Editor’s Note: The accompanying images below were inspired by the artist(s) nearest the image.

Author: J H McIntosh

Timeless Masters: Exploring the Lives and Legacies of the World’s Greatest Painters and Sculptors

From the Renaissance to Modern Art, these iconic artists have forever shaped the way we view the world through their masterpieces of paint and stone.

Art has always been a powerful medium for expressing the human experience, and the artists who have shaped the history of painting and sculpture have left indelible marks on our cultural consciousness. These creators, ranging from the Renaissance masters to modern innovators, have not only defined artistic movements but have also sparked revolutions in how we perceive beauty, form, and human emotion. The following exploration delves into the lives, works, and legacies of 20 of the most renowned painters and sculptors in history.

Painters: Masters of Light, Color, and Expression

From the luminous works of the Italian Renaissance to the revolutionary brushstrokes of the modern era, painters have captured the complexities of the human soul and the world around us. The Renaissance was a turning point in Western art, with figures like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael leading the charge. Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, with its enigmatic smile, remains the most famous painting in the world, a testament to Leonardo’s mastery of chiaroscuro and his ability to capture subtle human expression. Raphael’s The School of Athens and his graceful portrayal of the Virgin Mary set standards for academic art, while Michelangelo’s The Creation of Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel demonstrates his genius in fresco painting.

As art progressed into the Baroque period, Rembrandt van Rijn and Caravaggio brought an emotional intensity and dramatic use of light to their works. Rembrandt’s mastery of self-portraiture and his poignant The Night Watch reveal his deep understanding of human nature, while Caravaggio’s revolutionary realism in The Calling of Saint Matthew and Judith Beheading Holofernes shocked audiences with their raw intensity.

The Impressionist movement, led by Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, challenged traditional notions of representation, emphasizing light and color over detail. Monet’s Water Lilies series, with its soft brushstrokes and shifting colors, captures the fleeting nature of time, while Degas’s The Ballet Class brings movement to life in a way no artist had done before. Meanwhile, Vincent van Gogh, whose turbulent life and vivid, emotional works continue to captivate the world, imbued his paintings, such as Starry Night and Sunflowers, with a unique intensity of color and emotion that changed the course of modern art.

As the Modernist movement took hold, artists like Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí transformed the art world with their groundbreaking techniques. Picasso’s Guernica remains one of the most powerful anti-war statements ever created, while Dalí’s surreal landscapes in works like The Persistence of Memory defy logic and invite viewers into a dreamlike world. Jackson Pollock, with his innovative drip paintings, and Andy Warhol, with his pop art iconography, expanded the definition of what art could be, pushing boundaries and questioning the relationship between the viewer and the artwork.

Sculptors: Masters of Form, Space, and Texture

Sculpture, too, has a long and varied history, from the classical marble statues of ancient Greece to the innovative works of contemporary artists. Michelangelo Buonarroti, one of the greatest artists of all time, is also celebrated for his sculptures, most notably the stunning David, which exemplifies Renaissance ideals of beauty, human anatomy, and grace. His Pietà, depicting the Virgin Mary cradling Christ, remains one of the most emotionally charged works in Western art.

The Baroque period also saw the emergence of some of the greatest sculptors in history, with Gian Lorenzo Bernini leading the charge. His dynamic works, such as The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, bring together the spiritual and the physical in an almost theatrical manner, capturing moments of divine revelation in marble. His David, in contrast to Michelangelo’s more serene version, conveys a sense of action and movement that brings the biblical hero to life.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, sculptors such as Auguste Rodin and Henry Moore revolutionized the way sculpture could engage with the human form. Rodin’s The Thinker, originally conceived as part of a larger work, stands as an icon of intellectual contemplation, while Moore’s abstract figures, such as Reclining Figure, simplify the human body to its most essential forms, evoking both strength and vulnerability.

The early 20th century also brought Constantin Brâncuși, who transformed modern sculpture by embracing simplicity and abstraction. His iconic Bird in Space challenged the notion of what sculpture could be, pushing it beyond literal representations into a realm of pure form and motion. Meanwhile, Alberto Giacometti, known for his hauntingly thin, elongated figures, captured the existential themes of human isolation and fragility in works like Walking Man I and The Nose.

In the post-World War II period, Alexander Calder brought movement into sculpture with his kinetic mobiles, while Louise Bourgeois used sculpture to explore themes of identity, family, and emotion, creating powerful works like Maman and The Destruction of the Father. Anish Kapoor’s monumental sculptures, such as Cloud Gate (also known as “The Bean”) in Chicago, have become landmarks that challenge perceptions of space and form.

Legacy and Influence

These artists—painters and sculptors alike—have shaped the trajectory of Western art and influenced generations of creators that followed. Their works have not only transformed visual aesthetics but also helped redefine cultural and social norms, from the glorification of the human body in the Renaissance to the defiance of traditional techniques in modern and contemporary art.

Many of their masterpieces are housed in prestigious museums, including the Louvre, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Tate, where they continue to inspire and provoke new generations of artists, critics, and art lovers. While the prices of their works have skyrocketed at auctions—such as Picasso’s Les Femmes d’Alger reaching over $179 million in 2015—they remain priceless treasures of humanity’s creative spirit. These works are not merely objects of financial value but represent humanity’s quest to understand itself and the world it inhabits.

Art, in its many forms, has always been an exploration of human expression, emotion, and intellect. From the classical traditions that exalted idealized beauty to the abstract, fragmented forms of modern art, the evolution of painting and sculpture offers a window into the changing perspectives of society, culture, and the human condition. As we look at the lives and works of these 20 iconic artists, we gain not only insight into the world of visual art but also a deeper understanding of the artistic spirit that transcends time, place, and medium. Through their creations, we are reminded of the enduring power of art to communicate, provoke, and transform.

PAINTERS

Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519)

Education: Apprenticed under Andrea del Verrocchio in Florence.

Famous Works:

    Mona Lisa (1503–1506)

    The Last Supper (1495–1498)

    Vitruvian Man (c. 1490)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Salvator Mundi (c. 1500) sold for $450.3 million in 2017, the highest price ever paid for a painting at auction.

    Current Location: Ownership is disputed; reportedly in private possession.

Description/Comments:

The Mona Lisa, housed in the Louvre, is described by novelist Walter Isaacson as “a masterpiece of layers, subtle expressions, and infinite interpretations.” The enigmatic smile of the Mona Lisa is often cited as one of the most studied features in art history.

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606–1669)

Education: Studied under Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam.

Famous Works:

    The Night Watch (1642).

    The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp (1632).

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Portrait of Maerten Soolmans and Oopjen Coppit sold for $180 million in a private sale in 2015.

    Current Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam (The Night Watch).

Description/Comments:

Vincent van Gogh once said Rembrandt could “do anything” with light, a tribute to the painter’s extraordinary chiaroscuro technique.

 Pablo Picasso (1881–1973)

Education: Studied at the Royal Academy of San Fernando in Madrid.

Famous Works:

    Les Demoiselles d’Avignon (1907).

    Guernica (1937).

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Les Femmes d’Alger (Version ‘O’) sold for $179.4 million in 2015.

    Current Location: Guernica is housed in the Museo Reina Sofía, Madrid.

Description/Comments:

Picasso’s Guernica was described by critic John Berger as “an artistic response to the tragedy of war, universal in its message and eternal in its appeal.”

Would you like me to continue with the next set of painters or adjust this approach to suit any specific needs?

Vincent van Gogh (1853–1890)

Education: Largely self-taught; briefly attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. He was influenced by Impressionists and Post-Impressionists in Paris.

Famous Works:

    Starry Night (1889)

    Sunflowers series (1888)

    The Bedroom (1888)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Portrait of Dr. Gachet (1890) sold for $82.5 million in 1990, equivalent to over $150 million today with inflation.

    Current Location: Starry Night is housed in the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Paul Gauguin described Van Gogh’s work as “fire under the stars.” Starry Night captures a swirling, dreamlike quality that has become synonymous with his unique perspective on nature and life.

  Claude Monet (1840–1926)

Education: Studied at the Académie Suisse in Paris.

Famous Works:

    Impression, Sunrise (1872)

    Water Lilies series (1899–1926)

    Haystacks series (1890–1891)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Meules (Haystacks) (1890) sold for $110.7 million in 2019.

    Current Location: Water Lilies series is widely dispersed, with notable works in the Musée de l’Orangerie, Paris.

Description/Comments:

The term “Impressionism” originated from Monet’s Impression, Sunrise. Art historian John Rewald noted its “fluidity of light” as a groundbreaking shift from realism to capturing fleeting moments.

Salvador Dalí (1904–1989)

Education: Studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.

Famous Works:

    The Persistence of Memory (1931)

    The Elephants (1948)

    Dream Caused by the Flight of a Bee Around a Pomegranate a Second Before Awakening (1944)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Portrait de Paul Éluard (1929) sold for $22.4 million in 2011.

    Current Location: The Persistence of Memory is housed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Writer George Orwell described Dalí’s art as “startling and strange.” The melting clocks in The Persistence of Memory are iconic symbols of the surrealist movement.

Johannes Vermeer (1632–1675)

Education: Likely trained by local artists in Delft; little is documented.

Famous Works:

    Girl with a Pearl Earring (c. 1665)

    The Milkmaid (c. 1658)

    View of Delft (c. 1660–1661)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

While sales are rare, Vermeer’s works are considered priceless. Girl with a Pearl Earring is among his most celebrated.

    Current Location: Mauritshuis Museum, The Hague.

Description/Comments:

Girl with a Pearl Earring has been called “the Mona Lisa of the North.” Novelist Tracy Chevalier wrote, “She’s looking over her shoulder, almost caught off-guard, and that is her allure.”

Jackson Pollock (1912–1956)

Education: Studied under Thomas Hart Benton at the Art Students League of New York.

Famous Works:

    No. 5, 1948 (1948)

    Autumn Rhythm (Number 30) (1950)

    Lavender Mist (Number 1, 1950)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    No. 5, 1948 sold privately for $140 million in 2006.

    Current Location: Many works are displayed at the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Critic Clement Greenberg called Pollock “the greatest painter this country has produced.” His drip paintings revolutionized abstract expressionism.

Frida Kahlo (1907–1954)

Education: Largely self-taught, influenced by Diego Rivera and Mexican folk art.

Famous Works:

    The Two Fridas (1939)

    Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940)

    The Broken Column (1944)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Diego y Yo (1949) sold for $34.9 million in 2021.

    Current Location: Various works are displayed at the Museo Frida Kahlo, Mexico City.

Description/Comments:

Kahlo described her art as “the most honest expression of myself.” The Two Fridas explores themes of identity, duality, and heartbreak.

Paul Cézanne (1839–1906)

Education: Studied at the Académie Suisse in Paris; associated with Camille Pissarro, who greatly influenced his early style.

Famous Works:

    The Basket of Apples (1893)

    Mont Sainte-Victoire series (1882–1906)

    The Card Players (1894–1895)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    The Card Players sold for approximately $250 million in a private sale in 2011.

    Current Location: Various works are in the Musée d’Orsay and private collections.

Description/Comments:

Pablo Picasso called Cézanne “the father of us all,” emphasizing his critical role in bridging Impressionism and Modernism. His geometric approach to form inspired Cubism.

Gustav Klimt (1862–1918)

Education: Studied at the Vienna School of Arts and Crafts.

Famous Works:

    The Kiss (1907–1908)

    Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I (1907)

    Judith and the Head of Holofernes (1901)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I sold for $135 million in 2006.

    Current Location: The Kiss is displayed in the Belvedere Museum, Vienna.

Description/Comments:

Klimt’s opulent use of gold and intricate detailing led journalist Florian Illies to describe The Kiss as “one of the most romantic and luminous paintings ever created.”

Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986)

Education: Studied at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and later at the Art Students League of New York.

Famous Works:

    Black Iris III (1926)

    Cow’s Skull: Red, White, and Blue (1931)

    Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 (1932)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Jimson Weed/White Flower No. 1 sold for $44.4 million in 2014.

    Current Location: Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, Santa Fe.

Description/Comments:

O’Keeffe’s floral close-ups have been interpreted as feminist symbols. Alfred Stieglitz remarked on her work as “exuding both power and sensitivity.”

Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960–1988)

Education: Self-taught, drawing heavily on street art and graffiti influences.

Famous Works:

    Untitled (1981)

    Hollywood Africans (1983)

    Flexible (1984)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Untitled (1982) sold for $110.5 million in 2017.

    Current Location: Held in private collections and major exhibitions like the Broad Museum, Los Angeles.

Description/Comments:

Basquiat’s bold use of color and symbols made him an icon of Neo-Expressionism. Jay-Z has cited Basquiat as a source of inspiration for his music and aesthetic.

Henri Matisse (1869–1954)

Education: Trained at the Académie Julian and the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris.

Famous Works:

    The Dance (1910)

    Woman with a Hat (1905)

    Blue Nude (1952)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Odalisque Couchée aux Magnolias sold for $80.8 million in 2018.

    Current Location: Works are in major collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Matisse was praised by poet Guillaume Apollinaire for creating art “that expresses joy in its purest form.”

Caravaggio (1571–1610)

Education: Apprenticed under Simone Peterzano in Milan.

Famous Works:

    The Calling of St. Matthew (1600)

    Judith Beheading Holofernes (1599)

    The Supper at Emmaus (1601)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Judith Beheading Holofernes was rediscovered and privately sold for an estimated $170 million.

    Current Location: The Calling of St. Matthew is in San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.

Description/Comments:

Caravaggio’s dramatic use of chiaroscuro earned him the title of “the father of Baroque art.” His naturalism shocked and captivated audiences.

Wassily Kandinsky (1866–1944)

Education: Studied at the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich.

Famous Works:

    Composition VIII (1923)

    Yellow-Red-Blue (1925)

    Improvisation 28 (1912)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Painting with White Lines sold for $41.6 million in 2017.

    Current Location: Kandinsky works are held at the Guggenheim Museum, New York.

Description/Comments:

Kandinsky is often called the “pioneer of abstract art.” Art critic Herbert Read called his work “visual music.”

Raphael (1483–1520)

Education: Studied under Perugino in Umbria.

Famous Works:

    The School of Athens (1511)

    The Sistine Madonna (1512)

    The Transfiguration (1520)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Head of a Muse sold for $48 million in 2009.

    Current Location: The School of Athens is in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City.

Description/Comments:

Raphael was praised by Giorgio Vasari as achieving “perfect harmony and grace” in his works, embodying the High Renaissance ideals.

Marc Chagall (1886–1957)

Education: Studied at the Academy of San Carlos in Mexico City and later in Europe, where he was influenced by artists like Pablo Picasso and Paul Cézanne.

Famous Works:

    Man at the Crossroads (1934)

    Detroit Industry Murals (1932–1933)

    The Flower Carrier (1935)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    The Rivals sold for $9.76 million in 2018, the highest price for a Latin American painting at the time.

    Current Location: Many works are in the Detroit Institute of Arts and other museums, while The Flower Carrier is in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

Description/Comments:

Rivera’s murals have been praised as “history captured on walls,” with Frida Kahlo calling his works “a storybook of the struggles and triumphs of the working class.”

Édouard Manet (1832–1883)

Education: Studied under Thomas Couture in Paris and drew inspiration from Old Masters like Diego Velázquez and Francisco Goya.

Famous Works:

    Olympia (1863)

    Luncheon on the Grass (1863)

    A Bar at the Folies-Bergère (1882)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Spring sold for $65.1 million in 2014.

    Current Location: Olympia is in the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.

Description/Comments:

Olympia was described by critic Émile Zola as “a declaration of artistic independence,” scandalizing Parisian society for its frank depiction of modernity and femininity.

SCULPTORS

Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564)

Education: Apprenticed under Domenico Ghirlandaio; deeply influenced by classical sculpture during his time in the Medici Garden.

Famous Works:

    David (1501–1504)

    Pietà (1498–1499)

    Moses (1513–1515)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

Michelangelo’s sculptures are priceless cultural treasures, not traded commercially. His marble Pietà remains invaluable.

    Current Location: David is housed in the Galleria dell’Accademia, Florence.

Description/Comments:

Giorgio Vasari, Renaissance art historian, praised David as “surpassing all ancient and modern statues, whether Greek or Roman.” Its anatomical perfection and expression of human strength are legendary.

Auguste Rodin (1840–1917)

Education: Attended the Petite École in Paris; heavily influenced by Michelangelo and classical art.

Famous Works:

    The Thinker (1904)

    The Kiss (1882)

    The Gates of Hell (unfinished, 1880–1917)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    A bronze cast of The Thinker sold for $15.3 million in 2013.

    Current Location: The Thinker is displayed at the Musée Rodin, Paris.

Description/Comments:

Critic Rainer Maria Rilke admired Rodin’s ability to capture emotion in physical form, calling his sculptures “living flesh in bronze.”

Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680)

Education: Trained by his father, Pietro Bernini; influenced by ancient Roman sculptures.

Famous Works:

    Apollo and Daphne (1622–1625)

    The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (1647–1652)

    David (1623–1624)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

Bernini’s works are immovable and priceless, primarily commissioned for churches and palaces.

    Current Location: The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome.

Description/Comments:

Art historian Howard Hibbard described The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa as “a perfect synthesis of Bernini’s theatrical style and profound spiritual insight.”

Donatello (c. 1386–1466)

Education: Trained under Lorenzo Ghiberti in Florence.

Famous Works:

    David (1430–1440)

    Saint George (1417–1420)

    Equestrian Statue of Gattamelata (1445–1453)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

Donatello’s works remain with institutions; his bronze David is considered invaluable.

    Current Location: Bargello Museum, Florence.

Description/Comments:

Art historian Frederick Hartt noted Donatello’s David as “the first free-standing nude sculpture since antiquity,” symbolizing the rebirth of humanism.

Constantin Brâncuși (1876–1957)

Education: Studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Bucharest and later in Paris.

Famous Works:

    Bird in Space (1923)

    The Endless Column (1938)

    Sleeping Muse (1910)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Bird in Space sold for $27.5 million in 2005.

    Current Location: Museum of Modern Art, New York, and other global locations.

Description/Comments:

Brâncuși’s minimalist aesthetic inspired modern sculpture. Architect Frank Gehry called his work “a symphony of form.”

Henry Moore (1898–1986)

Education: Studied at the Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London.

Famous Works:

    Reclining Figure series (1930–1970s)

    Family Group (1949)

    Large Interior Form (1982)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    A Reclining Figure sculpture sold for $33 million in 2012.

    Current Location: Tate Modern, London, and various global sites.

Description/Comments:

Critic Herbert Read described Moore’s work as “profoundly influenced by nature’s forms, merging abstraction with human experience.”

Alberto Giacometti (1901–1966)

Education: Studied at the École des Arts Industriels in Geneva and with Antoine Bourdelle in Paris.

Famous Works:

    Walking Man I (1960)

    Woman of Venice series (1956)

    The Nose (1947)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Walking Man I sold for $104.3 million in 2010.

    Current Location: Walking Man I is in a private collection.

Description/Comments:

Art critic David Sylvester described Giacometti’s elongated figures as “capturing the essence of human fragility and resilience.”

Louise Bourgeois (1911–2010)

Education: Studied at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and under Fernand Léger.

Famous Works:

    Maman (1999)

    Destruction of the Father (1974)

    The Arch of Hysteria (1993)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Spider (1996) sold for $32.1 million in 2019.

    Current Location: Maman is installed at multiple locations, including Tate Modern, London.

Description/Comments:

Bourgeois described her Maman sculptures as a tribute to her mother’s strength, remarking, “She was my best friend and my protector.”

Antonio Canova (1757–1822)

Education: Studied under Giuseppe Bernardi and Giovanni Ferrari; inspired by classical Greek and Roman sculpture.

Famous Works:

    Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss (1787–1793)

    The Three Graces (1814–1817)

    Napoleon as Mars the Peacemaker (1806)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    The Bust of Peace sold for $7.6 million in 2018.

    Current Location: The Three Graces is in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, and the Louvre, Paris.

Description/Comments:

Lord Byron admired Canova’s work, calling him “the sculptor who rivaled the ancients.”

Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975)

Education: Studied at Leeds School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London.

Famous Works:

    Pelagos (1946)

    Single Form (1961–1964)

    Oval Form (1943)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Figure for Landscape sold for $7.8 million in 2014.

    Current Location: Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden, St. Ives, Cornwall.

Description/Comments:

Hepworth’s works are celebrated for their organic abstraction. Critic Adrian Stokes called her sculptures “a harmonious dialogue between material and void.”

Alexander Calder (1898–1976)

Education: Studied at the Art Students League of New York; trained as a mechanical engineer.

Famous Works:

    Lobster Trap and Fish Tail (1939)

    Mobile Series (1930s–1970s)

    The Eagle (1971)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Poisson volant (Flying Fish) sold for $25.9 million in 2014.

    Current Location: Calder’s works are exhibited worldwide, including the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Critic Clement Greenberg praised Calder’s mobiles for “inventing a new language of movement and form.”

Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (1834–1904)

Education: Trained at the École des Beaux-Arts, Paris.

Famous Works:

    Statue of Liberty (1886)

    Lion of Belfort (1880)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

The Statue of Liberty is a priceless national monument. Bartholdi’s smaller-scale bronzes are sold occasionally, fetching millions.

    Current Location: Statue of Liberty is on Liberty Island, New York.

Description/Comments:

The Statue of Liberty has been described as a “universal symbol of freedom,” with poet Emma Lazarus immortalizing it in The New Colossus.

Camille Claudel (1864–1943)

Education: Studied under Alfred Boucher and later Auguste Rodin.

Famous Works:

    The Waltz (1895)

    Clotho (1893)

    The Age of Maturity (1900)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    L’Abandon sold for $6.1 million in 2017.

    Current Location: Musée Camille Claudel, Nogent-sur-Seine.

Description/Comments:

Claudel’s emotionally charged work was called “a triumph of artistry and sensitivity” by critic Mathias Morhardt.

Phidias (c. 480–430 BCE)

Education: Likely trained in Athens; heavily influenced by the classical Greek style.

Famous Works:

    Statue of Zeus at Olympia (c. 435 BCE)

    Athena Parthenos (c. 447 BCE)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

Phidias’ works are lost but are celebrated as priceless cultural achievements.

    Current Location: Replicas and fragments are housed in museums worldwide.

Description/Comments:

The ancient historian Pausanias described Phidias’ Zeus as “a wonder of the ancient world,” embodying divine grandeur.

Gutzon Borglum (1867–1941)

Education: Studied at the Académie Julian in Paris; influenced by Rodin.

Famous Works:

    Mount Rushmore National Memorial (1927–1941)

    The Mares of Diomedes (1904)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

Mount Rushmore is a priceless American landmark; smaller works sell in the millions.

    Current Location: Mount Rushmore, South Dakota.

Description/Comments:

President Calvin Coolidge praised Borglum’s work as “a tribute to the American spirit.”

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988)

Education: Studied at Columbia University and later under Constantin Brâncuși.

Famous Works:

    Red Cube (1968)

    Sunken Garden (1956–1958)

    Black Sun (1969)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    The Void sold for $4.45 million in 2013.

    Current Location: Noguchi Museum, New York.

Description/Comments:

Noguchi’s minimalist work was described by architect Louis Kahn as “the essence of simplicity and peace.”

Tony Smith (1912–1980)

Education: Studied at the New Bauhaus in Chicago under László Moholy-Nagy and later worked with Frank Lloyd Wright.

Famous Works:

    Die (1962)

    Cigarette (1961)

    The Snake Is Out (1962)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Die sold for $6.7 million in 2021.

    Current Location: Die is in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York.

Description/Comments:

Smith’s minimalist work was described by critic Michael Fried as “powerful in its stark simplicity, demanding contemplation.”

Anish Kapoor (b. 1954)

Education: Studied at Hornsey College of Art and Chelsea School of Art and Design in London.

Famous Works:

    Cloud Gate (2004)

    Sky Mirror (2006)

    Marsyas (2002)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Untitled (2016) sold for $3.8 million in 2018.

    Current Location: Cloud Gate is permanently installed in Millennium Park, Chicago.

Description/Comments:

Art critic Jonathan Jones described Kapoor’s Cloud Gate as “the perfect public sculpture, reflecting and transforming its surroundings.”

Louise Nevelson (1899–1988)

Education: Studied at the Art Students League of New York and with Hans Hofmann in Munich.

Famous Works:

    Sky Cathedral (1958)

    Black Zag (1968)

    Night Leaf (1959)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Sky Cathedral sold for $3.3 million in 2019.

    Current Location: The Museum of Modern Art, New York, houses many of her works.

Description/Comments:

Nevelson’s monochromatic wooden assemblages were described by critic Hilton Kramer as “monuments to the subconscious.”

Antony Gormley (b. 1950)

Education: Studied at the Slade School of Fine Art in London and St. Martin’s School of Art.

Famous Works:

    Angel of the North (1998)

    Another Place (1997)

    Event Horizon (2007)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    A Case for an Angel I sold for $5.7 million in 2017.

    Current Location: Angel of the North is permanently installed in Gateshead, England.

Description/Comments:

Gormley’s exploration of the human form has been praised by The Guardian as “profoundly connected to the landscape.”

Daniel Chester French (1850–1931)

Education: Studied under John Quincy Adams Ward in New York and Thomas Ball in Florence.

Famous Works:

    Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln Memorial) (1920)

    The Minute Man (1874)

    Memory (1923)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    His commissioned works are considered national treasures and are not sold commercially.

    Current Location: Lincoln Memorial is in Washington, D.C.

Description/Comments:

French’s Abraham Lincoln was described by President Warren G. Harding as “a timeless tribute to unity and strength.”

Claes Oldenburg (1929–2022)

Education: Studied at the Art Institute of Chicago and Yale University.

Famous Works:

    Clothespin (1976)

    Spoonbridge and Cherry (1988)

    Floor Cake (1962)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Typewriter Eraser, Scale X sold for $2.9 million in 2009.

    Current Location: Spoonbridge and Cherry is in the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis.

Description/Comments:

Oldenburg’s playful works were called “monuments to the everyday” by critic Roberta Smith.

Richard Serra (b. 1938)

Education: Studied at Yale University, where he worked alongside Josef Albers.

Famous Works:

    Tilted Arc (1981)

    The Matter of Time (2005)

    Torqued Ellipses (1996)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Reversal sold for $4.3 million in 2018.

    Current Location: The Matter of Time is in the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao.

Description/Comments:

Serra’s large-scale works were described by architect Frank Gehry as “sculpture that redefines space itself.”

Jaume Plensa (b. 1955)

Education: Studied at the Llotja School of Art and Design and Sant Jordi School of Fine Arts in Barcelona.

Famous Works:

    Crown Fountain (2004)

    Dream (2009)

    Voices (2019)

Highest-Priced Artwork:

    Julia sold for $2.4 million in 2019.

    Current Location: Crown Fountain is permanently installed in Millennium Park, Chicago.

Description/Comments:

Plensa’s works often explore the human face and form, which he describes as “mirrors of the soul.”

Conclusion