20. Massacre of the Innocents by Peter Paul Rubens
The Massacre of the Innocents ranks 20th in our list of most famous paintings in the world. It depicts the killing of infants in Bethlehem as narrated in Matthew 2:13-18. Created between 1611 and 1612, Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens painted two versions of this piece 25 years apart. Rubens learned from Baroque masters like Caravaggio as seen in his vibrant colors, evocative emotions, and Chiaroscuro technique.
In 2002, the painting was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for £49.5 million or $76.7 million and was donated by the buyer, Kenneth Thompson, to the Art Gallery of Ontario. It was the largest gift ever made to a Canadian cultural institution. This piece is one of the most iconic Flemish Baroque artworks.
19. Bal du moulin de la Galette (Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
Known as the most important 1870s Impressionist work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Bal du moulin de la Galette that ranks 19th in our list of most famous paintings in the world is currently displayed at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris. It is a depiction of the vivacious atmosphere of the famous dance garden on Butte Montmartre. The vibrant brushstrokes made the scene more alive and invigorating. It is considered one of the most celebrated masterpieces of Impressionism.
Renoir used to attend Sunday dances at the Moulin de la Galette, an open-air dance hall and café often visited by artists in Paris. It then became the setting of his famous painting. This piece is also known as one of the happiest paintings in his body of work.
18. The Son of Man by René Magritte
Belgian surrealist painter René Magritte created a self-portrait in the 1964 painting The Son of Man. It is currently held in a private collection. Magritte said that this artwork is about humanity. In an interview he said, “Everything we see hides another thing, we always want to see what is hidden by what we see, but it is impossible. Humans hide their secrets too well…There is an interest in that which is hidden and which the visible does not show us.”
This painting inspired the film Thomas Crown Affair starring Pierce Brosnan. Magritte’s artwork also appeared in the movies Stranger than Fiction and Days of Summer. It also made a short stint in Michael Jackson’s music video Scream. Artist Norman Rockwell created a modern version of this piece as an homage to Magritte. He named it Mr. Apple.
