Art Galleries for the Connoisseur 

By: Clair Jons

There are apples and there are apples. While almost every city in the world lays claim to a great art gallery, there are very few that are globally recognized and famous. People, art lovers, historians and the commoners all flock to these art galleries travelling all across the world just to see some of the master pieces that these galleries house.

The Louvre in Paris, France is probably the most famous art gallery in the world. While it can also be considered a museum the art housed in the Louvre is truly stunning. The most famous piece of art in the Louvre is the Mona Lisa, by Da Vinci. This painting has been stolen and recovered, and is now kept under high security. 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.

London has an amazing gallery known as The National Gallery. This gallery boasts of some of the finest examples of European art, including paintings by Raphael, Manet, Leonardo Da Vinci, Renoir, and Monet. This gallery has a very large number of paintings and some of the most famous ones are: Sunflowers, by Vincent van Gogh, The Virgin of the Rocks, by Leonardo Da Vinci, and Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli.

Other than the traditional art galleries found all over the world that house the old greats, there are many that focus on the contemporary arts of the twentieth century. The George Pompidou Center in Paris is one of the most famous contemporary art galleries and museums in the world. Even the building itself is 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.

Most of the major European cities are home to at least a national and a contemporary gallery. Usually there are also private galleries. Any time you visit a major metropolitan area, be sure to include the galleries in your itinerary. It's a wonderful way to learn about a country and its cultures. History and its changes are reflected in the art on display.

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 as an expression of our culture, thought process and creativity has no parallel. Viewing these masterpieces in an art gallery transposes the viewer into the mind and time of the creator who has shaped our culture. About the author: Clair Jons is the proprietor of FE Art, a fantastic website to visit if you're looking for accurate up to date advice and discussion about Art. For more free articles on Art: visit: http://www.feart.com/articles Click here to get your own unique version of this article. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

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