What famous art should I see before I die?

Question

I would like to see the 7 wonders of the world before I die, what else should I see? I have seen the Mona Lisa, but found it hardly impressive; rather overrated *ahem*.

I am not an artist, I am entering the fire services.
So I do not know who painted a lot of works of art
I just want to travel when I am older and to see the world =)

Answer 1

Your Grand Childrens Paintings. Years ahead of your time

Answer 2

The greatest object, artwork...whatever... to see, is but a few inches or feet away. Look closely at the person you love...spouse, mate, parent, son or daughter, friend, grandparent... whomever. Take time to study their body: arms, legs, neck, cheek, inside the ear, fingertips, palms...all over. Spend hours taking in every nuance of their being. Take a full day doing this...let the mind take in all, let the mind blend, mix and melt the flesh and the colors that the skin exudes. Smell, touch, listen, taste. Close your eyes and recall the experience. Then try this with yourself. Marvel at the creation of being...look in a mirror and study how your face changes with thought and feeling. When you can thoroughly enjoy doing this, you are ready to really see the Seven Wonders just footsteps from where you are now: One- the sky; Two, the trees; Three: the ground; Four: flowing or still water; Five: the air; Six: the plants; Seven: the animals (birds, dogs, cats, ants, flies, spiders, worms, elephants, tigers...whichever are nearby). Then spend every day of the rest of your life, taking in all that you can in the same way no matter where you are.

Answer 3

Go to the Orsay Museum in France (many Impressionist and Academic Classicism paintings) and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (Van Gogh's Starry Night and Chagall's The Village and I, to name a few) and you will have seen enough "impressive" artwork to last you for quite awhile.

Answer 4

Caravaggio's Baroque Art paintings never fails to capture one's perception. He was best known for portraying some of the real incidents from the Bible (i.e. "The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist" and "The Crucifixion of Saint Peter"), and particularly bringing out these immense emotions from his subjects. His approach to "chiaroscuro", which means the use of light and shadow, is truly impeccable. Try checking out his works:

http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/formats/container_remcar_en.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio


If you like Abstract Expressionism, try viewing Mark Rothko's paintings. There's always a depth of emotion on his canvas. When I find time to visit some galleries, I cry when I see his actual works.

http://www.nga.gov/feature/rothko/


I agree with you, forget the hideous Mona Lisa.

Answer 5

You don't say what city is closest to where you live but I'm sure they have a great museum in the largest city. Philadelphia, Chicago, New york just to name a few. Nothing beats seeing art in person to understand why it is great. Books are good but can't really show the wonder of great art.

Answer 6

Seriously - go to the National Gallery in DC and find "Girl with the Red Hat by Jan Vermeer. It is filled with mystery and intimacy - and when you see it in person she looks totally beautiful and lucious even though she is not pretty by today's standards - it's the way she was painted.

And, if you don't like her, you're in one of the finest galleries in the world, you'll see something to be impressed with.
See link below.

Answer 7

See Frida Kahlo's exhibit in Minneapolis.
See the MET and MOMA, check out the Chelsea district in NY.
Red Grooms is really great, he did amazing 3D constructions.

Answer 8

Vincent Van Gogh's self portrait

Answer 9

Go to some of the old churches in england. My mother use to live their. Their are a great deal of old stained glass and artwork in many of the churches.

Answer 10

Your great grand children. What ever arty any artist ever made there is no substitute for offspring.