By Clair Jons
http://www.feart.com/articles

There are apples and there are apples. While almost every
city in the world lays claim to a great art gallery, there
are very few that are globally recognized and famous.
People, art lovers, historians and the commoners all flock
to these art galleries travelling all across the world just
to see some of the master pieces that these galleries house.

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.

Not all galleries across the world are homes to the old
masters. Many of them offer representations from the
twentieth century. Among the most famous contemporary art
galleries and museums is the George Pompidou Center in
Paris. The architecture is unique as well, since the piping
and ducts are on the outside, rather than being hidden
behind walls.

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.

Each major metropolitan center in Europe houses a
traditional national art gallery, a contemporary gallery,
and usually many art galleries - some of these may be
private. While most national galleries concentrate on
exhibits of art from the history of their country, these can
be of great learning value in understanding the culture of
the land. A visit to this assortment of art galleries is a
must do for every art lover.

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 as an expression of our culture, thought process and
creativity has no parallel. Viewing these masterpieces in an
art gallery transposes the viewer into the mind and time of
the creator who has shaped our culture.

Clair Jons is the owner of
<a href="http://www.feart.com">FE Art</a>,
the #1 source on the internet for information about
Art. For more articles on Art visit:
http://www.feart.com/articles

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