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Great art is an inspiration to creative thinkers of all types. Masterful paintings and sculptures fill viewers with a sense of wonder and inspire them to dream of things that many people consider to be impossible. The following ten art museums and galleries, curated with the help of Marked By Teachers contain some of the greatest and most inspirational works of art that the world has ever seen.
Located in Paris, the Louvre is the world’s most popular art museum. The museum’s many awe-inspiring galleries display over 35,000 works of art by the greatest masters of all time. Collections include Western European art from the medieval period to the mid 19th century, Islamic art and art and antiquities from ancient civilizations. The Louvre is open every day except Tuesday, and admission to the permanent collection costs €11 ($14.30) for adults. Admission to special exhibits costs €12, and a combined ticket costs €15.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art
The scale of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is massive, and any art lover will find multiple sources of inspiration in the museum’s many galleries. The extensive collection includes over 2 million works of American, European, African, Asian, Oceanic, Byzantine and Islamic art from various periods. Admission is $25 for adults, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities
Containing the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian art and antiquities, the Egyptian Museum in Cairo is a place no art or history lover should miss. By simply walking through the museum’s massive halls, visitors are transported to another time. The museum is open daily, and admission costs 60 Egyptian pounds ($10).
Located in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum is the Dutch national art museum. In addition to an impressive collection of works by 17th century Dutch masters, the museum has a large collection of Asian art. The Rijksmuseum is open daily, and admission is € 14 for adults. Children are admitted for free.
Exploring the wealth of art contained in the Vatican would take several weeks. These museums house collections of Medieval and Renaissance Art, ancient sculpture and antiquities. Admission to the museums is € 15 every day except Sunday. Sunday admission is free.
Britain’s national museum of international modern and contemporary art, the Tate Modern is a London landmark. Its dramatic galleries feature works by the greatest modern artists in the world. In addition to its regular exhibits, the Tate also hosts major temporary exhibitions. Admission to the general galleries is free, and fees for temporary exhibitions vary.
Madrid’s Prado Museum houses the world’s best collection of works by Spanish masters including El Greco, Velazquez, Goya and Murilla. The museum also houses one of the most impressive collections of European art to be found anywhere. The Prado is open daily, and the general admission fee is 12 €.
The National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
Established in 1937, the National Gallery of Art contains an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, decorative art pieces and drawings by Western European and American artists from the medieval period to the present day. Its vast holdings include the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas. The museum is open daily, and admission is free.
With a collection that originally belonged to the powerful Medici family, the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy boasts famous paintings and sculptures from the medieval period and the Renaissance. Tickets to the gallery cost € 6.50, and the museum is closed on Mondays.
With one of the world’s best collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings, the Art Institute is definitely worth a visit. The museum’s holdings also include American art, Asian art, works by European masters, decorative arts and modern and contemporary paintings and sculptures. Adult admission to the museum is $18, and the Art Institute is open daily.
I feel like an idiot saying I’ve never been to even one museum. It’s on my to do list for sure
I’ve made it to three on your list, and they are fantastic! Maybe I can make it to Chicago’s museum this year. 🙂 I loved reading this, thanks!
I’ve only visited the one in Washington but I’d love to visit the others.
I haven’t been to any of these. Sounds like they are awesome!
I’ve been to the Tate but not the others. Someday!