Dare I Say It: Greatest Painters of All Time?!
Even writing the words “Top 10 painters of all time” makes me cringe a little bit because … really? Really? I find it a herculean task to narrow a list down to the best 100 oil painting artists of all time, let alone just 10.
However, I wanted to look back and reflect on the artists — particularly painters of the past, in this case — and artworks that have inspired me and decide who I would put on the hallowed walls of my own art hall of fame.
The 10 Best Painters of All Time … Well, According to Me
It was tough! I definitely realize I have a few biases, but it was a good exercise and helped me discover what kind of oil on canvas works I most admire and what oil painting techniques and methods I most revere.
Remember, this list is particular to me and my ideas about painting, not a universal standard. Here, then, are my top 10 painters of all time, in no particular order, along with a little bit about why they are my picks.
Michelangelo (Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni). The artist that opened my eyes to art! He made the human figure powerful, sensual and an artistic pinnacle.
Odilon Redon. For colors that are beyond vibrant, and narratives that are like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
John Singer Sargent. He made me realize how much there is to the action of painting.
James Abbott McNeill Whistler. For his sense of atmosphere.
Frida Kahlo. Because of the confessional and personal symbolism in her art.
Edward Hopper. He captured a sense of time and the human emotion which seemed to suffuse that time like no other artist has been able to replicate.
Lucian Freud. As a contemporary artist, he showed painting can still be taken into uncharted territory.
Pablo Picasso. He broke with so many practices of the past and developed a new way of seeing that paved the way for modern art.
Caravaggio (Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio). For his searing lights and rich shadows, and because he painted people with dirty fingernails and grimy feet.
Thomas Hart Benton. His work made me see how art is such a valid part of history. It can go beyond the dry timeline of dates to capture what isn’t in the history books — the workers, small towns and tall tales of people and their lives — and encompassing the zeitgeist of it all with an image.
If you are interested in the life and times of another master artist who is certain to be on many “great artist” lists, then gift yourself with Ever Yours: The Essential Letters of Vincent Van Gogh.
This book offers an incredible look into van Gogh’s mindset, biography and intimate moments from the artist himself. What an exceptional way to understand an artist we revere so much.
Well? What do you think? I showed you my list, now I want you to show me yours. Leave a comment and gimme one or two, maybe 10, 20, oh, 100 (if you are so inclined!) of your top artists. I am looking forward to reading all your favorites!
That’s what I’m talking about! I’ve been waiting to see when Velasquez and Vermeer were going to make someone’s list! All great choices. It’s hard to narrow it down for me, too many to mention. Fra Angelico and Mantegna would probably make my list…
Personally, I dont see how Jean Francois Millet is not considered in the top ten. He was a beast! If what he produced isnt top tier then i have it all wrong. Really in the top 10.
Um y’all are all forgetting the obvious winner I mean,come on, Bob Ross anyone?
My Top Ten “Greatest Artists of All Time” List in no particular order:
1. Picasso
2. Klimt
3. Caravaggio
4. Lam
5 Pollock
6.Munch
7.Dali
8.Gogh
9.Goya
10.Proudhon
What about people like:
Charles Russell
Fredrick Remington
Dr. Agee–A Navajo artist who showed me I didn’t have to draw like Charlie Russell to make my art good–I will never forget his admonition: “Why should you worry about your drawings? I draw like a fourth-grader and I sell my paintings very well.” Thanks to him, I am again working on my painting.
Will James
George Kennecott (I THINK that’s his name. His paintings hang in the St. Michael’s Hotel Art Museum at Prescott, Arizona. He is another inspiration for me.
These are only a few I think should be added to the list of Great AMERICAN Artists.
Thoroughly modern with a single nod to the classical. Please.
Courtney,
You asked for it, so here goes!
Wayne Thiebaud – His use of texture and color take ordinary things — pies, cakes! — and shows how special and evocative they really are. And his paintings of people are haunting. He sold paintings out of the back of his car at the beginning, taught painting for many years at the university level, and has paintings in many tops museums around the world.
Charles Burchfield – Amazing study of the vibrating life within things, and how it goes out into the world as incredible colors and energy fields.
Henri Matisse – Culmination of his career in the “cutouts” of his last years… such an unyielding commitment to his art.
Roy Lichtenstein – Teaching us all the rigors of art-making, showing us the humor in everything, and the lessons to be learned in art-making experimentation.
Edward Hopper – I couldn’t agree with you more, and couldn’t have said it better.
Alex Katz – Elegance, says it all.
Paul Cezanne – His understanding of the essence of his subject, and his use of austere color, makes us all reach further into ourselves as artists.
Gustave Caillebotte – Not only for his incredible capture of ordinary moments in people’s lives, but also his outsized role in support of his fellow artists of the time.
Maynard Dixon – He captured the expanse and aridity of the American Southwest, and has inspired so many others like modern artists Ed Mell and Tony Abeyta.
… and many others who have explored through their art:
Paul Klee (great documentary Paul Klee: The Silence of the Angel)
Josef Albers (his dedicated exploration of color is amazing)
the Taos painters
and of course Georgia O’Keefe.
Bruce Nivens
Jehan-Georges Vibert
Thomas Cole
Howard Pyle
Albrecht Durer
Rembrandt Van Rijn
Andrew Wyeth
William Hogarth
Norman Rockwell
Charles Russell
Frederic Remington
http://www.davidjoynerart.com (I am not part of this list)
I noticed no one mentioned themselves. That’s commendable.
I agree with all of your lists but here’s a painter you forgot:
Andrew Wyeth
Paul
Add these as a second tier list of the greatest painters for a total of 45 al time greats.. All great but fewer great works than 1st list:
Franz Hals
Correggio
Courbet
Veronesse
Zurbaran
Murillo
Poussin
J.L.David
Ingres
Gainsborough
Giorgione
Goya
J. Gris
Delacroix
A. Carracci
Boucher
Tiepolo
Memling
Modigliani
Pontormo
Turner
G. Bellini
F. Kline
Poussin
Watteau
My list of all time greatest painters:
Velasquez
Rembrandt
Titian
Raphael
Leonardo
Picasso
Degas
Sargent
Rubens
Monet
Manet
Corot
Francis Bacon
Van Dyck
Holbein
Van Gogh
Caravaggio
Giotto
Cezanne
Van Eyck
Vermeer
Courtney, thank you for your personal list of the Top Ten. I agree with every one of your supporting statements. I am sure if I took a while, I’d have my own unique list as well, but I have to say you’ve done a fabulous job of suiting my own esthetics and admirations. In particular, was Odilon Redon and Thomas Hart Benton. I made a personal study of Benton in undergrad school and learned a great deal. Thanks again. Always enjoy your entries. Kate N
This is going to be fun. Thanks for your list. I have a bunch of photos of pix in my drawer. Some famous and some not. I am going to look at them with a goal besides just loving the art.
Tissot, Klimt, Sargent, Renoir, Monet, Braque, Turner, Van Gogh
I’d add Wayne Thiebaud to the list.
I guess in my list I didn’t really name the top 10 of all time, so much as I identified the ones who’ve genuinely influenced how I look at art. And I might add my disappointment that I’m not seeing many women in these lists. 🙁
Patty K
Vibert
Tissot
Sargent
Renoir
Monet
Cassat
Church
Dali
Homer
O’Keefe
Rockwell
I would also credit a heavy influence from American naturalists and photographers like Muir and Adams.
Patty K
FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT, THE TRIGGER FOR THE RENAISSENCE, GIOTTO.
Please. You surprise me. Speaking objectively, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Leonardo were greater painters than the sculptor/painter, Michaelangelo, despite his glorious acheivement in the Sistine Chapel. I think that any of today’s legitimate painters–portrait, still life, and landscape– will name Rembrandt as the greatest of all, the one whom their eyes study the most.
Herb C.
Please. You surprise me. Speaking objectively, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Leonardo were greater painters than the sculptor/painter, Michaelangelo, despite his glorious acheivement in the Sistine Chapel. I think that any of today’s legitimate painters–portrait, still life, and landscape– will name Rembrandt as the greatest of all, the one whom their eyes study the most.
Herb C.
Please. You surprise me. Speaking objectively, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Leonardo were greater painters than the sculptor/painter, Michaelangelo, despite his glorious acheivement in the Sistine Chapel. I think that any of today’s legitimate painters–portrait, still life, and landscape– will name Rembrandt as the greatest of all, the one whom their eyes study the most.
Herb C.
Please. You surprise me. Speaking objectively, Rembrandt, Raphael, and Leonardo were greater painters than the sculptor/painter, Michaelangelo, despite his glorious acheivement in the Sistine Chapel. I think that any of today’s legitimate painters–portrait, still life, and landscape– will name Rembrandt as the greatest of all, the one whom their eyes study the most.
Herb C.
John Singer Sargent
Caravaggio
Peter Paul Rubens
William Merritt Chase
Michelangelo
Leonardo
Edgar Payne
Bernini
JMW Turner
Rembrandt
Love that you include Hopper,captivating; beyond words. All mentioned by you and others, ditto. I am a Rembrandt fan.. Standing before the NightWatch ….epic.. Caravaggio moved me less in person, still stellar work. I’ve seen many of the art in person in various parts of the world… glorious moments… I might add, Diebenkorn ..for the blue period, #4,8,27.
And to the viewer who pointed out an artists’ work disparaging (Kincaid) I really can think of something to gain from all work, K’s work brings you to a warm love garden, so lighten up, and look to what the artist speaks…listen for their language, and learn. A Rockwell speaks to the joys of simple life, & brings a smile, while Renoir takes us to a period of time, relish the moments… Van Gogh and Picasso, give an oddesy escape, love the ride! Some wow us, some take us so deep we must crawl away… #beinspired&inspire™ #babygrle
Why is it that when someone asks for a list of “Great” artist, artist that are recognized commercially (but not critically) are never included. I saw one person list Norman Rockwell as one of their top ten artist. Why isn’t Elvgren, or Petty, or Vargas recognized for their treatment of the female form? We are asked to accept Jackson Pollack flinging paint at a canvas while in a drunken, drug induced stupor as art, yet pin up artist are shoved into a corner of being labeled….Illustrators (not artist). The care and emotion that moved a country to buy War Bonds with his Four Freedoms series should put Rockwell at the top of everyone’s list. Fortune 100 companies think enough of Mark Fredrickson’s work to promote their goods and services that he is constant demand, yet he will probably never be asked to show at the MET. David Uhl and Scott Jacobson bring the world of motorcycles to life, but no mention of this fine practitioners. Maybe someday the art world will listen to it’s own rhetoric and look upon these “Artist” with an open mind. Maybe one day these artist will be given credit for their care to anatomical correctness, presentation, craftsmanship, layout, and adherence to the discipline of rendering the figure in the technique of the old masters, Until then, I will follow these titans of the brush and enjoy the beauty they bring to the canvas.
Why is it that when someone asks for a list of “Great” artist, artist that are recognized commercially (but not critically) are never included. I saw one person list Norman Rockwell as one of their top ten artist. Why isn’t Elvgren, or Petty, or Vargas recognized for their treatment of the female form? We are asked to accept Jackson Pollack flinging paint at a canvas while in a drunken, drug induced stupor as art, yet pin up artist are shoved into a corner of being labeled….Illustrators (not artist). The care and emotion that moved a country to buy War Bonds with his Four Freedoms series should put Rockwell at the top of everyone’s list. Fortune 100 companies think enough of Mark Fredrickson’s work to promote their goods and services that he is constant demand, yet he will probably never be asked to show at the MET. David Uhl and Scott Jacobson bring the world of motorcycles to life, but no mention of this fine practitioners. Maybe someday the art world will listen to it’s own rhetoric and look upon these “Artist” with an open mind. Maybe one day these artist will be given credit for their care to anatomical correctness, presentation, craftsmanship, layout, and adherence to the discipline of rendering the figure in the technique of the old masters, Until then, I will follow these titans of the brush and enjoy the beauty they bring to the canvas.
-Rafael
-Klimt
-Tiziano
-Toulouse- Lautrec
-Dalí
-Rembrandt
http://www.stardustplanets.com/
TopTen for me:Amarna Artists,DaVinci,Michaeangelo,Van Goh,Monet,Caravaggio,Boticcelli,Goya,Picasso,Okeeffe
TopTen for me:Amarna Artists,DaVinci,Michaeangelo,Van Goh,Monet,Caravaggio,Boticcelli,Goya,Picasso,Okeeffe
TopTen for me:Amarna Artists,DaVinci,Michaeangelo,Van Goh,Monet,Caravaggio,Boticcelli,Goya,Picasso,Okeeffe
TopTen for me:Amarna Artists,DaVinci,Michaeangelo,Van Goh,Monet,Caravaggio,Boticcelli,Goya,Picasso,Okeeffe
My personal favorites are Matisse, Turner, Klimt, Chagall, Renoir, Toulouse Lautrec, Monet and Romare Bearden. But of course, any list of the greatest artists of all times must include Michaelangelo, Da Vinci, Picasso, Van Gogh and Rembrant
My personal feel is that, there are so many great masters to list, not to consider the good comment that ” Sinewaves” mentions , – we have many great living masters of the arts among us today to look at also. I like to feel the engery of today along with the past. It is us living today the people in the future will be looking at and enjoying also. Learn from the past and create for the future in your own style.
-W.P.-
.
My personal feel is that, there are so many great masters to list, not to consider the good comment that ” Sinewaves” mentions , – we have many great living masters of the arts among us today to look at also. I like to feel the engery of today along with the past. It is us living today the people in the future will be looking at and enjoying also. Learn from the past and create for the future in your own style.
-W.P.-
.
My personal feel is that, there are so many great masters to list, not to consider the good comment that ” Sinewaves” mentions , – we have many great living masters of the arts among us today to look at also. I like to feel the engery of today along with the past. It is us living today the people in the future will be looking at and enjoying also. Learn from the past and create for the future in your own style.
-W.P.-
.
I agree with everyone…it is impossible to limit a list of great artists. There are so many groundbreaking painters. As an Aussie I would have to list some favourites from this side of the world.
Brett Whitely – for his purity of line, and personal vision.
Fred Williams – for his interpretation of the Australian landscape.
Arthur Boyd – for his classical references.
John Olsen – a groundbreaker in technique, he gets to the ‘essence’ of a subject.
-wondering how many of us change our lists daily-
-from then
Hopper
Renoir
Morisot
Matisse
Vlaminck
Manet
-from now
Macpherson
Burdick
Tankersley
Sponberg
Jurick
-oh wait, was that eleven?!
-wondering how many of us change our lists daily-
-from then
Hopper
Renoir
Morisot
Matisse
Vlaminck
Manet
-from now
Macpherson
Burdick
Tankersley
Sponberg
Jurick
-oh wait, was that eleven?!
Maybe I could be pointed out to be a little chauvinist, but honestly, I’m not 🙂
From Belgium (like I am):
Magritte
Paul Delvaux – love his ladies…
Van Eyck brothers, with their great masterpiece, now in restauration ( http://www.inyourpocket.com/Belgium/Ghent/Het-Lam-Gods_72687 f)
And the other masters:
El Greco
Velazquez
Pablo Picasso
Dali – love his style
Degas
Boticelli
Botero
Monet
Ah, I give up. Too many to write down. But I’m not fund of Van Gogh, I tried to like his stuff, but even in real life (in Paris) they couldn’t warm me.
Hello Courtney,
I love your column, you are so insightful and open. Thank you for sharing your love of making art.
My top artist is Chagall, I love his dream and memory work, and I love his flowing compositions.
I wonder if Courtney or the commenter “sinewaves” might give the full name for the artist Okada, as there are several.
Mark Rothko
Leon Golub
Caravaggio
David
Turner
Okada
Basquiat
Freud
Hockney
Rivera
Fairfield Porter
I mean, if we’re talking about painters broke ground in the medium and changed things, changed art and transformed what a painting could do – This is a good list. While most everyone else regurgitates OLD masters from 200 years ago. Not that those guys weren’t “great” but I think it’s time to move forward.
Mark Rothko
Leon Golub
Caravaggio
David
Turner
Okada
Basquiat
Freud
Hockney
Rivera
Fairfield Porter
I mean, if we’re talking about painters broke ground in the medium and changed things, changed art and transformed what a painting could do – This is a good list. While most everyone else regurgitates OLD masters from 200 years ago. Not that those guys weren’t “great” but I think it’s time to move forward.
I like many painters east and west.I think more than 75,theirs paint look great for me,and all are my heros.From west,MICHELANGELO,VANGHO,MATTISE,RANIOR,RAMBRANT,WINSLOW HOMMER,MONET,GAUGUIN,NORMAN ROCKWELL,PAUL CEZANNE..
From east,JIA LU,WPM,KYI MYINT SAW,MIN WAI AUNG.These are some of my heros, many others are left in this.
Dali
Rembrandt
Van Gogh
Vermeer
Monet
Sisley
Those guys that painted the tombs in the Valley of the dead in Egypte
Those guys that painted at Lascaux
Renoir
Picasso
Kandinsky
Mondriaan
Rubens
Frans Hals
Caravaggio
El Greco
Titian
Boticelli
Michelangelo
Not a complete list but stille
Dali
Rembrandt
Van Gogh
Vermeer
Monet
Sisley
Those guys that painted the tombs in the Valley of the dead in Egypte
Those guys that painted at Lascaux
Renoir
Picasso
Kandinsky
Mondriaan
Rubens
Frans Hals
Caravaggio
El Greco
Titian
Boticelli
Michelangelo
Not a complete list but stille
I’d like to add Maxfield Parrish and Andrew Wyeth
Leonardo
Michelangelo
Caravaggio
Velazquez
Rembrandt
Vermeer
Rubens
Sargent
Van Gogh
Gerhard Richter
and one more: Norman Rockwell – a vastly underrated artist
Hi Courtney !
Nice try on the top ten artists. Of course you are wrong!
Here is my list (at least for this week!)
Rembrandt Hopper
Vermeer Gustave Caillebotte
Chardin Tom Thomson
Constable George Bellows
Winslow Homer Edward Brian Seago
Rembrandt
Vermeer (not on any other list???)
Magritte (see above comment)
Da Vinci
Michaelangelo
Monet
Bosch
Carravagio
Picasso
Michaelangelo
da Vinci
Picasso
Wood
Botero
Monet
Close
Botticelli
Bosch
van Gogh
These are all great artists…don’t know if I can limit the number to 75.
I haven’t seen the entire list but I hope that Thomas Kincaid is not on this list. These are some of my favorite painters. I also have favorite sculptors and ceramic artists. That list would be h.u.g.e.
Rosa Bonheur
Gustave Courbet
Lascaux Cave painters, France
J.M.W. Turner
Artemesia Gentileschi
Franz Marc
Jacob Lawrence
Gerard ter Borch
Jan Vermeer
Giotto di Bondone
-Miguel Ángel
-Da Vinci
-Tintoretto
-Rafael
-Klimt
-Toulouse- Lautrec
-Dalí
-Rembrandt
-Tiziano
-Picasso
And ten more…
-Boucher
-Bouguereau
-Freud
-Rubens
-Ingres
-Boticelli
-Velázquez
-Vermeer
-Van Gogh
-Miró
My top 5:
Caravaggio
J M W Turner (fav painting is “The Burning of the Houses of Lords and Commons”)
Van Gogh
Monet
and
Filippino Lippi (mainly b/c I spent close to a whole semester studying his “The Holy Family with John the Baptist and St. Margaret” tondo in college; it’s still one of my favorite paintings, even though I’m not Christian)
Picasso
Rembrandt
Leonardo
Masaccio
Tiziano
Cezanne
Van Gogh
Monet
Caravaggio
And here’s the odd one out: Charles M, Russell