What’s in a PAINTING?

by Caroline-Artemis Laspas

Courtesy of Yannis Tsarouchis Foundation

Here we look at some of the world’s most famous paintings that draw tourists and art enthusiasts alike to stand and marvel at the creativity before them.

The Last Supper

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci

The Last Supper was started in approx. 1495–96. It is a large mural depicting Jesus’s last supper with his disciples. It can be seen in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. There is not much left of the original painting as so much restoration has been required as the damp from the walls has eaten away at the paint over the centuries. It is still possible to visit the original in its restored state, but it is still fragile and visitors can only stay for 15 minutes.

Château du Clos Lucé is a small 15th-century palace in the Loire town Amboise. It was home to Leonardo da Vinci at the end of his life and is now a museum on the life and work of the great painter.

The Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci

Approximately 10 million people a year have visited The Louvre, in Paris, to see this most famous painting. It was painted between 1503-1506. Over time it has been a must discussed topic as to who the lady sitter was, as well as the mystery of her smile!

The Sistine Chapel by Michaelangelo

An estimated 5 million visitor a year go to the Vatican to look up in awe and silence at this masterpiece. The chapel was built in 1479 but the ceiling was not painted until between 1508 and 1512. It is part of the amazing Vatican tour on offer to tourists visiting Rome. The chapel is still used as a gathering place for cardinals of the Catholic Church to elect a new pope.

Michelagelo’s home was Casa Buonarroti in Florence. It is now a museum dedicated to him and his works of art, many of which are on display.

The Sistine Chapel

The Starry Night Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer

Over 1.5 million people a year go to see this painting by the Dutchman Johannes Vermeer's. It is by far his most famous painting and was painted around 1665. It is often called the 'Dutch Mona Lisa and can be seen in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Holland.

The Girl with a Pearl earing

Vermeer came from the famous town of Delft – famous for its blue and white china. He lived above the Mechelen Inn in the heart of Delft until he got married and moved in with his wife and mother-in-law, who lived across the market square.

The Starry Night by Vince van Gogh

Seen by 3 million visitors a year, the Starry Night was painted in 1889 during van Gogh’s stay at the asylum of Saint-Paul-deMausole near Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. The Starry Night's home is at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Van Gogh moved around a lot! You can visit The Yellow House on Place Lamartine in Arles (southern France) or in London (87 Hackford Road); the Van Gogh House which has been restored, not only to celebrate the house’s remarkable legacy but also hosts artists as well as offer tours, exhibitions and events.

The Fighting Temeraire has painted in 1838 and is typical of the British painter’s artwork.

Its home is the National Gallery in London, but is currently not on display. The Temeraire helped England to victory in the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 against France’s Napoleon.

Located in West London is Sandycombe Lodge, home to J. M. W. Turner, who had it built in 1813 as a retreat from the bustle of London’s art world. His good friend, Sir John Soane helped design this small interesting building which has recently been restored and visitors can now see many of Turner’s lesser known pieces and drawings. Don’t forget to also make a visit to the John Soane Museum in London’s Lincoln-in-Fields. This classic Georgian house is an amazing and unexpected museum!

The Scream by Edvard Munch

‘The Scream’ was painted in 1893 and attracts approx. half a million visitors to see it each year.

The painting is a radical and timeless expression of human fear. In 1910, it was donated to the Oslo National Gallery (it will be back on display there when the gallery re-opens in 2022).

Munch’s house in Åsgårdstrand, Norway is now a museum. Everything has been retained as it was when the artist lived there. He painted many of his masterpieces in Åsgårdstrand, most of which are now on display in major international art galleries.

www.bmlinternational.co.uk

The Scream The Fighting Temeraire

One of the Four Arts Cycle The Four Arts Cycle, by Alphonse Mucha

This museum located in Prague, Czech Republic is dedicated to the life and work of the world-acclaimed Czech Art Nouveau artist Alphonse Mucha (1860 - 1939).

His unique style is instantly recognisable and most of his most well-known works can be seen here. ‘The Four Arts’ cycle, highlights each of the arts against a background related to a time of the day; morning for Dance, midday for Painting, evening for Poetry and night for Music. The lady in many of his paintings was the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Sailor Sitting at the Table by Giannis Tsarouchis

This Greek painter is famous for his portraits of Greek sailors and soldiers and is well known for his Greek modern art. The Sailor Sitting at Table was painted in 1980. He lived for a time in the Greek port of Piraeus which influenced his work greatly.

You can see this piece and other key paintings by Tsarouchis at the Basil & Elise Goulandris Foundation Gallery in Athens.

His house and workshop is in the north suburb of Athens, Maroussi. He lived on the ground floor and the 1st floor was his workshop. He started the Tsarouchis Foundation and used the 1st floor and terrace room for exhibitions of his and other artists works. The building is still home to the Foundation and is open to the public displaying 40 copies of Yannis Tsarouchis' works, his personal items and over 60 photos.

The Caryatids, The Daughters of Athens The Sailor and the Table

So, not only can you see these masterpieces around the world, but experience the lives of the real artists behind them by visiting their homes.