Leonardo da Vinci, an Italian Renaissance painter highly skilled in the use of oil on canvas, created many works of art that have withstood the test of time. The majority of his work was created during the late 1490s through the early 1500s. The era was fraught with tension, as the Italian Renaissance ushered in a new way of living. This turmoil and struggle is depicted through many of da Vinci's works. Some of his more notable painting include "The Last Supper," which is the depiction of Jesus and the apostles. Yet another highly coveted painting by da Vinci is "The Virgin, Child, and St. Anne." The "Mona Lisa" remains one of da Vinci's best known works of art.
Claude Monet, a French impressionist painter, crafted the majority of his works by using oil on canvas. Though many works of art by Monet reside in museums spanning the globe, some of his more famous pieces are easily recognizable. "Bouquet of Sunflowers," for example, is a vase filled with yellow sunflowers set against a blue background with the vase resting atop a red table. The simplicity of the piece is used in art classes as a way to teach still life techniques and showcase how simplicity in painting can produce dramatic results. Other famous Monet paintings include "Water Lilies," "Impression, Sunrise" and "Camille."
Michelangelo was known as an Italian Renaissance artist, working in various mediums, including painting and sculpture. The oil paintings created by Michelangelo during the 1500s continue to inspire. One of his most renowned and recognizable works and a tribute to his technique is the famed painting of The Sistine Chapel in Italy. The four-year project involved Michelangelo painting the entire ceiling of the church, which to this day is recognizable based on the extreme detailing associated with the piece. Other notable works by Michelangelo include the statue known as "David".
Yet another painter from the Italian Renaissance, Giorgione also constructed and crafted works of art using oil paints on canvas. His works were more tragic in nature, and he was not considered as mainstream as his counterparts such as da Vinci and Michelangelo. However, some of Giorgione's paintings are considered masterpieces such as "Sleeping Venus" and "Young Man With Arrow". But is it a poignant painting entitled "The Tempest" that has been the most discussed piece of his career as it is a depiction of dramatic and brewing storm in the background, while the forefront depicts a steely scene.
Producing paintings during the beginning of the 1600s, Rembrandt van Rijn was a Dutch artist known for his unique style that shaped the Dutch Golden Age of Art. This style is reflected in Rembrandt's works, which focused on portraits and detailed scenes. Famous paintings of Rembrandt include "The Storm on the Sea of Galilee," "A Young Scholar and his Tutor" and numerous self-portraits of the painter.
Sir Peter Paul Rubens is yet another painter renowned for his works using oils. Rubens was an instrumental Dutch artist who specialized in the Flemish Baroque style of painting, which is signified by images of the Renaissance, religion and portrait painting. Some of the well-known works of Rubens include "The Virgin and Child Adored by Angels," "The Fall of Man" and "The Exchange of Princesses."
Vincent van Gogh, known for his post-impressionist work, is a Dutch-born painter who created the majority of his work throughout the late 1800s. Choosing just one of his oil paintings to be called his most famous is difficult, as many of van Gogh's paintings are highly recognizable. Some of his most popular paintings, in a mainstream sense, include "The Starry Night," "The Yellow House" and "The Sower."