By Clair Jons

Best of the Best - The Worlds Great Art Galleries

In any city in the world that you choose to visit, you will be sure to find at least one art gallery. However, some of them are so well-known, that people will literally travel the world to find them. These most famous galleries house the great masterpieces of the world.

Probably the most famous art gallery in the entire world is the Louvre, located in Paris, France. The building itself is a museum, but it's more widely known as being home to many stunning paintings. The most famous of all is da Vinci's Mona Lisa. Due to theft, and thankfully being returned, security is extremely high. You will find other paintings by
Leonardo da Vinci, as well as other world class painters.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, is a renowned location for beautiful art masterpieces. This museum has an impressive assortment of American paintings. In addition to these, it also has paintings and statues by famous artists such as Botticelli, Raphael, and El Greco. This makes it a global museum.

Our next stop is London, England, where the National Gallery is situated. There you will find glorious works by the best known artists of Europe. Some of the most famous are by Raphael, Manet, da Vinci, Renoir, and Monet. True art lovers will need to make a visit to this stunning gallery at some time in their lives. Some paintings hanging there are: Sunflowers, by Vincent Van Gogh; The Virgin of the Rocks, by
Leonardo da Vinci; and Venus and Mars, by Sandro Botticelli.

Other than the traditional art galleries found all over the world that house the old greats, there are many that focus on the contemporary arts of the twentieth century. The George Pompidou Center in Paris is one of the most famous contemporary art galleries and museums in the world. Even the building itself is totally contemporary, with all the ducts and piping on the outside.

Visiting contemporary art galleries and museums is a fascinating experience as they walk you through the past few decades and highlight the changes in style and taste. These museums and galleries feature not only paintings, drawings, and prints, but also exhibit furniture, sound, light, and even music. This truly illustrates the passage of time.

Most of the major European cities are home to at least a national and a contemporary gallery. Usually there are also private galleries. Any time you visit a major metropolitan area, be sure to include the galleries in your itinerary. It's a wonderful way to learn about a country and its
cultures. History and its changes are reflected in the art on display.

If you are interested in purchasing some art, the above mentioned art galleries won't sell you any of their master pieces. Typically you will need to go to a private art gallery to buy good art. You may not find Renoirs or Van Gogh's, but there is plenty of beautiful art that you can
bring home. Art houses like Christie's often hold art auctions that feature some stunning pieces that you can bid on.

Art is an important part of any history. Paying a visit to a gallery can transport you back in time, where you can see works produced by some of the most creative minds to ever exist.

About the author: Clair Jons is the proprietor of FE Art, the web's premier location when you're after accurate up to date advice and ideas about Art. For more articles on Art visit: http://www.feart.com/articles Why not sign up for our free Art newsletter at: http://www.feart.com/newsletters