1 . CNN compared dozens of popular masterpieces and made a list of 10 most famous paintings in the world. The top 3 are as below:
1. ‘Mona Lisa’
Artist:Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1503 to 1519
Where to see it: Louyre Museum (Paris)
It should come as no surprise that the most famous painting in the world is that mysterious woman with the mysterious smile.
What’s so special about the Mona Lisa? Did you know? Before the 20th century, historians say the “Mona Lisa” was little known outside art circles. But in 1911, an ex-Louvre employee stole the picture and hid it for two years. That theft helped cement (巩固) the painting’s place in popular culture ever since and exposed millions to Renaissance (文艺复兴) art.
2. ‘The Last Supper’
Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Estimated date: 1495 to 1498
Where to see it: Santa Maria delle Grazie (Milan, Italy)
Leonardo, the original “Renaissance Man,” is the only artist to appear on this list twice.
Painted in an era when religious imagery was still a dominant artistic theme, “The Last Supper” catches the last time Jesus broke bread with his students before his crucifixion (十字架刑罚).
The painting is actually a huge fresco (壁画) — 4.6 meters (15 feet) high and 8. 8 meters (28.9 feet) wide, which makes for a memorable viewing
It is Leonardo da Vinci’s legacy. Did you know? The fresco has survived two wartime threats — Napoleon’s troops used the wall on which the fresco was painted as target practice. It also was exposed to the air for several years when bombing during World War II destroyed the roof of the Dominican convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
3. ‘The Starry Night’
Artist: Vincent van Gogh
Date:1889
Where to see it: Museum of Modern Art (New York City)
The comparatively abstract painting is the signature example of van Gogh’s innovative and bold use of thick brushstrokes. The painting’s striking blues and yellows and the dreamy atmosphere have been attracting art lovers for decades.
1. What is special about the Mona Lisa?| A．A theft made it a household name. |
| B．It has survived two wartime threats. |
| C．It is a classic example of van Gogh’s creativity. |
| D．It shows a mysterious woman with a mysterious smile. |
| A．Broke up with. | B．Quarreled with. |
| C．Had dinner with. | D．Made friends with. |
| A．In a novel. | B．In a biography. |
| C．In a textbook. | D．In an art magazine. |
