8 World Best, Most Famous and Iconic Paintings in History

The world of arts is a fascinating one. To think that some paintings done hundreds of years ago now can have estimated value at close to a billion US dollars is really mind-blowing.

So what makes these paintings so incredibly special?
What are the 8 most valuable and famous paintings around the world today?
And where can one visit them?

We hope you will enjoy this fascinating art tour while following the 10 most famous painting around the world:

1. Mona Lisa, Paris

It is no surprise that the number one painting on our list is the famous Mona Lisa. The enigmatic painting of the smiling woman painted by the greatest Leonardo da Vinci dates back to 1503 to 15019. 

The woman in the painting is known to be Lisa Gheradini, an Italian woman who was the wife of Francesco del Giocondo, but these facts are only speculations of this fascinating painting.

The Mona Lisa is now located at the Louvre Museum in the city of Paris and anyone who can should definitely once in a lifetime experience the painting at naked eyes.

2. The Last Supper, Milan 

Also painted by the great Leonardo Da Vinci, The Last Supper is really a great piece of art from Leonardo where he portrayed the last supper Jesus had with his 12 disciples before his death and crucifixion. 

It is a gorgeous painting and it’s estimated to have been painted between 1495 to 1498. That date reflects the work of art of the “Renaissance” period where religion was highly dominant and it was a very common subject for artists.

After surviving 2 World Wars the painting managed to remain intact and its now located in the Santa Maria Delle Grazie in the city of Milan, Italy.

3. “The Starry Night”, New York

Vincent Van Gogh was an eccentric painter from the 18th century, with the innovative use of thicker brushstrokes he painted abstract paintings and his most famous piece, “The Starry Night”, is now the Third most famous painting in the world.
With its blue and yellow dreamy representation of the night and the lights in the sky, “The Starry Night” has intrigued art lovers for hundreds of years now. It’s known that Vincent painted “The Starry Night” from a mental health asylum where he was being treated for mental illness after being admitted for cutting off his own ear, and the painting was inspired by the view from his room’s window at night. 
“The Starry Night” is now located at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

4. “The Scream”, Oslo

Painted by Edvard Munch in 1893 “The Scream” is not a single painting, according to British Museum’s blog there are in fact two units of the “The Scream” one which was actioned for $120 million dollars and the other one in the National Museum of the city of Oslo, Norway.
Like the Mona Lisa painting, the value of the 2 pieces of a painting of “the Scream was inflated after a theft. Both of the pastels were in fact recovered and are now some of the most valuables pieces of paintings in the world. 
The painting was inspired by and experience  Much had while taking a walk at sunset time in the city of Oslo, where he was overwhelmed by his senses by a red hue.

5. “Guernica”, Madrid

By the extravagant Pablo Picasso the “Guernica” its an amazing, vivid painting from 1937, where it reflects the German aerial bombing to the city of  Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
The “Guernica” reflects Picasso’s distinctive style and it brings attention to the horrors caused by wars in the 20th-century. The painting was moved to New York during the World War 2 and at Picasso’s request, it remained there until democracy returned to Spain. The painting was returned to Madrid in 1981 after the death of the Spanish dictator Gen. Francisco Franco.
The “Guernica is now located at the Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain.

6.  “The Kiss”, Vienna

“The Kiss”, a  gorgeous painting by artist Gustav Klimt dating back to 1907 to 1908 is Gustav’s most iconic painting, this piece reflects the “Golden Period” as Byzantine influence can be perceived in the love reflection of Gustav’s work on “The Kiss”.
The painting exhale love by portraying a couple on nice decorated robes while kissing each other passionately. Gustav’s attempt with this piece was to show it to the word that love is indeed in the core of human existence and following its amazing effect into the art world it seems his message was positively received.
“The Kiss” can now be found at the Upper Belvedere Museum in the city of Vienna, Austria. Although ‘The Kiss’ is not for sale, Oprah Winfrey has purchased the 1907 "Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer II", another one of Gustav’s paintings for $150 million in 2016.

7. ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’, The Hague

By the artist Johannes Vermeer, ‘The Girl With A Pearl Earring’ is estimated to date back to 1665. Apparently even though the painting is commonly mistaken by a portrait, the ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’ is in fact a “tronie” which is a painting of an imaginary figure with exaggerated features.
Stating the simplicity of the artist, this piece is a beautiful work of Johannes gaining world recognition while going o tour in the US, Japan, and Italy.
The ‘Girl With A Pearl Earring’ is now located at the Mauritshuis, in the city of The Hague, Netherlands.

8.  'The Birth of Venus', Florence

Painted by the artist Sandro Botticelli, the ‘Bith of Venus’ is estimated to be dated back to 1485, making it the oldest paint in our list, an irony since this is the most sensuous painting of them all.
Commissioned by a very prestigious family of Florence, the Medici Family, who were very fond of arts, ‘The Birth os Venus’ portray a combination of classic Greek culture with the Early Renaissance style
The ‘Birth of Venus’ is located in the  Le Gallerie Degli Uffizi in the beautiful city of Florence, Italy.