These sleepy cloudy cold Saturday mornings are often an impediment to my creative thinking process. Too cold to really enjoy going outside, the closest I often get it filling the bird feeders or letting the dog out to do her morning or afternoon business.
As I just released another Sunday Evening Art Gallery blog over at http://www.sundayeveningartgallery.com, a question came to mind:
When you think of classical art, what is the first piece you think of?
Not necessarily which artist or piece of art is your favorite — which piece of art first comes to mind? Your answer might surprise you. I know mine did.
Sitting here listening to Haydn’s London Symphonies, the first piece of art I think of is the Mona Lisa by da Vinci.
Why is that? Is it because I see her in advertisements and memes and an occasional story from the Louvre? Is it because it’s a magnificent painting or more like it’s the most famous painting by one of the most famous artists in history?
Now take a moment and think — what is your favorite piece of art?
Although it’s hard/impossible to pick only one piece of art that is my favorite, when I sit and think about it, is The Coronation of Napoleon by Jacques-Louis David rates right up there for me.
I mean — who would pick that one? But quickly running through my visits to museums and art galleries, that one first popped into my head. It’s huge and the colors are beautiful and it’s full of famous people of the time. It is almost overwhelming, as most art is.
I also stood in line to see the Mona Lisa when in the Louvre. Tons of people standing in line to get close to the roped-off portrait, it was indeed lovely, but nothing that knocked my socks off.
What is the piece of art that first pops into your head when you think of classical art? And what is your favorite actual piece of art?
It will be interesting to see if both are the same.
Humoring the Goddess 
Mona Lisa comes to mind first. My favourite, though, and it is hard to pick, is The Gleaners by Jean-François Millet. When I finally got to see the original at the Musée d’Orsay, I was blown away.
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Funny how Mona pops up first on a lot of lists. I have never heard of Jean-François Millet, but I do recognize that painting. It seems I need to add his art gallery to my blog! Thank you for sharing!
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I will say I’m not a big art fan, I mean, don’t get me wrong, I love writing, and making art, but I cant see, I have been blind since I was born, so I have never seen all the famous paintings, done by great artists. Wish I had been able to see them! X
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What you were born with is imagination, which is what any artist needs to get their point of view across. Let me know if you ever have someone take photos of your work. I’d love to see everything.
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gee whiz.. I guess that I think of Mona as well, but Van Gogh’s Sunflowers always speaks to me. I was blessed enough to see it in person in Toronto in 1982 when an exhibit was traveling the world, featuring any and all of his works they could borrow. Whether privately or gallery owned, the paintings were loaned out and the result, spectacular.
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I too like the Sunflowers painting by Van Gogh. Sadly there were few paintings by Van Gogh at the Louvre when I went last year, but I do remember a self portrait. Next time I go (laughs sadly) I would love to go to Museum D’Orsay. A number of his works are there. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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I think my favourite is Van Gogh’s ‘Starry Starry Night’ …
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It is his biggest hit — I would love to see it in person. But I have never been to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Maybe that should be a bucket list visit …. Thank you.
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Yes, I went and saw when I was in New York in April 2019 😍🖼️
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Landscapes by Innes. (Classical) Then most paintings by Van Gogh and favorites are by Peter Max, especially his work in the 60s-70s.
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Peter Max! What a great suggestion! Van Gogh is everywhere these days too. I went to see an immersive experience of VanGogh’s paintings in Milwaukee a few years ago — it was imaginative and impressive. I looked up Innes too and his paintings are dark and moody — very suggestive. Thank you for the two recommendations.
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There is a movie called “Loving Vincent” that is very hard to find. Perhaps Amazon offers a used copy.I tried several sources to buy a new one this year for a gift and couldn’t. Anyway, each frame in the film was hand-painted in Van Gogh style. Astounding to watch. Hope you can find it and experience it. I went to the premiere of the film and the audience gave a standing ovation at the end. Extraordinary, especially on a big screen. I think the blue- ray and the DVD include the story of its creation as a special feature. It shows the hundreds of artists that worked on this and how pain-staking it was to paint each frame.
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You know — I think I’ve heard of this movie! I’ve never seen it though. It seems the movie is on the Roku Channel, which I happen to have! Thank you for sharing this movie and experience! I will let you know what I think!
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Popcorn should be involved!
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Nothing else will do!
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The Mona Lisa immediately popped into my head when I thought of classic art. When I was about 12 I read a biography of ElGreco that had beautiful color plates of his paintings. My favorite painting is his view of Toledo. Dramatic gray clouds and the softness of the landscape is almost Impressionist. It absolutely knocked my socks off and it still does.
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I love this. And now I will go and look up that artwork for myself!
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