Famous Artists | How-to-Art.com

Art has accompanied mankind since the dawn of its history. From prehistoric cave paintings to modern installations, art is a reflection of society and the time in which it was created. In the history of art, there are countless talented artists who have created impressive works. However, only a few have managed to create true masterpieces that are still known today and have had a significant impact on the history of art.

List of Famous Artists

Albrecht Dürer

May 21, 1471 - April 06, 1528

Albrecht Dürer was a German artist, painter, graphic artist, and mathematician from Nuremberg. He is considered one of the most important artists of the Renaissance and was one of the first artists in Germany to achieve an internationally known reputation. Dürer was a versatile artist and created works in various media, including painting, drawing, and printmaking.

Famous Artwork von Albrecht Dürer

Young Hare
Melencolia I
Praying Hands

Albrecht Dürer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Caspar David Friedrich

September 5, 1774 - May 07, 1840

Caspar David Friedrich was a German painter and one of the most important representatives of German Romanticism. He was known for his landscape painting, which was characterized by an intense depiction of nature and a melancholic mood. Friedrich was a versatile artist who worked in various media, including painting, drawing, and watercolor.

Famous Artwork von Caspar David Friedrich

Wanderer above the Sea of Fog
The Sea of Ice
The Monk by the Sea

Johann Karl Ulrich Bähr, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Gustav Klimt

July 14, 1862 - February 6, 1918

Gustav Klimt (1862-1918) was an Austrian painter and one of the most important representatives of Art Nouveau. He studied at the Vienna School of Applied Arts and later founded the group of artists called Secession, which opposed the academic art establishment. Klimt's work is characterized by its ornamental-decorative aesthetic, which was influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. He was known for his depiction of women in elaborate, ornate gowns and his play with color and form.

Famous Artwork von Gustav Klimt

The Kiss
Judith I
The Tree of Life

Josef Anton Trčka, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jan Vermeer

October 31, 1632 - December, 1675

Jan Vermeer was a Dutch Baroque painter and one of the most famous artists of the Dutch Golden Age. He is especially known for his depictions of civic life, often in interiors, and for his use of light and shadow. His paintings are characterized by a calm composition and careful lighting, often supported by a high degree of detail and illusion of perspective.

Famous Artwork von Jan Vermeer

Girl with a Pearl Earring
The Milkmaid (also: The Kitchen Maid)
View of Delft

Johannes Vermeer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Leonardo da Vinci

April 15, 1452 - May 2, 1519

Leonardo da Vinci was one of the most outstanding creative personalities during the Renaissance. He was not only a painter of great talent but also a sculptor, architect, engineer, anatomist, naturalist, and inventor. His painting is characterized by a masterful technique and a sense of perspective and anatomy that were revolutionary in his time.

Famous Artwork von Leonardo da Vinci

Mona Lisa
The Last Supper
Vintruvian Man

Leonardo da Vinci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

M. C. Escher

June 17, 1898 - March 27, 1972

Maurits Cornelis Escher was a Dutch artist known for his mathematical and surrealist works. He studied at the Hague Academy of Art and later worked as a graphic designer and illustrator. Escher's art is characterized by his depiction of impossible figures based on mathematical principles and his ability to manipulate perspective and space.

Famous Artwork von M. C. Escher

Relativity
Day and Night
Metamorphosis II

Photographer: Hans Peters (ANEFO), CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Michelangelo Buonarroti

March 6, 1475 - February 18, 1564

Michelangelo Buonarroti was an Italian painter, sculptor, architect, and poet of the Renaissance. He is considered one of the greatest artists of all time and was one of the leading representatives of the High Renaissance. Michelangelo's most famous works are the frescoes in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, including the famous ceiling painting of the Creation of Adam, which he created between 1508 and 1512.

Famous Artwork von Michelangelo Buonarroti

The Creation of Adam
David
Pietà

Attributed to Daniele da Volterra, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

September 29, 1571 - July 18, 1610

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio was an Italian painter of the Baroque period and is considered one of the most important artists of his time. He was born in Milan and worked mainly in Rome, Naples, and Malta. Caravaggio's art is characterized by his dramatic compositions and his use of light and shadow, known as chiaroscuro. He revolutionized painting by depicting scenes from daily life and realistic portraits with a deep emotional expression.

Famous Artwork von Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio

Doubting Thomas
The Calling of St Matthew
The Beheading of St John the Baptist

Ottavio Leoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Paul Cézanne

January 19, 1839 - October 22, 1906

Paul Cézanne was a French painter and one of the leading representatives of Post-Impressionism. His oeuvre includes more than 1,000 works of art. He was a versatile artist who worked in various media, including painting, drawing, and watercolor.

Famous Artwork von Paul Cézanne

The Card Players
The Large Bathers
Mont Sainte-Victoire

Paul Cézanne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Paul Klee

December 18, 1879 - June 29, 1940

Paul Klee was a Swiss painter and graphic artist who is considered one of the most important representatives of modernism. He studied at the Kunstgewerbeschule in Munich and later at the Academy in Berlin. He was part of the artist group Der Blaue Reiter and later taught at the Bauhaus in Weimar and Dessau. Klee's work encompasses a wide variety of styles and techniques, including Expressionism, Cubism, Constructivism, and Surrealism. He was especially known for his abstract, geometric forms and his use of color.

Famous Artwork von Paul Klee

Ad Parnassum
Twittering Machine
Senecio

Alexander Eliasberg (1878–1924), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Pierre-Auguste Renoir

February 25, 1841 - Deccember 3, 1919

Pierre-Auguste Renoir was a French painter and one of the leading exponents of Impressionism. He was born in Limoges and studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Renoir's art is characterized by his bright colors, light brushstrokes, and ability to depict light and movement. He painted mainly portraits, landscapes, and scenes from everyday life.

Famous Artwork von Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Dance at Le moulin de la Galette)
The Large Bathers
The Swing

Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

July 15, 1606 - October 4, 1669

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was a 17th-century Dutch painter and draftsman and is considered one of the most important artists in the history of European art. Rembrandt's work covers a variety of genres, including portraits, landscapes, biblical scenes, and historical events.

Famous Artwork von Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn

Winter Landscape
The Night Watch
The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp

Rembrandt, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Salvador Dalí

May 11, 1904 - January 23, 1989

Salvador Dalí was a Spanish painter, sculptor, graphic artist, stage designer, and writer. He was a leading exponent of Surrealism, an artistic movement dedicated to the depiction of the unconscious and dreams. Dalí was a versatile artist who worked in a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, film, and photography.

Famous Artwork von Salvador Dalí

The Persistence of Memory
Temptation of Saint Anthony
The Great Masturbator

Roger Higgins, World Telegram staff photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Vincent van Gogh

March 30, 1853 - July 29, 1890

Vincent van Gogh is known for his unique artistic vision, his innovative painting technique, and his contribution to the development of Post-Impressionism. Although he received little recognition during his lifetime, he has had an enormous influence on modern art.

Famous Artwork von Vincent van Gogh

Starry Night
Sunflowers (1888)
The Potato Eaters

John Peter Russell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Wassily Kandinsky

December 04, 1866 - December 13, 1944

Wassily Kandinsky was a Russian painter and art theorist who is considered one of the pioneers of abstract art. He was born in Moscow and initially studied law and economics before turning to art. Kandinsky was an important representative of Expressionism and the Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider), a group of artists he co-founded with Franz Marc. His early works were still figurative, but in the 1910s he began to paint abstract pictures.

Famous Artwork von Wassily Kandinsky

The Colourful Life
Composition VII
Tache noire

未知上傳者, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Why is it Worth Learning from the Masters?

The works of the masters are not only historical treasures but also an inexhaustible source of inspiration and learning for anyone interested in art. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, there are many reasons to study the works of the masters.

For one, it can help you improve your technique. By studying the works of famous artists, you can learn how to use colors, compositions, and other elements in your own work. In addition, by repainting masterpieces, you can improve your artistic craft and put yourself in the artist’s shoes a bit.

It also helps to develop your own style. For example, if you are attracted to the expressiveness of Van Gogh or the precision of Da Vinci, you can integrate these influences into your own work and develop your own style.

Last but not least, it is interesting to study the masters to understand the evolution of art and the historical contexts in which they were created. By studying the works of the masters, you can gain a deeper understanding of art history and the cultural influences that contributed to their masterpieces.

Main Photo: John Peter Russell, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons