7 Of The Most Popular Oil Painters And Their Famous Paintings

Oil painting rose to prominence beginning in the 15th Century. This form of painting requires a meticulous process, and finished paintings must dry for upwards of three weeks. Although oil painting remains popular today, the most popular works from this style often come from the past. Hundreds of famous paintings have come from dozens of painters. It’s important to take a look at these famous individuals and their most recognized works to see what made oil painting so mesmerizing in the first place.

Here are seven of the most popular oil painters and their works:

Leonardo da Vinci

Of course, Leonardo da Vinci did countless things during his lifetime. He’s famous for numerous endeavors and accomplishments. Perhaps nothing is more important than works like the Mona Lisa or The Last Supper. These days, almost everyone recognizes these paintings as well as the name of the man who created them. He’s known for numerous other paintings, too.

Michelangelo

The Creation Of Adam adorns the ceiling of The Sistine Chapel, and millions of people revel in its beauty every year. Throughout parts of four years, Michelangelo painted this masterpiece. He’s known for everything from handcrafted sculptures to various other oil paintings. Michelangelo remains one of the most important oil painters in history.

Vincent van Gogh

Some people know Vincent van Gogh for cutting off his own ear. However, most people know the Dutch artist for his Starry Night painting. The oil painting was started and completed in 1889 and remains one of the most recognizable paintings in the world. Other works from the painter include Irises and The Potato Eaters, among dozens of others.

Salvador Dali

For a more recent example of famous oil paintings, look no further than The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali in 1931. The Spanish painter created this surreal painting in painstaking detail, and most people assume the Theory of Relativity inspired him. Popular works from Dali include The Burning Giraffe and The Face of War.

Edvard Munch

Painted with oil and pastel on cardboard, The Scream is an iconic oil painting from Edvard Munch. He painted the work sometime around 1893, and even casual art fans will know The Scream when they see it. The National Gallery in Norway displays this painting, where millions of people see the artwork from Munch each and every year.

Rembrandt van Rijn

In 1642, Rembrandt van Rijn finished The Night Watch, an incredible oil painting. He’s also known for painting The Abduction of Europa and dozens of portraits. While The Night Watch isn’t as flashy as other oil paintings, attention to detail and meticulous effort shines through. It doesn’t take an expert to recognize how much work went into The Night Watch.

Johannes Vermeer

When a work is considered the "Dutch Mona Lisa", then an artist has done something right. Johannes Vermeer is best known for Girl With A Pearl Earring. It’s a rather straightforward painting of a woman wearing a pearl earring. Obviously, Vermeer is known for other works, but nothing stands above this oil painting with the woman gazing back at the viewer.

Pablo Picasso

Picador was painted by an eight-year-old Pablo Picasso. He’s known for dozens of different pieces of art, and it’s hard to single out a given painting. Guernica, The Old Guitarist, and The Weeping Woman are all popular works of art from Picasso. Nowadays, Picasso’s works sell for millions of dollars, and that’s enough to reveal how beloved his oil paintings are today.

Oil Painting Persists In Popularity As Time Goes On

When it comes to famous oil painting artists, dozens of names might come to mind. Individuals familiar with the history of oil paintings can list of the most famous works with ease. Occasionally, a modern oil painter releases a noteworthy work of art. Millions of people have seen the classic oil paintings, and they’ll remain popular for the centuries to come. Dozens of new oil painters are inspired by these works every day of every day.

Oil painting remains popular because it takes countless hours to create a given painting. The possibilities are endless with oil painting, and something incredible comes along every so often. Perhaps nobody will ever create something more fascinating than the Mona Lisa or Starry Night, or other works in this list. In the end, oil painting won’t fade away in popularity anytime soon, and these previously mentioned paintings will remain idolized by everyone.