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'Autumn Rhythm' by Jackson Pollock - 'Autumn Rhythm' was painted in 1950 in the United States and currently resides at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. This abstract expressionist painting is often considered one of Pollock’s most notable works.

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'The Kiss' by Gustav Klimt -

Created between 1907 and 1908 in Austria, 'The Kiss' now lives at the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna, Austria. Klimt had a proto-expressionist element to his work that can be seen in the grossly bent toes and contorted hands of the painting.

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'The Birth of Venus' by Sandro Botticelli -

Between 1484 and 1486 the masterpiece known as 'The Birth of Venus' was created in Italy. Today, you can find it in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. After Botticelli trained as a goldsmith in the early Renaissance period he made a name for himself in 1470 with his famous painting 'Fortitude.' 

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'Girl with a Pearl Earring' by Johannes Vermeer - In 1665, Johannes Vermeer painted his internationally recognized 'Girl with a Pearl Earring' in the Netherlands. Today it can be found in Mauritshuis in the Hague. Vermeer produced only 36 works in his life, which paled in comparison to many other contemporaries.

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'Inspiration of Saint Matthew' by Caravaggio -

In 17th-century Italy, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio created the 'Inspiration of Saint Matthew.' Be sure to see it today at the San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome, Italy. Caravaggio became famous for his intense and unsettling realism in large-scale religious works.

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'David' by Michelangelo -

Somewhere between 1501 and 1504, Michelangelo sculpted 'David.' This world wonder now lives at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, Italy. The statue was commissioned for one of the buttresses of the cathedral of Florence and made from marble.

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'The Mona Lisa' by Leonardo da Vinci -

Leonardo da Vinci painted the 'The Mona Lisa' between the years 1503 and 1506 in Italy. Today you can visit it at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. Considered to be the most famous painting in the world, 'The Mona Lisa' is an oil painting on poplar wood.

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'Paris Street; Rainy Day' by Gustave Caillebotte - It was 1877 in France when Gustave Caillebotte painted the beautiful 'Paris Street; Rainy Day.' To view it today, drop by the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. This particular work of art provides a unique view of Paris transforming from an ancient city to a modern metropolis.

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'Pietà' by Michelangelo -

Within the years 1498 and 1499, Michelangelo Buonarroti crafted the 'Pietà' in Italy. Today it calls St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City its home. Michelangelo was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and even poet who heavily influenced the development of Western art.

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'The Persistence of Memory' by Salvador Dali -

It was 1931 in Spain when Salvador Dali brought us 'The Persistence of Memory.' To see it today, be sure to visit the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, USA. This painting is often interpreted as an exploration of the fidelity of time and the dream state we all experience.

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'The Scream' by Edvard Munch - In 1893, Norwegian artist Edvard Munch created his disturbing masterpiece, 'The Scream.' Today it can be found in the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway. Munch was inspired by a personal experience of feeling "a great unending scream piercing through nature" while walking at sunset and his work attempts to capture this.

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The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo -

Between 1508 and 1512, Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, located in the Vatican City in Rome. Today you can visit the famous chapel and gaze up to marvel at his incredible work. The frescoes contain over 300 bible figures. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II.

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'Liberty Enlightening the World' (Statue of Liberty) by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi - It was 1886 and Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi sculpted the 'Liberty Enlightening the World' in France, to be transported to and assembled in the United States. Found on Liberty Island in New York City, USA, the statue was a gift from France to the United States to commemorate their centennial of independence and their friendship.

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'The Garden of Earthly Delights' by Hieronymus Bosch -

Somewhere between 1490 and 1500, Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch brought us 'The Garden of Earthly Delights.' Today, the complex triptych is found in the Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain. The details and depiction of paradise, Earth, and hell illustrated Bosch’s imaginative vision.

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'The Last Supper' by Leonardo da Vinci -

Between 1495 and 1498, Leonardo da Vinci created 'The Last Supper.' It’s a must-see and is currently located in the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. This work is renowned for its use of perspective and emotional intensity.

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'The Night Café' by Vincent van Gogh -

In 1888 in France, Dutch artist Vincent van Gogh gave us 'The Night Café' painting that now lives at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, USA. Vincent van Gogh used vibrant colors and bold brushstrokes to convey the oppressive atmosphere and psychological intensity of the cafe.

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'Venus De Milo' by Alexandros of Antioch -

Between 130 and 100 BCE, the 'Venus De Milo' was created in Ancient Greece. Its home today is the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. This piece is celebrated for its beauty and sophistication but mystery surrounds its missing arms.

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'View of Delft' by Johannes Vermeer -

Between 1600 and 1601 in the Netherlands, 'View of Delft' by Johannes Vermeer became a reality. Today you can find it at Mauritshuis in the Hague. Highly praised for its detail and luminous quality, 'View of Delft' was one of the greatest landscape paintings of its time.

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'The School of Athens' by Raphael - Raphael painted this masterpiece in the Vatican between 1509 and 1511. Visiting it today means a trip to the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City. The artwork features a gathering of great philosophers and scientists, showcasing Raphael's mastery of perspective.

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'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte' by George Seurat -

Between 1884 and 1886 in France, Georges Seurat created 'A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.' You can now see it at the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The painting is a pioneering example of pointillism, where small dots of color create a vibrant, cohesive image.

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'Guernica' by Picasso -

In 1937, Picasso gave us 'Guernica.' To view this piece in person today, you’ll need to check out the Museo Reina Sofía located in Madrid, Spain. 'Guernica' powerfully depicts the horrors of war and the bombing of the town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, serving as an anti-war statement.

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'Liberty Leading the People' by Eugène Delacroix -

In 1830, 'Liberty Leading the People' was painted by Eugène Delacroix. This specific piece can be found today in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. 'Liberty Leading the People'  commemorates the July Revolution of 1830 in France.

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'Water Lilies' by Monet -

The 'Water Lilies' series was painted between 1896 and 1926 in France and is found today at the Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris, France. Monet's 'Water Lilies' series exemplifies his impressionist technique and obsession with capturing the effects of light on color and water.

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'American Gothic' by Grant Wood -

In 1930, Grant Wood brought us 'American Gothic' which is today located in the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois. The painting portrays a stern-looking farmer and his daughter. It became an iconic depiction of rural American life during the Great Depression.

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'Lady with an Ermine' by Leonardo da Vinci - In Italy, between 1489 to 1490, 'Lady with an Ermine' was created. Today it is in the Czartoryski Museum in Kraków, Poland. Featured in the painting is Cecilia Gallerani, who was a young woman at the Milanese court and a mistress of Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan.

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'Starry Night' by Vincent van Gogh -

In Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France in 1889, Vincent Van Gogh painted his 'Starry Night.' Today it is located in the Museum of Modern Art, New York City. This particular piece was painted from the window of Vincent van Gogh's asylum room and provides a breathtaking view of the night sky.

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'The Arnolfini Portrait' by Jan van Eyck -

In 1434, van Eyck painted 'The Arnolfini Portrait' in Belgium. To visit it today, check out the National Gallery in London. 'The Arnolfini Portrait' is famous for its depiction of textures and use of a convex mirror.

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'Nighthawks' by Edward Hopper -

An American piece, 'Nighthawks' was created in 1942 in New York City. Today it’s located in the Art Institute of Chicago and aims to capture the isolation of urban life.

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'Las Meninas' by Diego Velázquez -

Originating in Spain in 1656, 'Las Meninas' is now located in the Museo del Prado in Madrid. It is celebrated for its complex composition and perspective, featuring Velázquez himself within the painting, blurring the lines between reality and illusion.

Sources: (Britannica) (List25)

See also: The most famous (and expensive) paintings in the world

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