. Here God, is creating Adam. That elusive touch between man and God.

5. Starry Night - Vincent Van Gogh

The genius of Vincent Van Gogh is captured in this atmospheric portrayal of French cafe life at night.

6. Ecstasy of St Therese - Bernini

The Ecstasy of St Therese of Avila -By Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel, Italy. St Therese of Avila was a Spanish mystic who was far ahead of her time, and would often become absorbed in Divine contemplation.

7. Water Lilies - Claude Monet

Claude Monet is one of the great impressionist painters. Quite a few of his pictures could be chosen. But, his Water lily pictures are perhaps the zenith of his artistic impressionism. A wonderful elucidation of light and nature. A glimpse of heaven on earth. Art that inspired the world.

8 . Inspiration of St Matthew - Caravaggio

Caravaggio was commissioned to provide three paintings for the Contarelli Chapel in the church of San Luigi dei Francesi. This is one of the three paintings. The other two being the martyrdom of St Matthew and the calling of St Matthew.

9. The Girl With a Pearl Earring - Jan Vermeer

Jan Vermeer was relatively unknown in his lifetime. But, this fascinating portrait (somewhat reminiscent of the Mona Lisa) is a wonderful example of the Baroque style. There is a touching innocence, purity and simplicity in this picture. It is said the eyes are a window to the soul. These bulging pure eyes give a glimpse of that purity and innocence of a girl on the verge of womanhood.

10. The Jewish Bride - Rembrandt

The identity of the Jewish Bride is uncertain. This may have been deliberate on part of the artist, who created a masterpiece of human love that borders on the divine. There is so much emotion, detail and care taken with these human expressions. There is a whole world within the painting.

Described by Christopher White as

"one of the greatest expressions of the tender fusion of spiritual and physical love in the history of painting" 

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