The Definitive List of the 20 Most Famous Painters of All Time

The works of various famous painters who have left their mark over time are exhibited in museums around the world. Some artists have stood out either for their distinctive style, their involvement in a seminal art movement, or their eccentric lifestyle.

These famous painters have managed to achieve amazing celebrity in the history of art. And while his creativity is well known in today's popular culture, many were not recognized for his talents until many years after his death.

So, who are the most famous painters of humanity? Renaissance masters Michelangelo and Leonardo, for example, are two creative titans whose names are synonymous with artistry and genius. Likewise, Georgia O'Keeffe and Frida Kahlo are some of the most important female artists of the 20th century.

No doubt art has had an unfortunate history of excluding women and people of color, but we hope that changes in our more inclusive generation. This list is a reflection of the artists who have achieved fame to this day as the most famous painters in history.

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 1: LEONARDO DA VINCI (1452-1519)

Leonardo da Vinci He was the quintessential Renaissance painter. Not only did he leave behind a collection of notebooks filled with scientific observations and illustrations, but he also left behind a significant legacy of artwork spanning different media. His mastery of oil painting techniques such as sfumato and the chiaroscuro it can be seen in his portraits, The Mona Lisa and The Lady with the Ermine .

To this day, the iconic "Mona Lisa" is considered by art enthusiasts around the world to be among the greatest paintings of all time. His image continues to appear on items ranging from T-shirts to fridge magnets, and rather than trivialize the importance of the masterpiece, this popularity serves to immortalize Leonardo's paintings and drawings. They still remain at the forefront of people's hearts and minds centuries after their death.

Artworks by this famous painter: Lady of the Ermine  (1489–91), Vitruvian Man (c.1492), The Last Supper  (1498), The Mona Lisa (1503–1516)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 2: SANDRO BOTTICELLI (1445-1510)

The Florentine artist Sandro Botticelli was one of the most prolific painters of the 15th century. Although the artist's work features secular portraits and religious representations, he is best known for his giant mythological scenes. In fact, Botticelli was one of the first painters of this period to revive classical subject matter and adopt its iconography.

At the height of his fame, the Florentine painter and draftsman Sandro Botticelli was one of Italy's most esteemed artists. His graceful images of the Virgin and Child , his altarpieces, and his life-size mythological paintings, such as " Venus and Mars ", were immensely popular during his lifetime.

Famous Artworks: The Birth of Venus (c. 1486), Primavera (c. 1477-1482)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 3: MICHELANGELO (1475-1564)

Master of painting, sculpture and architecture, Michelangelo Buonarroti, or Michelangelo , is one of the most exemplary figures of the Italian Renaissance. His nickname Il Divino("The Divine") is proof of how loved he was. Furthermore, his incredible success is significant in a time when most artists did not enjoy wealth or fame while living. In fact, Michelangelo is the first Western artist to have a biography published during his lifetime.

Michelangelo's impact on art is tremendous. Michelangelo not only outshines all his predecessors; he remains the only great sculptor of the Renaissance at its best. What most late Renaissance artists lacked was not talent, but the ability to use their own eyes and share a vision with their contemporaries or posterity. Michelangelo's extreme genius left little room for works that escaped his influence, condemning all his contemporaries to be content to imitate him. The appreciation of Michelangelo's artistic mastery has endured for centuries and his name has become synonymous with the best of Renaissance art.

Famous Artworks: Pieta (1498–99) David (1501–4), The Last Judgment(1508–12)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 4: CARAVAGGIO (1571–1610)

Baroque painter Michelangelo Merisi, better known as Caravaggio , led a passionate and turbulent life. His artistic legacy is equally evocative in style and technique. Never before has an artist used "normal" people as models for paintings of Biblical characters. In addition, his masterful use of extreme light and darkness, or gloom, added unparalleled psychological drama to his paintings.

Many of his paintings dealt with death, as well as sexual depictions, which the church would not support; for this reason, many of the pieces he created during this period were seen as vulgar. Some of the works for which he is best known during this period include: The Virgin of the Bridegroom and The Death of the Virgin, which he commissioned in 1601. Although many rejected his work, the subject matter and styles he chose to work with, it meant that his work was also visionary for the time, as no other artist was willing to complete similar renderings.

Famous Artworks: The Call of Saint Matthew (1599-1600), David with the Head of Goliath (1610)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 5: REMBRANDT (1606–1669)

The Dutch artist Rembrandt Harmenszoon Van Rijn is considered one of the most important and influential figures in the history of art. A master painter, printmaker and draftsman, his extensive body of work continues to fascinate art lovers around the world. That is why he is also known as an "Old Master", a label reserved for the most prolific painters in Europe prior to the 19th century.

The powers of invention and perception that made Rembrandt a famous painter in his own time also made him a virtuoso draftsman (as evidenced in works as different as The Last Supper, after Leonardo da Vinci, and Cottage in the Trees). Some 350 etchings expanded the medium's ability to suggest various types of lighting and pictorial effects. Some examples, such as The Three Crosses of 1653, were radically revised in design and expression between different states.

Famous Artworks: Dr. Tulp's Anatomy Lesson(1632), The Storm on the Sea of ​​Galilee , or The Night Watch (1642)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 6: JAN VERMEER (1632–1675)

Johannes Vermeer devoted himself to exploring the everyday moments of the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age, often painting scenes of domestic life. He was nicknamed the “Master of Light” for the way he perfectly painted how natural light danced on skin, fabrics, and other objects. Although he was a relatively successful painter during his lifetime, only 34 paintings are attributed to him today. Still, this precious portfolio reveals the artist's exceptional understanding of color, composition, and realism.

While Vermeer enjoyed a decent cash flow from the sale of his art during his lifetime as an artist, the painter worked slowly, and most of his patrons were family, friends, and other locals. After a financial crisis in 1672, he was forced to auction off most of his worldly possessions to pay off mounting debts. He was all but forgotten by the art world in the years after his death in 1675. His most famous work, Girl with a Pearl Earring, sold for just two guilders at auction in 1881.

Famous Artwork: Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 7: EUGENE DELACROIX (1798–1863)

A master of colour, movement and drama, Eugène Delacroix was a leader of the Romantic art movement and an influential figure in the work of the Impressionists. Delacroix's work spanned contemporary events, mythological scenes, Orientalism, and portraiture.

In contrast to the neoclassical perfectionism of his main rival Ingres, Delacroix drew inspiration from the art of Rubens and the painters of the Venetian Renaissance, with the consequent emphasis on color and movement rather than clarity of contour and carefully modeled form. . The dramatic and romantic content characterized the central themes of his maturity, and led him not to the classical models of Greek and Roman art, but to travel through North Africa, in search of the exotic.

A friend and spiritual heir of Théodore Géricault, Delacroix was also inspired by Byron, with whom he shared a strong identification with the "forces of the sublime", of nature in often violent actions.

Famous works of art: The Death of Sardanapalus (1827), Liberty Leading the People ( 1830

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 8: CLAUDE MONET (1840-1926)

With a unique style and pioneering approach to painting, Claude Monet is known as an influential Impressionist figure. Using distinctively mottled brushwork, a characteristically colorful range of tones, and a focus on light, the French artist created compositions that captured the essence of movement.

Monet's impact on modern art is tremendous. Monet was one of the most influential artists of any era, and his unique color palette, vision, and shaping would have a lasting impact on future fine art. Many artists have been influenced by Monet, whose techniques inspired Impressionists and Post-Impressionists such as Vincent van Gogh. In terms of form and scale, the artist's work directly influenced Abstract Expressionists such as Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko. The popular artist Andy Warhol reflected Monet's influence in his multiple interpretations of a single theme.

Claude Monet also laid some of the foundations for the Minimalist movement of the 1960s. Still extremely popular in his own right, the artist continues to this day to define both the public's appreciation of art and perception of beauty. in its purest form.

Famous Artworks: Rising Sun Print (1872), Water Lilies (Water Lilies) Series (1883-1926)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 9: VINCENT VAN GOGH (1853-1890)

While Vincent Van Gogh has found a significant amount of posthumous fame, his life was not as quiet as his delicately colored canvases would suggest. From financial struggles to failing mental health, Van Gogh faced many personal challenges during his career. Despite this, the painter left behind a stunning body of work, including landscapes, portraits, and street scenes, in an iconic style that is uniquely his.

Tragically, Van Gogh died unaware of the acclaim his art would receive. Today his legacy is immortal and he will always be known as one of the greatest artists of the modern era.

Famous works of art: The Starry Night (1889), Sunflowers (1887), and The Red Vineyard .

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 10: GUSTAV KLIMT (1862-1918)

Leader of the Vienna Secessionist art movement (which became associated with Art Nouveau), Austrian artist Gustav Klimt left behind thousands of drawings and a vast portfolio of painted works. He is best known for the collection of shiny, golden works he produced during his Golden Phase.

Klimt as a person was something of an enigma. He did not keep a journal or comment on his work, but he did leave an undated statement:

“I can paint and draw. ...Only two things are certain. 1) I have never painted a self-portrait. I am less interested in myself as a subject of painting than in other people, especially women. But other topics interest me even more. I am convinced that I am not particularly interesting as a person. There is nothing special about me. I am a painter who paints day after day from morning to night. Figures and landscapes, portraits less frequently. 2) I don't have the gift of the spoken or written word, especially if I have to say something about myself or my work. .... Anyone who wants to know something about me, as an artist, the only remarkable thing, should look carefully at my pictures and try to see in them what I am and what I want to do.

Famous Artworks: The Kiss (1907–18), The Portrait of Adele Bloch Bauer

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 11: HENRI MATISSE (1869-1954)

Considered the greatest colorist of the 20th century and a revolutionary artist who helped define modern art, French artist Henri Matisse first emerged as a Post-Impressionist. Then, in 1904, he led the Fauvism movement called Les Fauves, which is French for "wild beasts." The Les Fauves were a group of modern artists who favored bright, pure colors and expressive brushwork over realism.

Matisse is commonly considered, along with Picasso and Marcel Duchamp, as one of the three artists who helped define the revolutionary developments in the fine arts in the first decades of the 20th century, responsible for significant developments in painting and sculpture. Although he was initially labeled as fauve, by the 1920s he was increasingly hailed as an upholder of the classical tradition of French painting. His mastery of the expressive language of color and drawing, displayed in an oeuvre that spans more than half a century, earned him recognition as a leading figure in modern art.

Famous Artworks: Woman in a Hat (1905), The Dance (1909–10)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 12: PABLO PICASSO (1881-1973)

With a career that spanned 79 years and included successes in painting, sculpture, ceramics, poetry, set design, and writing, Pablo Picasso is one of the most important artists of the 20th century. While most artists are known for an iconic style, Picasso's changed several times during his lifetime. Some of his more distinct periods include the blue period, cubism, and surrealism.

Like William Shakespeare in literature and Sigmund Freud in psychology, Picasso's impact on art is tremendous. No one has achieved the same degree of widespread fame or displayed such incredible versatility as Pablo Picasso in the history of art. Picasso's free spirit, eccentric style, and complete disregard for what others thought of his work and creative style, made him a catalyst for artists to follow him. Now known as the father of modern art, Picasso's originality touched all the great artists and art movements that followed in his wake. Even to this day, his life and works continue to invite countless scholarly interpretations and attract thousands of followers around the world.

Famous works of art: Les Demoiselles d'Avignon (1907), Guernica (1937)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 13: GEORGIA O'KEEFFE (1887-1986)

American artist Georgia O'Keeffe helped usher in the American modernism movement with a style that favors interpretation of subjects rather than depicting them using strict realism. She is also best known for her abstract depictions of the colorful flowers and landscapes of the Southwestern United States.

Famous Artworks: Jimson Weed (1936), Sky Above Clouds IV (1965)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 14: RENÉ MAGRITTE (1898-1967)

As a pioneer of the Surrealist art movement, René Magritte created work that celebrated the subconscious mind and the world of dreams. Throughout his long career, he produced paintings that blurred the line between reality and fantasy and invited the viewer to question what they thought they knew.

Clouds, pipes, bowler hats, and green apples: these remain some of the most recognizable icons of René Magritte, the Belgian painter and noted surrealist. He produced a body of work that rendered such ordinary things strange, placing them in unfamiliar or mysterious scenes, or deliberately mislabeling them to "make the most mundane objects squeal out loud". With his pictorial and linguistic puzzles, Magritte made the familiar haunting and strange, raising questions about the nature of representation and reality.

Famous Artworks: The Betrayal of Images (1929), The Son of Man (1964)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 15: SALVADOR DALI (1904-1989)

Few artists are as visually iconic as Salvador Dalí . Although he explored a variety of media during his lifetime, including sculpture, printmaking, fashion, writing, and even film, Dalí's paintings stand out as being particularly historical. In particular, the artist developed his own visual language to represent his own inner world, dreams and hallucinations.

Salvador Dalí is one of the most famous artists of all time. His fiercely technical yet highly unusual paintings, sculptures and visionary explorations in life-size film and interactive art ushered in a new generation of imaginative expression. From his personal life to his professional endeavors, he has always taken big risks and demonstrated how rich the world can be when one dares to embrace pure and limitless creativity.

Famous Artworks: The Persistence of Memory (1931), The Temptation of Saint Anthony (1946)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 16: FRIDA KAHLO (1907-1954)

As one of the most famous painters of all time , the legacy of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo continues to impact the art world today. Her passionate but tumultuous life had a great impact on the subject matter of her paintings. She is particularly known for her compelling self-portraits, which deal with themes of identity, suffering, and the human body.

Frida Kahlo is remembered for her self-portraits, pain and passion, and bold, vibrant colors. She's celebrated in Mexico for her attention to Mexican and indigenous culture and by feminists for its depiction of the female form and experience.

Famous Artworks: The Two Fridas (1932), Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 17: JACKSON POLLOCK (1912-1956)

American artist Jackson Pollock is considered one of the greatest famous painters of the abstract expressionist movement. His signature drip pictures, which he began producing in the late 1940s, took the art world by storm. Pollock redefined line, color, and pictorial space by finding a whole new way to fill a canvas.

The profound influence of Pollock's approach, at once emphatically literal and radically open to the world, can be found in the words of his fellow artists. The experimental group Gutai, which formed in Japan in the mid-1950s, cited his work as a crucial spur to "imparting life into matter" and pursuing "pure creativity." In 1958, Happenings impresario Allan Kaprow wrote in honor of the late artist: “Pollock left us at a point where we must be preoccupied and even dazzled by the space and objects of our daily lives… these, I am sure, will be the alchemies of the sixties”. Nine years later, the minimalist sculptor Donald Judd would write in Arts Magazine: “It is clear that Pollock created the grand scale, integrity, and simplicity that have become common to almost all good works.”

Famous Artworks: No. 5 (1948), Autumn Rhythm: Number 30 (1950)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 18: ANDY WARHOL (1928-1987)

American artist Andy Warhol was a pivotal figure in the Pop Art movement of the 1950s. While Warhol worked in a wide variety of media, he is most famous for his silkscreens and polychrome paintings. His works defined many of the movement's most distinctive features: bold, contemporary imagery; a bright color palette; and a repetitive aesthetic inspired by mass production.

Famous Artworks: Cambell's Soup Cans (1962), Marilyn Diptych (1962)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 19: JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960-1988)

At the end of the 20th century, Jean-Michel Basquiat turned the world of contemporary art upside down. Living and working in New York City in the 1970s and 1980s, the young artist helped pioneer and popularize street art by bringing graffiti to the gallery, a monumental move that brought the glitz and glamor of the art world to life. art accessible to people from all walks of life. .

Famous Artworks: Untitled (1982), Boy and Dog in a Johnny Bomb (1982)

FAMOUS PAINTER NO. 20: YAYOI KUSAMA (1929-PRESENT)

Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama is considered the most famous living female artist. Throughout her illustrious career, she has developed a distinctive approach to her craft. Characterized by polka dots, bold color palettes, and organic shapes, her aesthetic is perhaps best typified by her pumpkin art, a collection of works that celebrate the "generous simplicity" of subject matter.

Famous Artworks: Infinity Mirror Room : Phalli's Field (1965), Narcissus Garden (1966), The Pumpkin Series.

KUADROS © , a famous painting on your wall.