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Top 10 Most Romantic Oil Paintings for Valentine’s Day 2015
Valentine’s Day is coming up. How will you celebrate with your honey? Lovers, who are also art-lovers, can share a view of some of the most romantic paintings of all time. In celebration of this holiday, feast your eyes on the top 10 most romantic artworks!
- Klimt – The Kiss: Painted at the height of the artist’s “Golden Period,” the Kiss features the embrace of couple that was once considered to be pornography. While the image of the entwined couple is hardly perverse according to today’s standards, in the early 1900s it was less romantic, and racier, in the minds’ of many critics. That said, the tender scene is a loving look into romance and the beauty of human passion.
- Leighton – The Fisherman and the Syren: The illustrated tale of a mermaid and fisherman, Leighton’s painting brings to life a poem by Goethe. The seductive mermaid seemingly does more than romance the unwitting fisherman into her clutches. The sheer beauty of the Syren and her seductive embrace shouts romance.
- Botticelli – Birth of Venus: One of the most well-known works in art history, “Birth of Venus” is based on Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Between the goddess herself and the love-themed iconography, this is one romantic painting. Botticelli is literally depicting the birth of love through the goddess herself.
- Bouguereau – First Kiss: The French traditionalist’s take on the mythological makes for a touching, tender moment. The innocent side of romance, Bouguereau bases his photo-like work around classical subjects.
- Manet – In Pere Lathuille: The bright outdoor setting and intense gaze make for a romantic scene. The charming young fellow sets out to seduce the older (and presumably, richer) woman. While it isn’t exactly the innocent portrayal of love, it’s certainly a snapshot of romance in action.
- Leighton – Flaming June: The draping fabric, rolling curves and sleeping face of Leighton’s “Flaming June” are romantic without having to try. This utterly romantic depiction of a woman is both sensuous and innocent all at once.
- Renoir – Discarded Roses: Known for focusing on the female form, “Discarded Roses” is far from one of the artist’s nudes. In this work, the Impressionist creates a romantic image of roses left behind. This painting is a long-lasting look at the flower (that will stay fresh and fabulous well after Valentine’s Day ends).
- Toulouse-Lautrec – In Bed the Kiss: The tenderness, intimacy and love in this work are touching and insightful innocent. The passionate moment is subtle enough to ignite romance without going overboard to risqué.
- Manet – The Grand Canal, Venice II: The acclaimed Impressionist painter sets the stage for a romantic date. The canals of Venice overflow with love and life, making this light-soaked work an image of the dream Valentine’s day out.
- Monet – The Promenade Near Argenteuil: Unlike some of the more passionate romantic scenes, this Impressionist piece features a much more innocent picture of love. Gently strolling along, bathed in sunlight, a man, woman and child portray a view of love that is perfect for a family Valentine’s Day.
More than 3,500,000 page views to overstockArt.com’s Romantic Art Gallery in the past year were tracked. According to the click tracking, Gustav Klimt’s magnum opus “The Kiss”, was the most sought after painting clicked at nearly nine percent of the clicks.
“Artists throughout time have been inspired by love and romance, many of the world’s greatest masterpieces wouldn’t exist without this inspiration,” said David Sasson, founder and president of overstockArt.com. “Our Romantic Art Gallery features many of these pieces and is one of our most popular gallery’s throughout the year, particularly in February when we always see a spike in traffic towards Valentine’s Day.”
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About the Author Erica Loop
Erica Loop has a BA in the history of art and architecture as well as film studies. She has worked for the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art. Ms. Loop has taught studio-based art classes for children from toddlers to teens for the past decade along with writing freelance content across the web.
