Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 and died on May 2, 1519. He was Italian.
Different to a typical surname you might think of today, "da Vinci" simply means "of Vinci", the Tuscan town where he was born.
Leonardo da Vinci wasn't just an incredible artist, he was an inventor, scientist, mathematician, engineer, writer, musician and much more.

The Mona Lisa, oil on poplar panel by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1503–1506, perhaps continuing until c. 1517) — The *Mona Lisa*, oil on poplar panel by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1503–1506, perhaps continuing until c. 1517)

Salvator Mundi, oil on walnut panel by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1500) — *Salvator Mundi,* oil on walnut panel by Leonardo da Vinci (c. 1500)

2. Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas was a French artist born in Paris in 1834.
He was supposed to become a lawyer, but he preferred to doodle so he became an artist instead!
Although Degas is often described as an impressionist, he didn't really think he was one. He never painted 'en plein air', arguing that you need time in the studio to really perfect a painting.
Degas is perhaps best known for painting ballet dancers. He was fascinated by them, and wanted to capture their grace and power. He often painted them backstage, getting ready for a performance.

The Ballet Class c. 1871-74 by Edgar Degas — *The Ballet Class* c. 1871-74 by Edgar Degas

Little Dancer of Fourteen Years c. 1880 by Edgar Degas — *Little Dancer of Fourteen Years* c. 1880 by Edgar Degas

3. Frida Kahlo

Born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954), known as Frida Kahlo.
She was influenced by native Mexican culture, shown in bright colors, with a mixture of realism and symbolism.
She was married to Diego Rivera, also a well-known painter.
She studied medicine and was going to become a doctor before she started painting.

4. Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky (16 Dec. 1866 – 13 Dec. 1944) was a Russian painter, printmaker and art theorist.
He was a major figure in modern art and painted some of the first modern abstract works.
He was interested in geometry in art and philosophy. The creative aspect of the form is expressed by a descending series of circles, triangles and squares.
In Germany he taught at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture from 1922 until it closed in 1933.

Circles in a Circle by Wassily Kandinsky (1923)

Composition VII by Wassily Kandinsky (1913)

5. Amedeo Modigliani

Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (July 12, 1884 - January 24, 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor.
He was beset by health problems after an attack of typhoid at the age of 14 followed by tuberculosis two years later.
Modigliani developed his own unique style, an oddity of a creative genius who was a contemporary of the Cubists, but not a part of their movement.
He is noted for his fast work, usually finishing a portrait in one or two sittings.

Portrait of Paulette Jourdain by Amedeo Modigliani

Boy in a Striped Sweater by Amedeo Modigliani

6. Claude Monet

Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French impressionist artist.
His father wanted him to help run the family's grocery business. However, Monet wanted to be an artist.
One of his most famous paintings was called Water Lilies, which he repeated many times in various conditions.
Monet used broad brush strokes to build up his pictures, and painted quite quickly to try and get the idea of the light he could see into his paintings.

Waterlilies, painted by Monet in his garden at Giverny in 1899 — *Waterlilies*, painted by Monet in his garden at Giverny in 1899

Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet and Her Son by Claude Monet — *Woman with a Parasol - Madame Monet* *and Her Son* by Claude Monet

7. Georgia O’Keeffe

Born in 1887, Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist who painted nature in a way that showed how it made her feel.
Georgia knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to be an artist.
She is best known for her paintings of flowers and desert landscapes.
She played an important part in the development of modern art in America, becoming the first female painter to gain respect in New York's art world in the 1920s.

Hibiscus with Plumeria by Georgia O’Keeffe

8. Pablo Picasso

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 in Málaga, Spain – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor.
He is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is best known as the co-founder of cubism.
Picasso could draw and paint when he was very young. His first word was lápiz, the Spanish word for "pencil".

Child with a Dove, 1901 by Pablo Picasso

Sources

8 Famous Artists You Should Know

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci was born on April 15, 1452 and died on May 2, 1519. He was Italian.

Different to a typical surname you might think of today, "da Vinci" simply means "of Vinci", the Tuscan town where he was born.

Leonardo da Vinci wasn't just an incredible artist, he was an inventor, scientist, mathematician, engineer, writer, musician and much more.

2. Edgar Degas

Edgar Degas was a French artist born in Paris in 1834.

He was supposed to become a lawyer, but he preferred to doodle so he became an artist instead!

Although Degas is often described as an impressionist, he didn't really think he was one. He never painted 'en plein air', arguing that you need time in the studio to really perfect a painting.

Degas is perhaps best known for painting ballet dancers. He was fascinated by them, and wanted to capture their grace and power. He often painted them backstage, getting ready for a performance.

3. Frida Kahlo

Born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderón (6 July 1907 – 13 July 1954), known as Frida Kahlo.

She was influenced by native Mexican culture, shown in bright colors, with a mixture of realism and symbolism.

She was married to Diego Rivera, also a well-known painter.

She studied medicine and was going to become a doctor before she started painting.

4. Wassily Kandinsky

Wassily Kandinsky (16 Dec. 1866 – 13 Dec. 1944) was a Russian painter, printmaker and art theorist.

He was a major figure in modern art and painted some of the first modern abstract works.

He was interested in geometry in art and philosophy. The creative aspect of the form is expressed by a descending series of circles, triangles and squares.

In Germany he taught at the Bauhaus school of art and architecture from 1922 until it closed in 1933.

5. Amedeo Modigliani

Amedeo Clemente Modigliani (July 12, 1884 - January 24, 1920) was an Italian painter and sculptor.

He was beset by health problems after an attack of typhoid at the age of 14 followed by tuberculosis two years later.

Modigliani developed his own unique style, an oddity of a creative genius who was a contemporary of the Cubists, but not a part of their movement.

He is noted for his fast work, usually finishing a portrait in one or two sittings.

6. Claude Monet

Claude Monet (14 November 1840 – 5 December 1926) was a French impressionist artist.

His father wanted him to help run the family's grocery business. However, Monet wanted to be an artist.

One of his most famous paintings was called Water Lilies, which he repeated many times in various conditions.

Monet used broad brush strokes to build up his pictures, and painted quite quickly to try and get the idea of the light he could see into his paintings.

7. Georgia O’Keeffe

Born in 1887, Georgia O'Keeffe was an American artist who painted nature in a way that showed how it made her feel.

Georgia knew from the age of 12 that she wanted to be an artist.

She is best known for her paintings of flowers and desert landscapes.

She played an important part in the development of modern art in America, becoming the first female painter to gain respect in New York's art world in the 1920s.

8. Pablo Picasso

Pablo Ruiz Picasso (25 October 1881 in Málaga, Spain – 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter and sculptor.

He is considered one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is best known as the co-founder of cubism.

Picasso could draw and paint when he was very young. His first word was lápiz, the Spanish word for "pencil".

Instagram Posts