The World's Greatest Paintings [repost]

Great paintings challenge us to understand them, to penetrate their mysteries, and to appreciate their riches. But within the vast history of art, there exist only a small number of paintings that transcend the traditional role of art to become cultural signifiers—works that allow us to comprehend more deeply the world and our place within it.

So what distinguishes one of these select masterworks? Dazzling in their visual impact and their grip on the imagination, the world's greatest paintings

challenge the conventions of the art of their times, extending or transforming the painter's visual language and broadening the impact of art in Western societies;
serve as visual anchors of faith, politics, philosophy, mythology, literature, and every phase and aspect of social history; and
depict human life in visions of enduring power, reflecting and affecting the times and cultures in which they were created.

Now, in 24 illuminating lectures, The World's Greatest Paintings leads you in a compelling discovery of some of the most significant paintings in Western art. Taking you from the 14th century to the 20th, distinguished art historian and veteran Great Courses Professor William Kloss reveals a group of works that, in his expert judgment, rank among the greatest paintings ever made.

The World's Greatest Paintings explores one of the supreme legacies of human life, opening rich perspectives on Western civilization through your encounter with these daring and sublime works of art.

Enter the Richness of the Painter's World

From the opening lecture, Professor Kloss demonstrates that his aim is "to make you feel welcome and comfortable in the company of paintings." With this focus, he guides you in a direct and engaging encounter with the images themselves, challenging you to consider how and why these paintings affect us, and inviting you to join him in looking deeply into the painter's multidimensional visual realm.

Focusing on 65 masterpieces of Western painting, including key works by Giotto, Titian, Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Picasso, The World's Greatest Paintings offers you a vivid, visceral encounter with genius, shining light on the unique technical, stylistic, and expressive achievements of each painting.

As a foundation for the inquiry, you consider ways of defining greatness in painting:

Uniqueness: The qualities that set a painting apart from all others in a way that influences or changes the course of art
Impact: A painting's effect on viewers, both initial and cumulative
Emotional and intellectual resonance: The deepening, comprehensive experience of a painting, justifying its initial impression

Throughout the series, you witness the depth of painting's interface with Western social institutions, culture, and thought.

Beginning with the 14th-century religious masters, you see how painting affirmed the foundations of Christian theology in the glorious images of Duccio, Masaccio, and Grünewald. You see how painters responded dramatically to political events in David's stark portrayal of the assassinated Jean-Paul Marat and in Delacroix's allegorical Liberty Leading the People. And you see Western social culture eloquently revealed in scenes of life by Bruegel, Steen, Hals, and Manet.

Rather than tracing particular schools or "isms," the lectures are arranged chronologically, showing what painters of contrasting traditions and cultures were doing in the same time periods, thus following the progressive unfolding of each painter's art. And with most lectures limited to only two to three paintings, you enjoy the rare chance to hear an expert talk at length about each carefully selected work.

Lectures:

00. The Professor's Biography
01. Greatness in Painting
02. The Majesty of Duccio and Giotto
03. Acts of Faith - Masaccio, Van Eyck, Van der Weyden
04. The Diversity of Piero, Mantegna, Botticelli
05. The Devotion of Bellini, Geertgen, Dürer
06. Masterworks by Leonardo, Raphael, Correggio
07. Great Ensembles - Michelangelo and Grünewald
08. Ideal and Real - Giorgione, Titian, Holbein
09. Living and Dying - Bruegel, El Greco, Caravaggio
10. Life Stories by Ter Brugghen, Rubens, Steen
11. Inside Vermeer, Veláсzquez, Rembrandt
12. Spirit and Thought - Hals, Rembrandt, La Tour
13. The Serenity of Poussin, Claude, Watteau
14. In Contrast - Chardin, Tiepolo, Gainsborough
15. Dark Images of David, Goya, Friedrich
16. The Worlds of Constable, Turner, Delacroix
17. Dark to Bright - Courbet, Church, Monet
18. Alone and Together - Whistler, Degas, Renoir
19. Unlike Any Other - Sargent, Manet, Seurat
20. Close Observation - Cézanne, Van Gogh, Homer
21. The Human Condition - Munch, Matisse, Schiele
22. Art in Time of War - Monet and Picasso
23. Time and Memory - Magritte, Hopper, Gorky
24. Expressive Abstractions - Pollock and Hofmann

The Joy of Painting Complete Course

Drawing from the Model by Jeffrey Watts

Classical Painting: The Realist Sight Size Method with Judith Kudlow

The Artist's Channel (Full collection)

Oil Painting Techniques and Procedures

Painting the Corporate Portrait

The Carder Method for Painting in Oil

The Joy of Painting flowers

Frank Clarke Simply Painting: ...s - Introduction to Still Life

Ann Pember - Vibrant Orchid. Painting in the flow of watercolor

David A. Leffel - The Art of Painting

Charles Reid - Flower Painting in Watercolor

Learn To Paint - Watercolour Adventures

Painting Large Landscapes

Ellen Soderquist - The Art of Gesture Drawing

Watercolor and Gouache Painting - The Techniques of Erik Tiemens

When You Can’t Paint Out

Frank Clarke - Simply Painting...United States: The Northeast 1

Painting the Sea in Oils

Advanced Portrait Painting

Kasey Sealy - Learn to Paint in Oils Plein Air

Scott L. Christensen - Three Landscape Studies

Charles Reid - Flowers in Watercolor

Pascal Amblard - Fresco Landscape Mural

Barry Watkin - Progressing with Pastel

Johnnie Liliedahl - Sarah

Simply Watercolour by Robert A Wade

Alwyn Crawshaw - A Brush With Art: The Complete Watercolour Course

BV5 venezia

Artistic Anatomy with Rey Bustos

Albert Handell - In the Cedar Grove at Point Lobos

Richard Schmid - White pine

David Palumbo - Painting "Stephie 7"

Landscapes Through Time with David Dunlop

Drawing The Nude From Life

Tonal Drawing - An Introduction

Terry Harrison: Acrylics The Easy Way

Jay Johansen - Dramatic Watercolor Portraits

Beginning to Draw

The Many Styles of Cheng-Khee Chee

Analytical Figure Drawing

Portraits by Scott Burdick

Elizabeth Pruitt - Roses & Jade

Techniques for Figure and Portrait Drawing by Scott Burdick

Painting Metal - Copper and Brass

Jim Wilcox - Painting from the Outside In

Courtship by J. Liliedahl

Narcissus by Johnnie Liliedahl

"The Snack" by J. Liliedahl

Daniel Greene - Oil Portrait

Understanding Color

Color Solutions

Light & Shadow by Johnnie Liliedahl

Alexei Antonov - Claret Grapes

At the Opera by Jeffrey Watts

Bob Ross - Wildlife Painting Techniques

Getting Started with Bob Ross

Wicked Colors - Airbrush Colors for Professionals

5 Pencil Method - How To Draw A Portrait

The Carder Method for Painting in Oil

Frank Clarke - Simply Painting...cs, Introduction to Still Life

Drawing from the Model by Jeffrey Watts

John Raynes - Drawing & Painting People

David A. Leffel: Painting the Portrait, Lewis

Azaleas and Oranges by Robert A. Johnson

Landscape Drawing & Painting Series

Kevin Macpherson - Winter Escape

How To Draw Animals with Marshall Vandruff

Cast Drawing with Matthew Archambault

How to Draw Cartoon Animals

Portrait Demonstration Step-By-Step by Tamara Geddes

The Portrait in Three Color Chalk with Robert Liberace

E. John Robinson: Seascapes In Watercolour

Draw With Confidence: From Basic To Brilliant

Steps to a Likeness - Oil Portraits with Perri Sparks

How to Draw

Anatomy for Artists: The Human Form Revealed