17th & 18th Century Art

 

  1. The Norton Simon Museum The web gallery "17th & 18th Century" has great examples of this time period with artists often labeled "The Old Masters." There are many styles during these centuries, so if at first you don't see something you like, keep exploring.

  2. Web Gallery of Art Virtual Tours There are 14 virtual tours of masterpieces of European art from 1200 - 1800 AD. They are organized by country and some tours cover two to three of our major time periods. For instance, tour #12 is French Art in the 15th - 18th Centuries. There are many paintings and sculptures for our theme of the Spiritual World. Try one of the tours. If you choose an artwork, make sure to check the dates so that you place the art in the right time period.

  3. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston In the Museum's "Europe to 1900" web gallery, 17th and 18th Century artworks are objects #42 - 98. They are quite interesting with good information. Be careful to have the correct time period as this web gallery covers many centuries of art.

  4. The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston In the Museum's "America to 1900" web gallery, 17th and 18th Century artworks are objects #1 - 28. Enjoy art from the 17th and 18th century - the birth of our country. They are quite interesting with good information. Be careful to have the correct time period as this web gallery covers many centuries of art.

  5. The Metropolitan Museum of Art The "European Paintings" web gallery covers art from the 12th through the 19th century. Many of you have been in this gallery before, but check again for art from this time period.

  6. Artemesia Gentileschi The Metropolitan created this web gallery to explore a masterpiece painted by an fascinating, independent woman artist who broke with tradition in 17th century Italy.

  7. John Singelton Copley The Metroplotian highlights the artistic career of a very important artist from 18th century America. There are many examples of his portraits.

  8. American Folk Art The Metropolitan's web gallery has five masterpieces from a special exhibition. There is biographical information about the artists and links to other work by each artist.

  9. The Walters Collection This web gallery covers the Baroque Style (17th Century) and many others over many time periods. Check the dates carefully for each artwork. There are masterpieces by many of the finest artists plus furniture, ceramics and armor.

  10. The Louvre, France The "Paintings" web gallery covers many centuries of art and is sub-divided by country and century. Click on "Selected Works." You can enlarge each artwork to see many details. Be careful of the dates.

  11. The Louvre, France The "Prints and Drawings" web gallery has very interesting images of drawings by the masters. The gallery covers many centuries of art and is sub-divided by country and century. You can enlarge each artwork to see many details. Be careful of the dates.

  12. The Kunsthistorisches Museum, Venice The "Picture Gallery" covers many centuries of art. It has some of the clearest and brightest digital images on the web. The web gallery covers many centuries of art, divided by country. Be careful of your dates.

  13. The Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam This museum has many works by Rembrandt van Rijn and other master artists from the Netherlands. You can explore the highlights of the collection through the section labeled "1250 Exhibits" by selecting a particular artist. Have fun exploring.

  14. The Metropolitan Museum of Art has a wonderful feature, the Timeline of Art History. There are hundreds of beautifully illustrated articles on special topics organized chronologically, or from the oldest to the newest, as art developed around the world. Here are topics and artworks of interest for the 17th and 18th centuries.

    • Annibale Carracci Carracci was a rebel who rebelled against the traditional Italian painting styel and created a new style based on nature that studied the effects of light on his subjects.
    • John Singleton Copley Copley (1738-1815) was a brilliant portrait painter and historical painter in colonial America and later in England.
    • Drawings: Late 18th Century America This is a beautiful selection of pencil, chalk and pastel portrait drawings.
    • American Portrait Miniatures These delicate, tiny portraits were mounted in gold lockets, brooches and bracelets, allowing people to keep likenesses of their loved ones near to their heart.
    • Gilbert Stuart Everyone recognizes his portraits of George Washington. Here you'll see some of the other famous people from colonial America.
    • Gian Lorenzo Bernini He was the premier artist of 17th century Rome. He created expressive sculptures and paintings for the Catholic church.
    • Francois Boucher A favorite of the French court, he used his light and lively style to create Rococo masterpieces - paintings, sculpture and interior design.
    • Carravaggio and his Followers He revolutionized painting with his dramatic use of shadows and light as well as his shocking use of contemporary dress on religious subjects.
    • Jean-Honore Fragonard He developed an exuberant and fluid style as a painter, draftsman and printmaker. His playful scenes of lovers were very popular.
    • Francisco de Goya He is considered the most important Spanish artist of the late 18th and early 19th century. He painted the pomp of the royal court and the destruction of war.
    • The Art of 17th and 18th Century Naples This Italian city became an art center where artists were famous for dramatic expressions, emphatic naturalism and intense light and shadow.
    • Giovanni Piranesei He was trained as an architect and engineer, but went on to become one of the greatest printmakers to glorify the wonders of Ancient Rome.
    • Nicolas Poussin His sensitivity to gesture, design and color helped make his a master of narrative and historical paintings. He captured the iintense emotions of many ancient legends.
    • Rembrandt van Rijn He was the greatest artist of Holland's "Golden Age." He intensely studied people and their surroundings then used dramatic light and shadow to create unforgettable portraits.
    • Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck Rubens and van Dyck were famous across Europe in the Catholic church, royal court and business centers. They did it all - religious paintings, scenes from mythology, classical and modern history and portraits.
    • Giambattista Tiepolo He celebrated the imagination by combining the world of ancient history and myth into grand, theatrical paintings.
    • Johannes Vermeer Learn more about the artist who inspired the movie "Girl with the Pearl Earring."
    • Antoine Watteau His paintings feature figures in aristocratic and theatrical dress in lush imaginary landscapes.

 
Previous Back to Discover Western Art Next