#10 THE BIRTH OF VENUS

The Birth of Venus (1486) – Botticelli

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Year: 1486

The ‘Birth of Venus’ depicts the classical myth of Venus rising from the sea. In the painting the
goddess of love, Venus, born out of a seashell, a fully mature woman, is arriving at the sea shore.
Scholars have proposed many interpretations of the painting with the most prominent one being
that Botticelli represented the Neoplatonic idea of divine love in the form of a nude Venus.
Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus’ remains one of the most treasured artworks of the Renaissance.

#9 ASSUMPTION OF THE VIRGIN

Assumption of the Virgin (1518) – Titian
Artist: Titian

Year: 1518

‘Assumption of the Virgin’, located on the high altar in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei
Frari, was the first commission of Titian in Venice and it established Titian as lead painter of the
city. The painting depicts the ‘assumption of the virgin’, which is celebrated every year on
August 15 and commemorates the rising of Mary to heaven before the decay of her body. In the
painting, Virgin Mary is raised to the heavens by a swarm of cherubim while standing on a
cloud. ‘Assumption of the Virgin’ is considered as the greatest masterpiece of Titian, one of the
most versatile and popular painters in history.

#8 SISTINE MADONNA
 Sistine
Madonna (1512) – Raphael
Artist: Raphael

Year: 1512
‘Sistine Madonna’ depicts the Madonna, holding the Christ Child and flanked by Saint Sixtus
and Saint Barbara. Also there are two winged cherubs beneath Mary, who are perhaps the most
famous cherubs depicted in any picture. Such is there popularity that there are many legends
regarding how Raphael painted them. ‘Sistine Madonna’ is considered one of the finest paintings
by many notable critics and it is especially popular in Germany where it “has been hailed as
‘supreme among the world’s paintings’ and accorded the epithet ‘divine'”.

#7 PRIMAVERA

Primavera (1482) – Botticelli

Artist: Sandro Botticelli

Year: c. 1482

‘Primavera’ means ‘the season of spring’ and the painting is sometimes also referred to as
‘Allegory of Spring’. There have been various interpretations of the painting but it is generally
agreed that at some level it is “an elaborate mythological allegory of the burgeoning fertility of
the world.” ‘Primavera’ is “one of the most written about and most controversial paintings in the
world.” Botticelli’s fascinating use of color and multiple interpretations of the work have made
the painting hugely popular and it often cited as a prime example of the grace of Early
Renaissance art.

#6 THE LAST JUDGEMENT

 The
Last Judgement (1541) – Michelangelo Buonarroti
Artist: Michelangelo Buonarroti

Year: 1541

The Last Judgement is one of the most influential works in fresco in the history of
Western art. Painted on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, it depicts
the Second Coming of Christ (a future return of Jesus to earth) and the final and
eternal judgment by God of all humanity. Jesus is shown in the center of the painting
and is surrounded by prominent saints; while the Resurrection of the Dead and the
Descent of the Damned into Hell is shown in the zone below.

#5 THE KISS OF JUDAS

The Kiss of Judas (1306) – Giotto

Artist: Giotto di Bondone

Year: 1306
Many critics consider Giotto as the first genius of modern painting and some claim that no artist
has surpassed him with only a handful coming close. His fresco cycle on the Scrovegni Chapel is
one of the most important masterpieces of Western art and ‘The Kiss of Judas’ is the most
famous painting of the cycle. The painting captures the moment of betrayal when Judas identifies
Jesus to the soldiers by kissing him. Giotto masterfully captures the drama and confusion of the
arrest of Christ as well as the contrast of expressions of Jesus and Judas as they look face to face.

#4 THE SCHOOL OF ATHENS

The School of Athens (1509) – Raphael

Artist: Raphael

Year: 1511

Raphael’s masterpiece, ‘The School of Athens’, is one of the four main frescoes on the walls of
the Stanze di Raffaello, in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. The four paintings epitomize
Philosophy, Poetry, Theology, and Law; with ‘The School of Athens’ representing Philosophy.
Critics have suggested that every great Greek philosopher can be found among the 21 painted in
the painting. However, apart from Plato and Aristotle, who are placed in the center of the scene,
no one’s identity can be verified with certainty. ‘The School of Athens’ is considered “the
perfect embodiment of the classical spirit of the High Renaissance.”

#3 THE LAST SUPPER

The Last Supper (1498) – Leonardo da Vinci

Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Year: 1498

In ‘The Last Supper’, Leonardo masterfully depicts the bewilderment and confusion that occurs
among the disciples of Jesus when he announces that one of them would betray him. Leonardo’s
detailed knowledge of anatomy, light, botany and geology; his interest in how humans register
emotion in expression and gesture; and his subtle gradation of tone; all come together to make
this painting among the most revered and famous works of all time.
#2 THE CREATION OF ADAM

The Creation of Adam (1512) – Michelangelo

Artist: Michelangelo Buonarroti

Year: 1512

The work done by Michelangelo on the Sistine Chapel ceiling is a cornerstone of Renaissance art
and ‘The Creation of Adam’ is the most famous fresco panel of the masterpiece. The popularity
of the painting is second only to ‘Mona Lisa’; and along with ‘The Last Supper’, it is the most
replicated religious painting of all time. The image of the near-touching hands of God and Adam
has become iconic of humanity and has been imitated and parodied innumerable times.

#1 MONA LISA
Mona Lisa (1517) – Leonardo da Vinci
Artist: Leonardo Da Vinci

Year: 1517

The ‘Mona Lisa’ has been acclaimed as “the best known, the most visited, the most written
about, the most sung about and the most parodied work of art in the world”. Its fame rests, in
particular, on the elusive smile on the woman’s face which is why it is also known as “la
Gioconda”, or the laughing one. For Da Vinci, the ‘Mona Lisa’ was forever a work in progress,
as it was his attempt at perfection. The painting was never delivered to its commissioner; Da
Vinci kept it with him till the end of his life. Guinness World Records lists the ‘Mona Lisa’ as
having the highest insurance value for a painting in history. It was assessed at US$100 million on
December 14, 1962, which after adjusting inflation, would be around US$759 million today.