Famous Paintings Reviewed

Art Paintings in Washington, D.C.

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An art history blog post from Famous Paintings Reviewed.

With so many art paintings in Washington, D.C. art museums, what's an itinerary for seeing some of its famous paintings -- without becoming overwhelmed?

From a library of 23 art history books written by art historians, I researched which art paintings were used to exemplify styles and art movements from Renaissance art through Pop art. 17,000 pages later, I published Masterpiece Cards, 250 flashcards of the famous paintings that cropped up most -- think "The Greatest Hits of Art History"! 

If you, too, are willing to defer to the collective wisdom of forty art historians, here's your guide to some of the most famous art paintings in Washington, D.C. art museums: 

• Beckmann Max. The Argonauts (Triptych). Oil on canvas, 1950. National Gallery of Art.

• Bellini, Giovanni and Titian. Feast of the Gods. Oil on canvas, 1514. National Gallery of Art. Read about these art paintings by Titian.

• Bonnard, Pierre. The Open Window. Oil on canvas, ca. 1921. Phillips Collection

• Cassatt, Mary. The Boating Party. Oil on canvas, ca. 1893 - 1894. National Gallery of Art

• Castagno, Andrea del. David with the Head of Goliath. Tempera on leather mounted on panel, ca. 1450-57. National Gallery of Art 

• Cezanne, Paul. Boy in a Red Waistcoat (below). Oil on canvas, 1888-1895. National Gallery of Art

Cezanne, Boy in a Red Waistcoat.  Oil on canvas, 1888-1890.  Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mellon, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Gallery of Art.

• Chardin, Jean-Baptiste Simeon. The Kitchen Maid. Oil on canvas, ca. 1740. National Gallery of Art

• Church, Frederic Edwin. Niagara. Oil on canvas, 1857. Corcoran Gallery of Art

• Clouet, Francois. Lady in her Bath (Diane de Poitiers). Oil on wood, ca. 1570. National Gallery of Art

• Constable, John. Wivenhoe Park, Essex. Oil on canvas, 1816. National Gallery of Art

• Corot, Jean-Baptiste-Camille. Ville d'Avray. Oil on canvas, 1867 - 1870. National Gallery of Art

• Cuyp, Aelbert. Maas at Dordrecht.  Oil on canvas, ca. 1660. National Gallery of Art

• David, Jacques-Louis. Napoleon in his Study.  Oil on canvas, 1812. National Gallery of Art.  Read about other famous artwork by David.

• Derain, Andre. Mountains at Collioure.  Oil on canvas,1905. National Gallery of Art

• Fontana, Lavinia.  Portrait of a Noblewoman. Oil on canvas, ca. 1580.  National Museum of Women in the Arts. 

• Frankenthaler, Helen. Mountains and Sea. Oil and charcoal on canvas, 1952. Collection of the artist on extended loan to the National Gallery of Art

• Gainsborough, Thomas. Mrs. Richard Brinsley Sheridan.  Oil on canvas, 1785 - 1787. National Gallery of Art

• Hicks, Edward. The Peaceable Kingdom.  Oil on canvas, 1833 - 1834. National Gallery of Art

• Hofmann, Hans. The Gate.  Oil on canvas, 1959 - 1960. Guggenheim Museum

• Homer, Winslow. Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Oil on canvas, 1876. National Gallery of Art

• Indiana, Robert. The Figure Five.  Oil on canvas, 1963. Smithsonian American Art Museum

• Lawrence, Jacob. During the World War There Was a Great Migration North by Southern Negroes (panel 1 from The Migration of the Negro). Tempera on masonite, 1940 - 1941. Phillips Collection.  Read about all sixty art paintings by Lawrence in The Migration series. 

• Leyster, Judith. Self-Portrait, Oil on canvas, 1635. National Gallery of Art

• Modigliani, Amedeo. Nude on a Blue Cushion.  Oil on canvas, 1917. National Gallery of Art

• Picasso, Pablo. Family of Saltimbanques.  Oil on canvas, 1905. National Gallery of Art. Explore other Picasso paintings, including Portrait of Gertrude Stein.

•  Pippin, Horace. Domino Players.  Oil on composition board, 1943. Phillips Collection

• Pissarro, Camille. The Boulevard des Italiens, Morning, Sunlight. Oil on canvas, 1897. National Gallery of Art

• Pollock, Jackson. Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist). Oil, enamel and aluminum on canvas, 1950. National Gallery of Art

• Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio). Alba Madonna.  Oil on canvas transferred from panel, ca. 1510. National Gallery of Art

• Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio). The Small Cowper Madonna.  Oil on wood panel, ca. 1505. National Gallery of Art

• Rauschenberg, Robert. Reservoir.  Oil, pencil, fabric, wood and metal, 1961. Smithsonian American Art Museum

• Rembrandt (Rembrandt Harmensz van Rijn). Self Portrait.  Oil on canvas, ca. 1659. National Gallery of Art.  Read about another famous painting by Rembrandt, Aristotle with the Bust of Homer.

• Renoir, Pierre-Auguste. The Luncheon of the Boating Party.  Oil on canvas, 1881. Phillips Collection

•  Rothko, Mark. The Ochre [Ochre and Red on Red].  Oil on canvas, 1954. Phillips Collection.  Don't miss the Rothko Room, which holds four art paintings by Rothko.

• Stael, Nicolas de. Musicians.  Oil on canvas, 1953. Phillips Collection

• van der Weyden, Rogier. Portrait of a Lady.  Oil and tempera on panel, ca. 1460. National Gallery of Art. Check out other art paintings by van der Weyden.

• Vasarely, Victor de. Arcturus II.  Oil on canvas, 1966. Hirshhorn Museum

• Vermeer, Jan. Woman Holding a Balance.  Oil on canvas, ca. 1665. National Gallery of Art.  Explore other famous paintings by Vermeer.

The largest of the Washington D.C. art museums is the National Gallery of Art, which, in spite of its youth -- its art collection was formed in the 20th and 21st centuries -- has an internationally influential collection of American and European art paintings.

The Phillips Collection houses famous artwork by European and American painters. Its founder, Duncan Phillips (1886-1966), was an early proponent for American art, contending that American painters were as talented as their European counterparts. The Phillips Collection of 3,000+ art paintings focuses on impressionist paintings and modern art paintings.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum contains works of art solely by American painters and artists, boasting one of the most extensive collections of American art.

The National Museum of Women in the Arts is the world's only art museum dedicated to showcasing the contributions of women artists. 

The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden shows contemporary and modern art from the 20th and 21st centuries.

American art from the 18th century on is the focus of the Corcoran Gallery of Art and Design.