Best of the Best - Art Galleries

In any city in the world that you choose to visit, you will be sure to find at least one art gallery. However, some of them are so well-known, that people will literally travel the world to find them. These most famous galleries house the great masterpieces of the world.

Probably the most famous art gallery in the world is 'The Louvre' in Paris. The most famous piece of art in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa, by Leonardo Da Vinci. This famous painting is kept under high security as it tops the list of art thieves the world over. The Louvre also houses many other famous paintings by Da Vinci and hundreds of other famous artists.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in New York City, is another home to incredible works of art. For Americans, it's a great place to see works by famous fellow countrymen, but there are also important works from all over the globe. Some of these are paintings and sculptures by Botticelli, Raphael, and El Greco.

Our next stop is London, England, where the National Gallery is situated. There you will find glorious works by the best known artists of Europe. Some of the most famous are by Raphael, Manet, da Vinci, Renoir, and Monet. True art lovers will need to make a visit to this stunning gallery at some time in their lives. Some paintings hanging there are: Sunflowers, by Vincent Van Gogh; The Virgin of the Rocks, by Leonardo da Vinci; and Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli.

While most art galleries cater to the works of the 'greats', in recent times many galleries have started focusing on the contemporary arts of the twentieth century. Amongst the most famous contemporary art galleries and museums in the world is 'The George Pompidou Center' in Paris. The building that house the George Pompidou Center itself is also totally contemporary with all the ducts and piping on the outside.

Contemporary art galleries and museums typically feature not only paintings, drawings, and prints, but exhibits of furniture, sound, light, and even music. Visiting these galleries can be a fascinating visit through the past few decades and shows how much style and taste has changed.

Each major metropolitan center in Europe houses a traditional national art gallery, a contemporary gallery, and usually many art galleries - some of these may be private. While most national galleries concentrate on exhibits of art from the history of their country, these can be of great learning value in understanding the culture of the land. A visit to this assortment of art galleries is a must do for every art lover.

If you plan on buying some art pieces, you won't be able to do so at the national galleries. You can however visit private galleries in your pursuit of owning some major works. These probably won't include Renoir's or Van Gogh's, but you will find many wonderful pieces that you'll be able to call your own. Art auctions are often held at Christie's and other art houses. This is another way of obtaining some incredible works of art.

Art is a beautiful part of our history and any visit to an art gallery, be it the Louvre or your local gallery, is a journey back through time and into the creative master minds that help shape our culture.

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