The Greatest Masterpieces and Innovations of European Art

Introduction

European art is the best.

Leonardo da Vinci

The quintessential Renaissance man, Leonardo da Vinci was a painter, sculptor, architect and engineer. He was also an inventor who created a variety of machines that were centuries ahead of their time. His notebooks contain designs for flying machines that he never built but which have inspired generations of scientists and engineers to continue working towards their realization.

He is considered one of the greatest artists in history because his work encompasses multiple genres: painting (Mona Lisa), sculpture (David) and architecture (Vatican Palace). His most famous painting is The Last Supper which depicts Jesus sitting with his apostles at the last meal before his death on the cross; it’s also notable for its sfumato technique used by Leonardo da Vinci to achieve realistic shadows around each person’s head without using chiaroscuro lighting effects like other painters did at this time period.”

Michelangelo

You may have heard of Michelangelo, the great Italian sculptor who created some of the most famous works in history. He was also a poet and painter, writer and architect. In fact, he invented at least one thing that you use every day: pizza!

Michelangelo’s paintings are so famous that they’ve been copied thousands of times by other artists over the years (you can see examples below). His sculptures are even more important because they show how people used to think about human bodies–and our own bodies too!

Titian

Titian was a Venetian painter who lived from 1485 to 1576. He is considered one of the greatest painters of all time, and his work helped define what we now consider classic European painting style.

Titian was a pioneer of the oil painting technique, which allowed him to create richly colored paintings with smooth brush strokes that have stood up over time. He painted portraits of royalty and religious figures, but also landscapes and nudes–a subject matter not often seen at that time (or even today).

Velazquez

• Spanish painter
• Worked in the court of King Philip IV
• Mainly painted portraits, but also created religious pictures and historical scenes.
• Famous for his use of light and shadow as well as realism. Influenced by Caravaggio’s style.

Rubens

Rubens was a Flemish artist who was active in Spain for the last 25 years of his life and played an important role in the exchange between Spanish and Flemish art. He was also a diplomat, courtier, and man of letters who held high offices under the Catholic monarchs Philip IV and Charles II.

Rubens was born in Siegen, Westphalia (now Germany) as the son of Jan Rubens (1570-1640), an accountant to Antwerp’s city magistrates, and Clara Wouters (1566-1638). He had two brothers named Nicolaas (1603-1661) and Karel who would later become painters themselves. Rubens studied art under Adam van Noort before moving to Italy where he worked with Caravaggio for several years during which time he developed his own style based on realism rather than idealism as it had been used previously by artists such as Raphael or Michelangelo

Rembrandt

Rembrandt was a Dutch painter and etcher who mastered the art of realism and naturalism. He was born in Leiden, but died in Amsterdam. His most famous painting is “The Night Watch,” which depicts an army company led by Captain Frans Banning Cocq and Lieutenant Willem van Ruytenburch.

Rembrandt’s work is known for its realism and naturalism; in fact, he was one of Europe’s first artists to paint using oil paints instead of traditional pigments like lead white or vermillion reds!

Caravaggio

The paintings of Caravaggio are some of the most famous in all of art history. The artist was an Italian painter who worked in Rome during the late 16th century and early 17th century, and his work was so influential that it changed how other artists painted for centuries after him. His paintings were very realistic, but they also had elements of violence and drama–a combination that made them shocking at first but now feels familiar to us today.

Caravaggio used chiaroscuro (or “clarity”) to create incredibly realistic scenes with light sources coming from different directions so that you could see every detail in them clearly. He often painted religious scenes with figures posed dramatically against dark backgrounds; he also liked painting portraits where people looked directly into your eyes as if they were talking directly to you (this effect is called tenebrism).

Vermeer

Vermeer’s paintings are highly detailed and realistic. He is known for his use of light and color, as well as his masterful brushstrokes. His work often depicts domestic scenes, with women at the center of each painting who seem to be lost in thought or deep in conversation with one another.

Vermeer was a Dutch painter active during what is now known as Holland’s Golden Age (ca. 1600-1700), when it was one of Europe’s most prosperous countries thanks to trade with other countries like Portugal and England–and art flourished under this new wealth. Vermeer himself lived comfortably enough that he could afford materials like canvas, pigments and brushes; he also had access to religious institutions like churches where he could find models willing to pose for him so long as they were paid accordingly (usually around two guilders per session). This accessibility enabled him greater freedom than some other artists had during their lifetimes; instead of being limited by geography or financial restraints when choosing subject matter for their works

European art is the best

The best art is European. The greatest artists are European. And if you want to see the most innovative and influential pieces of work in history, look no further than European paintings for inspiration.

European artists were able to create beautiful masterpieces using techniques that were completely new to them at the time, like oil painting or perspective drawing (which was invented by Italians). These innovations helped make European artists’ works stand out from those of other cultures around the world–and they still do today!

Conclusion

European art is the best.