Art for Baby Highcontrast Images by Eleven Contemporary Artists to Explore With Your Child

Every year, billions of dollars' worth of art passes through international auction houses, while leading museums each agree tens of thousands -- even hundreds of thousands -- of artworks in their collections. Only precious few ever attain the fame required to truly be considered household names.

As "famous" is a subjective term, CNN Style turned to Google to see which paintings topped search results worldwide over the past v years.

We compared dozens of popular masterpieces -- from classics such every bit "Mona Lisa," "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" and the "Salavator Mundi," to more than mod works like "Nighthawks" and fifty-fifty the "Dogs Playing Poker" series.

Based on those results, these are the world'southward 10 nearly searched-for paintings:

1. 'Mona Lisa'

If yous had any doubts about the wild popularity of "Mona Lisa," the crowds at the Louvre will convince y'all.

Credit: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1503 to 1519
Where to come across it: Louvre Museum (Paris)

It should come every bit no surprise that the most famous painting in the world is that mysterious woman with the enigmatic smile. But that'southward one of the few certainties nigh this work of art.

The sitter in the painting is idea to exist Lisa Gherardini, the wife of Florence merchant Francesco del Giocondo, merely experts aren't sure. It did correspond an innovation in fine art -- the painting is the earliest known Italian portrait to focus so closely on the sitter in a half-length portrait, according to the Louvre, where it was start installed in 1804.

Did y'all know? Before the 20th century, historians say the "Mona Lisa" was piffling known outside art circles. Simply in 1911, an ex-Louvre employee pilfered the portrait and hid it for 2 years. That theft helped cement the painting's place in popular civilisation ever since and exposed millions to Renaissance art.

2. 'The Last Supper'

Visitors take photos of "The Last Supper" ("Il Cenacolo or L'Ultima Cena") at the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy.

Credit: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images

Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1495 to 1498
Where to see it: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)

Leonardo, the original "Renaissance Man," is the merely artist to announced on this listing twice.

Painted in an era when religious imagery was withal a ascendant artistic theme, "The Last Supper" depicts the last time Jesus bankrupt staff of life with his disciples before his crucifixion.

The painting is actually a huge fresco -- iv.6 meters (xv feet) high and 8.8 meters (28.nine feet) wide, which makes for a memorable viewing.

Did you know? The fresco has survived 2 wartime threats -- Napoleon'due south troops used the wall of the refectory on which the fresco was painted equally target do. It too was exposed to the air for several years when bombing during World War II destroyed the roof of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.

three. 'The Starry Night'

Tourists expect at "The Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh at Museum of Modern Art in New York.

Credit: Victor Fraile Rodriguez/Corbis/Getty Images

Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date: 1889
Where to see it: Museum of Modernistic Art (New York City)

The insufficiently abstract painting is the signature example of van Gogh's innovative and assuming use of thick brushstrokes. The painting's hit dejection and yellows and the dreamy, swirling temper take intrigued art lovers for decades.

Did you know? Van Gogh was living in an asylum in Saint-Rémy, French republic, being treated for mental disease, when he painted "The Starry Night." He was inspired past the view from the window of his room.

4. 'The Scream'

"The Scream" by Edvard Munch is installed for a special exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Fine art Museum.

Credit: The Asahi Shimbun/Getty Images

Artist: Edvard Munch
Date: 1893
Where to see it: National Museum (Oslo, Norway -- opening in 2020) and Munch Museum (Oslo -- through May 2020)

Kickoff things first -- "The Scream" is not a single piece of work of art. According to a British Museum's blog, there are ii paintings, 2 pastels and then an unspecified number of prints. The paintings reside in the National Museum and the Munch Museum, and in 2012, one of the pastels sold for well-nigh $120 1000000 at auction.

Much similar the case of "Mona Lisa," daring thefts (1994 and 2004) of the two painting versions of "The Scream" helped drag the public's awareness of the artworks. (Both were eventually found).

Did yous know? The androgynous effigy in the forefront of the Fine art Nouveau-style painting isn't producing the scream but rather is trying to block out a piercing shriek coming from nature. It was inspired by an actual feel Munch had while taking in a sunset stroll in Oslo when a dramatic reddish hue overwhelmed his senses.

5. 'Guernica'

View of Pablo Picasso's "Guernica" at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain.

Credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Artist: Pablo Picasso
Date: 1937
Where to see information technology: Museo Reina Sofía (Madrid)

This is the most recent painting on this list, and information technology depicts the German aerial bombing of the boondocks of Guernica in the Basque region during the Spanish Civil War.

The painting has that distinctive Picasso manner, and its unflinching examination of the horrors of war fabricated information technology an essential part of 20th century culture and history.

Did you know? "Guernica" was moved to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art in New York during World War II for safekeeping. Picasso requested that the stay be extended until democracy returned to Espana. It finally went back to Madrid in 1981, six years after the decease of longtime Castilian dictator Gen. Francisco Franco.

half-dozen. 'The Kiss'

Visitors admire "The Kiss" by Gustav Klimt at the Upper Dais in Vienna, Republic of austria.

Credit: Omar Marques/Anadolu Bureau/Getty Imagesges

Artist: Gustav Klimt
Estimated date: 1907 to 1908
Where to see it: Upper Dais museum (Vienna, Austria)

With No. 6, we move from a study in hate to a report in beloved with Gustav Klimt'south dearest "The Kiss."

From Klimt's "Golden Menstruation," Byzantine artistic influences tin can be seen in the highly decorative robes worn past the passionate, life-sized couple.

The Upper Belvedere says that with "The Buss," Klimt makes a "general allegorical statement almost dearest existence at the heart of human existence." Given its magnetic entreatment, it seems people concord.

Did you know? While "The Kiss" isn't for auction, other works by Klimt are bought and sold for huge sums. Oprah Winfrey offloaded the 1907 artwork "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II" for $150 million in 2016 -- for a cool $lx million turn a profit.

seven. 'Girl With a Pearl Earring'

A journalist takes a photo of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" at the Mauritshuis Museum in The Hague, Netherlands.

Credit: Michel Porro/Getty Images

Artist: Johannes Vermeer
Estimated appointment: 1665
Where to see it: Mauritshuis (The Hague, Netherlands)

This intriguing favorite often gets compared with the "Mona Lisa." Besides the stylistic differences, technically "Girl With a Pearl Earring" isn't even a portrait, but a "tronie" -- a Dutch word for a painting of an imaginary effigy with exaggerated features.

The oil on canvas masterpiece is brilliant in its simplicity. The girl -- wearing a blue and gold turban and an oversized pearl earring -- is the unabridged focus with only a dark backdrop behind her.

Did y'all know? While the Mauritshuis underwent a renovation from 2012 to 2014, "Girl With a Pearl Earring" went on tour in the United States, Italian republic and Japan. It drew huge crowds, further bolstering its condition as one of the globe'due south nigh famous works of fine art.

8. 'The Nascency of Venus'

A announcer examines "The Birth of Venus" by Italian painter Sandro Botticelli during a printing preview at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy, in October 2016.

Credit: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP/Getty Images

Creative person: Sandro Botticelli
Estimated appointment: 1485
Where to see it: Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi (Florence, Italy)

The oldest painting in the elevation 10 and competing with "The Kiss" for virtually sensuous, "The Birth of Venus" was probably commissioned by a member of the wealthy and fine art-loving Medici family, which ruled Florence and nearby areas for centuries.

Marrying a renewed interest in archetype Greek culture with Early Renaissance style, Botticelli creates an unforgettable figure with the Goddess of Love emerging from a huge scallop shell.

Did you know? Botticelli'due south "Venus" features two significant departures from virtually other works of his contemporaries.

First, he painted on canvas instead of the more popular wood. Secondly, nudity was rare at this fourth dimension -- so it was daring that Venus is completely exposed minus her long, flowing hair and a hand (barely) covering her most intimate body parts.

9. 'Las Meninas'

Diego Velazquez's "Las Meninas" is seen at the Prado museum on November 19, 2013 in Madrid, Spain.

Credit: Denis Doyle/Getty Images

Creative person: Diego Velázquez
Date: 1656
Where to run across it: Museo del Prado (Madrid)

Madrid is the only city in this roundup where you'll observe two of the nearly ten famous paintings, the first beingness "Guernica" at No. 5 and "Las Maninas" hither at No. 9.

Housed at the pop (and vast) Prado, "Las Meninas" is not merely Diego Velázquez`s most famous painting, it's too one of his largest. The complexity of the work has fascinated art critics and the public for centuries.

The painting does double duty as a portrait. It serves as a group portrait of Castilian royalty, but it's also a cocky-portrait of Velázquez himself at work (on the left).

Did you know? "Las Meninas" was deputed by King Philip 4 of Spain, who ruled from 1621 to 1665. It stayed in the royal palace until 1819, when information technology went to the Prado.

10. 'Creation of Adam'

On the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at The Vatican, the "Creation of Adam" rounds out the pinnacle 10 most famous paintings list.

Credit: VCG/Corbis/Getty Images

Artist: Michelangelo
Date: 1508 to 1512
Where to see information technology: Sistine Chapel (Vatican City)

The well-nigh famous piece of work by renowned artist Michelangelo covers a section of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling -- you lot have to look upwardly to view it. The scene depicts God and Adam with outstretched artillery, their fingers nearly touching. It is ane of the most replicated images in history.

Adam's muscular form hints at Michelangelo'southward other talent -- his "David" is perchance the world'south most famous sculpture. You tin see the towering marble statue at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence.

Did y'all know? The ceiling of the Sistine Chapel had been dulled by centuries of exposure to candle smoke, among much else. After a long, all-encompassing cleaning that ended in 1989, people were shocked to encounter the brilliant, vibrant colors Michelangelo originally used.

V more paintings that came close

Here are five more famous paintings that came close to breaking into the top 10 list:

• "American Gothic" (Grant Forest, Fine art Institute of Chicago)
• "Water Lilies" series (Claude Monet, various museums around the world)
• "The Persistence of Memory" (Salvador Dali, Museum of Modern Art in New York)
• "The Night Scout" (Rembrandt, Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam)
• "The Garden of Earthly Delights" (Hieronymus Bosch, Museo del Prado, Madrid)

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Source: https://www.cnn.com/style/article/most-famous-paintings/index.html

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