My favorite work of art is Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." I saw it for the first time at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy and I was just overwhelmed by it. It's hard to say why this painting had this effect on me. The faces and bodies of the figures are not especially beautiful in a modern-day sense. I think it has to do with the gracefulness of the figures and the vulnerability of Venus herself, combined with the sheer size of the painting that made a huge impression on me. I also suspect that the intention of the artist comes across to me: Botticelli seemed to want to create something of beauty. I think he succeeded.
What is your favorite work of art and why?

My favorite work is "The Beeches" by Asher Durand. His technical ability is peerless. But it was the spiritual quality of this work that drew me immediately. A path leading out of the stand of beeches leads the eye to a lone shepherd in a red cape surrounded by a small flock of sheep beside a pond. In the far and hazy distance is a church steeple barely visible. It has so many deep meanings for me it's difficult to express them all: The Beeches = our Creator; the Shepherd & flock = the Great Mediator; the steeple in the distance = our minuscule understanding of the "big picture" (pardon the pun).

The other work that touched me as profound was Frederick Church's "Aurora Borealis". I saw it at a Smithsonian Exhibition here in Phoenix and was totally awed by it. Not only its sheer size (it is a wall-sized painting one could actually walk into) or the time and work it took to accomplish it, but the subject matter is wonderous. At first I thought it was a trick of light or they had rigged something to make the thing come to life because the aurora actually shimmered! I remember looking around to see if anyone else had noticed. Of course the guards wouldn't let me near enough to touch it. I'm sure they thought I'd lost it completely. Even though I could see the brush strokes, it was as if the sky was liquid and the aurora changed color.

When I relayed the story to my art professor, she just nodded wisely and said I'd had an "art awakening."

Great topic. Thanks for letting me share.

my faverite is "field of Poppies" by Claude Monet!! lol i took an art corse and fell in love with art with a more understanding!! but Impressionism is m alltime faverite! but Edgar Degass and claude Monet are my 2 altmost faverite!!

(P.S. please pardon my spelling <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />)

i also hope to learn more!!

HaPPyEaStEr! <img src="/images/graemlins/easter.gif" alt="" />
thank you

Sam

It is interesting that you mention the term "art awakening." My experience with the Botticelli seems to be of a similar nature. I was so overwhelmed, that everything else in the room disappeared and I was only aware of the painting in an intense way. I felt as though I might actually collapse, it was such a strong feeling.

Thanks for sharing. <img src="/images/graemlins/rolling.gif" alt="" />

To Aggirl07,

I have seen Field of Poppies and can understand why it's your favorite. My best experience with Impressionism was in Paris at a gallery called the Jeu de Paume. It is a small gallery that is filled to the brim with Impressionist paintings. Many works that I had been somewhat unimpressed with "came to life" there. I think the reason for this was that the paintings were huge! A small print doesn't do them justice. I'll bet Field of Poppies would be gorgeous in person! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Yes, that's exactly the feeling! It's happened a few times now. Over 'Aurora' and 'Luncheon of the Boat Party' by Renoir. It was as if I could walk on board that boat and join right in. I keep wondering if I should be on meds, lol.

Mary Cassatt is also a favorite of mine; her luminous pastels and homely scenes of domesticity are soft and light-handed. However, from what I've read about her, the artist, she was somewhat opposite from what she painted; a bit of a rebel and a "b". <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My favourite artist is Salvador Dali. His work is exceptional, thought provoking , some surreal , some very beautiful...and how can you not enjoy the work of one who said this.....

"Every morning when I wake up, I experience an exquisite joy - the joy of being Salvador Dal� - and I ask myself in rapture: What wonderful things this Salvador Dal� is going to accomplish today?" - Salvador Felipe Jacinto Dal�

To view........

http://www.dali-gallery.com/html/dali.php

Of his work, my favourites are just too many to mention !

His outlook comes out in his work ...he was certainly a Master of his craft and like most geniuses...he was a true eccentric ! <img src="/images/graemlins/beamedup.gif" alt="" />

My favorite work of art is Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night. When I was a little girl, maybe 10 years old, my mother bought a set of 12 books (not encyclopedia, these had a bright orange cover) for my brothers and me. One book dealt with art. I used to get into trouble because I was always tracing pictures in the book. My favorite was The Starry Night. I knew the painting long before I knew who van Gogh was or that he was famous. There is so much movement in his painting, you know like rockets <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> but for some reason I find it very restful and comforting. To this day I am a sky watcher, especially late at night or just before dawn.

My fave is by Edward Munch called The Scream. I came across this as a young teenager and fell in love. It was doing all the things I always wanted to do! Though the color painting is okay. I feel that the B&W one brings out more of a dramatic side! <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

My all time favorite is Edouard Manet's Olympia. She is just beautiful.

The Mona Lisa is special too. It is great in person. So is Matisse's the Dance.