The 10 best art galleries in the world
Art galleries are an ideal platform for displaying visual arts, be it painting, sculpture, or photography. The art galleries are a collected culmination of the endurance, time, effort and tastes of many generations, in order to represent the diverse arts and cultures of various eras. So, whether contemporary or traditional Fine Art, art galleries house them all. By promoting emerging artists of all ages, art galleries also give them the opportunity to flaunt their artwork, sometimes to internationally renowned artists. Committed to excellence in art, Top 10 Art Galleries offer you a rich and memorable experience. This article tries to imagine the ten best galleries in the world.
1. Louvre Museum, Paris. The Louvre in Paris is one of the most visited art museums in France. From its beginnings as a royal fortress to the public gallery we see today, the Louvre, with its architectural superiority and one of the most impressive art collections, has dominated Paris since its inception. The works of art on display at this art gallery have a universal appeal that strikes a chord with all its viewers. Some exceptional paintings that the museum houses include “The Coronation of Napoleon” by Jacques-Louis David, “Louis XIV” by Hyacinth Rigaud, and “Mono Lisa” and “The Virgin on the Rock” by Leonardo da Vinci.
2. The National Gallery, London. The National Gallery in London is an exciting exhibition of Western European art, where history is represented and well preserved. Founded in 1824, the art gallery houses a rich collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the 13th to 18th centuries. The gallery has always been the center of criticism and controversy for not planning an effective management of the space and for policies that consider the preservation and restoration of works of art. Some must-see works of art are Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Virgin of the Rock” and “Cartoon from Burlington House”, Raphael’s “Portraits of Pope Julius II” and “The Virgin of the Roses”, and “The Entombment” and “The Virgin of Manchester” by Michelangelo. “
3. Prado Museum, Madrid. An art gallery in the capital city of Spain, exhibits the stupendous and the Spanish royal anthology. It has an elaborate collection of approximately 5,000 drawings, 2,000 prints, 2,000 works of art and decorative works, and 1,000 coins and medals. The gallery houses one of the best collections of Spanish painting, especially by Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya and El Greco. The works of art are “Las Meninas” by Velázquez, “The Naked Maja” by Francisco de Goya, “Christ’s Descent from the Cross” by Roiger Vander Weydon, “Self-portrait” by Albrecht Durer and “The Garden of Earthly Delights” by Hieronymus Bosch.
4. The Metropolitan Museum, New York. This North American art gallery has a colossal collection of around 2 million works of art and is considered the largest of its kind. The collection includes, among others, classical antiquity and ancient Egyptian art; sculptures by European masters; American (Gilbert’s “Portrait of George Washington” and works by Winslow Homer, George Caleb Bingham, and John Singer); modern Art; African; Asian (Chinese calligraphy and painting, including Nepali and Tibetan works); Oceanic (Australian Aboriginal rock paintings); Byzantine and Islamic (Iranian and Mughal Indian miniature painting); and Greek and Roman art (Euphronios Krates and Amanthus Sarcophagus); and a wide assortment of the world’s musical instruments.
5. Sao Paulo Museum of Art, Brazil. The Sao Paulo Museum of Brazil in Latin America is a prominent building that houses an exquisite collection of Latin American works, dating back to World War II. Some of the works of art in the gallery are, “Resurrection of Christ” by Raphael, “Self-portrait with a golden chain” by Rembrandt, Brazilian art (Nicholas Tarsilao Amaral) and Brasiliana, Latin American paintings (Torres García, Gilbert Stuart) and from the north Europe.
6. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne. This gallery is one of the oldest and largest in Australia, displaying over 63,000 works of art. The art gallery also runs an art school, which has become an alma mater for many renowned Australian artists. The art gallery includes the works of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Marco Palmezzano, and Rembrandt.
7. State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. A world famous group of Russian fine art, this gallery displays ranges from Vladimir and Andrei Rubler’s “Theotokos” to “Trinity” to Wassily Kandinsky’s monumental “Composition VII” and Kazimir Malevich’s “The Black Square”. The art gallery also has an excellent collection of Socialist Realism sculptures, such as Yevgeny Vuchetich’s iconic “Iron Felix” statue.
8. National Archaeological Museum, Athens. An extensive collection of artifacts from the archaeological sites of Greece, ranging from prehistoric art to late antiquity, this large museum is an ideal place for archeology students. Established in 1829, the museum is an imposing neoclassical building, which was quite popular in Europe at the time. It displays a wide range of prehistoric art, sculpture collections, Santorni finds, Stathatos collection, Vlastos collections, Egyptian art and Near Eastern antiquities.
9. Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney. This public gallery in Sydney showcases Australian (from settlement to contemporary), Asian and European art. Some famous works displayed in the art gallery are, “Chaucer at the Court of Edward III” by Ford Madox Brown, “Fire’s on” by Streeton. Other Australian works on display include those of John Glover, Arthur Streeton, Rupert Bunny and Roland Wakelin.
10. Vatican Museum in Rome. In the 16th century, Pope Julius II founded this Roman Museum, which displays a large collection from the Roman Catholic Church. Notable collections of the art gallery include Caravaggio’s Burial, Leonardo da Vinci’s “Portrait of Saint Jerome” and Raphael’s masterpiece “The School of Athens.”