19 Greatest Artists of all Time

As an avid student of art history and a passionate fan of painting, I decided to create an exploration into the topic of the greatest painters of all time. My goal was to find out who the experts consider being the most influential, accomplished, and revolutionary painters in history. During my research, I consulted with dozens of experts in the field including art historians, curators, and professors. The result of their insight has provided me with invaluable information which I have prepared in this article for both your entertainment and education.

In this piece, I am going to explore nineteen different painters from around the world and throughout various periods. To determine who these painters should be I paid careful attention to their impact on art history along with their contribution to modern-day art. Needless to say after much deliberation, these are some of the greatest talents in painting that have ever existed!

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) High Renaissance

Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance artist, scientist, and inventor who is widely regarded as one of the most important figures of the Renaissance period. He was born in Vinci, Tuscany, Italy on April 15, 1452 and died on May 2, 1519 in Amboise, France.

Leonardo’s most notable artworks include “The Last Supper” (1495-1498), “Mona Lisa” (1503-1517), and “The Vitruvian Man” (1492). “The Last Supper” is a mural painting located in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie in Milan, Italy. “Mona Lisa” is a portrait painting that hangs in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. “The Vitruvian Man” is a drawing that is housed in the Gallerie dell’Accademia in Venice, Italy.

Leonardo’s art is considered to be High Renaissance, characterized by a balance of harmony and proportion, a realistic depiction of the human form, and a focus on classical themes and ideals. He was also one of the first artists to experiment with the use of perspective in his paintings.

Leonardo’s career spanned over 60 years and he was a true polymath, excelling in many fields including painting, sculpture, architecture, engineering, science, and mathematics. He was employed by the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, and later by King Francis I of France. He was known for his innovative techniques, including the use of oil paint, his intricate drawings and illustrations, and his scientific approach to art.

Overall, Leonardo da Vinci is considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time and his works continue to inspire and captivate people from all over the world.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonardo_da_Vinci
• https://www.leonardodavinci.net/
• https://www.mos.org/leonardo/node/1

Michelangelo (1475-1564) High Renaissance

Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni (1475-1564) was an Italian Renaissance sculptor, painter, architect, and poet who is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of all time. He was born in Caprese, Tuscany, Italy on March 6, 1475 and died on February 18, 1564 in Rome, Italy.

Michelangelo’s most notable art works include the “David” (1501-1504) sculpture, the Sistine Chapel ceiling (1508-1512) and the “Pieta” (1498-1499) sculpture. “David” is a marble statue that stands 17 feet tall and is located in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy. The Sistine Chapel ceiling is a painted ceiling in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, Italy. The “Pieta” is a marble sculpture that is housed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy.

Michelangelo’s art is considered to be High Renaissance, characterized by a balance of harmony and proportion, a realistic depiction of the human form, and a focus on classical themes and ideals. He was also known for his innovative techniques, including his use of foreshortening, which gives the illusion of depth and perspective, and his mastery of the human anatomy.

Michelangelo’s career spanned over 70 years and he was employed by a number of influential patrons, including Pope Julius II and Pope Leo X. He was also a prolific poet and wrote sonnets throughout his life.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelangelo
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michelangelo
• https://www.theartstory.org/artist/michelangelo/

Rembrandt (1606-1669) Dutch Baroque

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (1606-1669) was a Dutch Baroque painter and etcher. He was born on July 15, 1606 in Leiden, Netherlands, and died on October 4, 1669 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Rembrandt’s most notable artworks include “The Night Watch” (1642), “Self-Portrait with Two Circles” (1665), and “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” (1632). “The Night Watch” is an oil painting that is housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands. “Self-Portrait with Two Circles” is an etching and can be seen at the British Museum in London, United Kingdom. “The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp” is an oil painting that is housed in the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, Netherlands.

Rembrandt’s style is considered to be Dutch Baroque, characterized by dramatic contrasts of light and shadow, and a focus on the emotions and inner experiences of his subjects. He was known for his innovative techniques and his ability to capture the psychological states of his subjects.

Rembrandt’s career spanned over 40 years and he was a successful and influential artist in his time. He was a prolific etcher and also produced numerous paintings, including portraits, landscapes, and historical scenes.

Overall, Rembrandt is considered to be one of the greatest artists of all time and his works continue to inspire and captivate people from all over the world.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rembrandt
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/rembrandt
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/rmbt/hd_rmbt.htm

Vermeer (1632-1675) Dutch Golden Age

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He was born in Delft, Netherlands in 1632 and died in the same city in 1675.

Vermeer’s most notable works include “Girl with a Pearl Earring” (1665), “The Love Letter” (1669), and “The Milkmaid” (1658). “Girl with a Pearl Earring” is housed in the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands, “The Love Letter” is located in the Städel Museum in Frankfurt, Germany, and “The Milkmaid” is in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Vermeer’s style is characterized by its luminous and serene atmosphere, as well as its meticulous attention to detail and realism. He was known for his ability to capture the qualities of light and space in his paintings, and his works are often set in the interiors of middle-class homes.

Vermeer’s career was relatively short, spanning only about 20 years, but he was highly regarded during his lifetime and his works continue to be popular and highly sought after today. He produced a relatively small number of paintings, but each one is considered to be a masterpiece.

Overall, Vermeer is considered to be one of the greatest artists of the Dutch Golden Age and is known for his ability to create calm, harmonious scenes that capture the essence of everyday life.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johannes_Vermeer
• https://www.nga.gov/features/vermeer-sacramento/index1.html
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/verb/hd_verb.htm

Raphel (1483-1520) High Renaissance

Raphael (1483-1520) was an Italian High Renaissance painter. He was born in Urbino, Italy in 1483 and died in Rome in 1520.

Raphael’s most notable works include “The School of Athens” (1509-1511), “The Sistine Madonna” (1513-1514), and “Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints” (1504). “The School of Athens” is housed in the Vatican Museums in Rome, “The Sistine Madonna” is in the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, Germany, and “Madonna and Child Enthroned with Saints” is in the Palatine Gallery in Florence, Italy.

Raphael’s style is characterized by its harmonious compositions, balanced figures, and beautiful colors. He was known for his ability to convey emotion and movement, and his paintings often depict religious and mythological scenes.

Raphael had a successful career as a court artist and produced many works for various patrons, including Pope Julius II. He also collaborated with other artists of the High Renaissance, such as Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

Overall, Raphael is considered to be one of the greatest artists of the High Renaissance and is known for his ability to create beautiful, harmonious paintings that convey emotion and movement.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raphael
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/raphael
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/raph/hd_raph.htm

Caravaggio (1571-1610) Baroque

Caravaggio (1571-1610) was an Italian Baroque painter. He was born in Milan, Italy in 1571 and died in Porto Ercole, Italy in 1610.

Caravaggio’s most notable works include “The Calling of Saint Matthew” (1599-1600), “The Entombment of Christ” (1603), and “The Conversion of Saint Paul” (1600-1601). “The Calling of Saint Matthew” is housed in the Contarelli Chapel in Rome, “The Entombment of Christ” is in the Vatican Pinacoteca, and “The Conversion of Saint Paul” is in the Cerasi Chapel of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome.

Caravaggio’s style is characterized by its dramatic chiaroscuro, which refers to the stark contrast between light and dark. He was known for his naturalistic depictions of religious and mythological scenes, and his paintings often feature strong emotional elements.

Caravaggio had a controversial career, marked by his confrontational personality and involvement in various legal disputes. Despite this, he was highly sought after by patrons and produced many important works during his lifetime.

Overall, Caravaggio is considered to be one of the most influential artists of the Baroque era and is known for his dramatic and emotional paintings.

Sources

• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/michelangelo-merisi-da-caravaggio
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/crvg/hd_crvg.htm
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caravaggio

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) Post-Impressionism

Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter. He was born in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands in 1853 and died in Auvers-sur-Oise, France in 1890.

Van Gogh’s most notable works include “The Starry Night” (1889), “Sunflowers” (1888), and “The Potato Eaters” (1885). “The Starry Night” is housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, “Sunflowers” is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, and “The Potato Eaters” is in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

Van Gogh’s style is characterized by its bold, vibrant brushwork and use of intense colors. He was known for his highly emotional and expressionistic paintings, often inspired by nature and rural life.

Despite facing many challenges and setbacks during his lifetime, including poverty and mental illness, van Gogh was a prolific artist and produced over 2,000 paintings and drawings. He is now considered to be one of the most famous and celebrated artists in history.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Vincent-van-Gogh
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gogh/hd_gogh.htm

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) Art Nouveau

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the leading members of the Art Nouveau movement. He was born in Baumgarten, Austria in 1862 and died in Vienna in 1918.

Klimt’s most notable works include “The Kiss” (1907-1908), “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” (1907), and “Judith I” (1901). “The Kiss” is housed in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna, “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” is in the Neue Galerie in New York, and “Judith I” is in the Österreichische Galerie Belvedere in Vienna.

Klimt’s style is characterized by its use of gold leaf and ornate, decorative patterns. He was known for his highly decorative, erotic and sensual paintings, as well as his portraits.

Klimt was one of the leading figures of the Art Nouveau movement, which was characterized by its use of organic forms, vibrant colors, and highly decorative and stylized motifs.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt
• https://www.wikiart.org/en/gustav-klimt
• https://artsandculture.google.com/entity/%2Fm%2F03869?hl=id

Edvard Munch (1863-1944) Expressionism

Edvard Munch (1863-1944) was a Norwegian painter and one of the pioneers of the Expressionist movement. He was born in Løten, Norway in 1863 and died in Oslo in 1944.

Munch’s most notable works include “The Scream” (1893), “Madonna” (1895-1902), and “The Sick Child” (1906). “The Scream” is housed in the Munch Museum in Oslo, “Madonna” is in the Nasjonalmuseet for Kunst, Arkitektur og Design in Oslo, and “The Sick Child” is in the Munch Museum in Oslo.

Munch’s style is characterized by its emotional intensity and use of vivid colors and distorted forms to convey a sense of anxiety and emotional turmoil. He was known for his psychologically charged, deeply emotional paintings that explored themes of love, death, and the human condition.

Munch was one of the pioneers of the Expressionist movement, which was characterized by its emotional intensity, vivid colors, and distorted forms.

Sources

• https://www.theartstory.org/artist/munch-edvard/
• https://www.edvardmunch.org/
• https://www.artnews.com/art-news/retrospective/subjective-dynamic-and-religious-on-the-practically-unknown-artist-edvard-munch-and-german-expressionism-from-1950-5887/

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) Post-Impressionism

Paul Cézanne (1839-1906) was a French painter who is considered a leading figure in the development of Post-Impressionism. He was born in Aix-en-Provence, France in 1839 and died in 1906.

Cézanne’s most notable works include “The Card Players” (1892-1893), “Mont Sainte-Victoire” (1887-1906), and “Still Life with Apples and Oranges” (1899-1900). “The Card Players” is housed in the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, “Mont Sainte-Victoire” is in the Courtauld Gallery in London, and “Still Life with Apples and Oranges” is in the National Museum of Art in Washington, D.C.

Cézanne’s style is characterized by its use of color, light, and brushwork to create a sense of form, depth, and volume. He was known for his innovative approach to composition, which broke away from traditional ways of arranging subjects in a painting.

Cézanne’s work had a major influence on the development of modern art, and is considered a bridge between the Impressionist movement and the Cubist movement that followed.

Sources

• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/pcez/hd_pcez.htm
• https://www.theartstory.org/artist/cezanne-paul/
• https://mymodernmet.com/paul-cezanne-paintings/

Jan van Eyck (1390-1441) Northern Renaissance

Jan van Eyck was a Northern Renaissance artist born in 1390 in Maaseik, Belgium and died in 1441. He was a painter and illuminator known for his innovative techniques in oil painting. He was one of the most important artists of the Northern Renaissance and his works greatly influenced the development of Renaissance art in northern Europe.

Most notable artworks:

1. The Ghent Altarpiece (1432)
2. The Arnolfini Portrait (1434)
3. The Madonna with Canon van der Paele (1436)

Best places to view the art:

1. The Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent, Belgium
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
3. The Louvre Museum, Paris

Career: Jan van Eyck was court painter to the Duke of Burgundy and is known for his meticulous and realistic paintings, many of which depict religious scenes, portraits and still lifes.

Type of art produced: Jan van Eyck was a master of oil painting, a technique that allowed him to create a depth of realism and luminosity in his paintings that was not possible with tempera or fresco. He was known for his intricate and detailed brushwork, as well as his innovative use of glazing and layering. His art was characterized by its realism and meticulous attention to detail, and he is widely considered one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jan_van_Eyck
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/jan-van-eyck
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jan-van-Eyck

Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528) Northern Renaissance

Notable Art Works:

• “The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse”
• “The Rhinoceros”
• “Self-Portrait at the Age of 13”
• “Adam and Eve”
• “Knight, Death, and the Devil”

Best Places to View Art:

• Alte Pinakothek Museum, Munich (The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse)
• British Museum, London (The Rhinoceros)
• Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna (Self-Portrait at the Age of 13)

Career: Dürer was trained as a goldsmith, but later became a master of printmaking and painting. He traveled to Italy and was influenced by the works of the Italian Renaissance artists. He later became the court artist of the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I and his works were highly sought after throughout Europe.

Type of Art Produced: Dürer’s art is considered to be a mix of Northern and Italian Renaissance styles. He is best known for his intricate engravings and woodcuts, which often depict religious and mythological scenes. He was also skilled in painting, creating portraits and landscapes that demonstrate his skill in using light and shadow to create depth and volume.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albrecht_D%C3%BCrer
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/durr/hd_durr.htm
• https://www.albertina.at/en/exhibitions/albrecht-duerer/

Frida Kahlo (1907-1954) Mexican Folk Art

Sources

• https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frida_Kahlo
• https://www.bbc.com/indonesia/vert-cul-60052081
• https://www.merdeka.com/sumut/13-kata-kata-frida-kahlo-yang-menginspirasi-pelukis-meksiko-legendaris-kln.html

Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863) Romanticism

Eugène Delacroix was a French Romantic painter born on April 26, 1798 in Charenton-Saint-Maurice, France. He died on August 13, 1863 in Paris, France.

Delacroix was a leading figure in the Romantic movement and is best known for his dramatic use of color and brushwork. His notable works include “Liberty Leading the People,” “The Death of Sardanapalus,” and “Scene from the Massacre at Chios.”

Many of Delacroix’s paintings can be viewed at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France. He also has works on display at the Musée du Louvre-Lens, the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Bordeaux, and the Musée d’Orsay in Paris.

Delacroix’s art style is characterized by his use of vivid, expressive color and his dynamic brushwork, which convey the emotional intensity and movement of the scenes he depicted. He often portrayed historical, biblical, and mythological themes in his paintings, and was known for his ability to bring a sense of drama and grandeur to his works.

Throughout his career, Delacroix had a major influence on later generations of artists, and is considered one of the greatest French painters of the 19th century.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eug%C3%A8ne_Delacroix
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Eugene-Delacroix
• https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1221.html

Tintoretto (1518-1594) Venetian Renaissance

Tintoretto, born Jacopo Robusti, was an Italian artist from Venice. He lived from 1518 to 1594 and was a leading artist of the Venetian Renaissance. His paintings are known for their dynamic compositions, bold use of light and color, and dramatic scenes.

Some of Tintoretto’s most notable works include “The Last Supper” and “Paradise” both located at Scuola Grande di San Rocco, “Crucifixion” located in Frari church, “St. Mark Freeing the Slave” located in Doges Palace.

Tintoretto’s works can be viewed in several museums and galleries in Venice, such as Scuola Grande di San Rocco, Frari church, and Doges Palace.

Tintoretto was a prolific artist and produced a large body of work throughout his career, including religious and mythological scenes, portraits, and landscapes. He was considered one of the most innovative artists of his time and his style combined elements of Mannerism and the Venetian Renaissance.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tintoretto
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/jacopo-tintoretto
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Tintoretto

Gustav Courbet (1819-1877) Realism

Gustav Courbet (1819-1877) was a French painter who is considered to be one of the leading figures of the Realist movement. He was born on June 10, 1819 in Ornans, France and died on December 31, 1877 in La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland.

Career: Courbet was a self-taught painter who rose to prominence in the mid-19th century through his paintings that portrayed social and political issues. He was known for his bold and expressive style that broke away from the traditional romanticism of the time.

Notable Art Works: Some of Courbet’s most famous works include “The Stone Breakers,” “The Burial at Ornans,” and “A Burial at Ornans.”

Style: Courbet is known for his realist style, which emphasizes the accurate representation of the world through the use of light, color, and detail.

Characteristics: Courbet’s paintings are known for their naturalism, which seeks to portray the world as it actually appears. He also used bold brushwork and vivid color to create a sense of energy and movement in his works.

Best Places to View Art: Some of the best places to view Courbet’s art include the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, and the Kunsthaus Zürich in Switzerland.

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustave_Courbet
• https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/gust/hd_gust.htm
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/gustave-courbet

Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) Italian Renaissance

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandro_Botticelli
• https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/artists/sandro-botticelli
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sandro-Botticelli

Canaletto (1697-1768) Baroque

Sources

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canaletto
• https://www.canalettogallery.org/
• https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1080.html