“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol 

The Art of Art

History

There have been so many paintings in such a wide range of subjects and movements across history that it can be difficult to narrow a selection to the best paintings ever. This list of the <a href="/list/classical-paintings-zodiac/megan-summers" target="_blank">best paintings</a> in history includes the best Baroque period <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/what-famous-art-actually-looks-like-in-context/melissa-sartore" target="_blank">art</a>, the most famous Renaissance paintings, and even the most famous portraits.

Even though some of the paintings on this list may be from famous artists whose <a href="/list/most-expensive-painting-ever-sold/alby-thompson" target="_blank">works sell for lots of money</a>, like Picasso or <a href="/list/dark-origins-of-frida-kahlo-paintings/erin-wisti" target="_blank">Frida Kahlo</a>, you may also find some classic paintings you recognize from artists whose names you didn&#39;t know, like Jan Brueghel the Younger. There are even famous paintings that may be new to you, like Tiger by German Expressionist Franz Marc and Espa&ntilde;a y Filipinas by Juan Luna. From the smooth precision of painters like Peter Paul Rubens to the broad strokes of Matisse paintings, these famous art pieces are of the very best by the greatest painters of all time.

The Best Paintings Of All Time

Artwork

The 200 Best Paintings Of All Time

Ranker Art

Artifacts

Artifacts&nbsp;that adorn the halls and walls of museums in the Western world are not always acquired through reputable means. Some of the most famous museum exhibits and objects on display at places like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/artifacts-the-british-museum-should-return/dave-schilling" target="_blank">the British Museum in London</a>&nbsp;were taken from other countries.

From Africa to Iraq to India, leaders from these nations&nbsp;continue to speak&nbsp;out&nbsp;and request the return of their&nbsp;cultural heritage.

Famous Museum Exhibits The Original Countries Want Back

General

Megan Summers

Lists about the light, graceful dance form ballet and the people around the world who dance it.

En Pointe

Culture

Back before movies and television, some of the most popular forms of entertainment were live plays at the theatre, operas, symphony concerts, and ballet. While most of these forms of entertainment have faded away to a degree, ballet is still a very popular art form that is extremely powerful and inspirational. What are the best ballets of all time? There&#39;s more to this art form than just The Nutcracker.

Some of the most famous ballets of all time have remained classic greats for decades, and are still widely celebrated today. However, some modern ballets appear on this list as well.

This list features the best ballets in history, ranked as the best by the community and including, The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Romeo &amp; Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Cinderella, and A Midsummer Night&rsquo;s Dream. Vote up the best ballet below or add one you love that isn&#39;t already on the list.

The All-Time Best Ballets

Musical/Play

Best Ballets of All Time | List of the Greatest Ballets Ever

Buster McDermott

True Crime

Art has played a significant role throughout human history -&nbsp;but so has art theft. Art heists have been rampant around the world ever since artwork first became incredibly valuable.&nbsp;This list explores the most outrageous art thefts throughout history.&nbsp;

These crooks lifted millions of dollars&#39; worth of art and they composed a number of shrewd plans to do so. Some of them used force, while others used distractions like fireworks and alarms or global emergencies. One man even replaced over 100 pieces of famous art with his own paintings and drawings. Another simply walked out of a museum with a renowned painting stuffed inside his coat. Some of the pieces have since been&nbsp;found, but most of them have&nbsp;never been recovered.&nbsp;

15 Daring And Totally Outrageous Art Thefts

15 Outrageous Art Thefts In History That Were Completely Daring

T L Perez

Lists that rank the greatest works, composers, and musicians by instrument. 

Classical Music & Opera

Opera

While modern entertainment is drastically different than it was in history, art forms like ballet, theatre, and the opera are still some of the most moving experiences in live entertainment. Opera is a powerful performance that typically combines incredible singing and drama. It is still a popular form of entertainment today, and there are many highly skilled performers singing opera for modern audiences.Who are the best living opera singers?&nbsp;This list features the most popular current opera singers in the world, ranked by the community. Some of the great, modern opera singers on this list are also among the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-opera-singers-of-all-time/bustermcdermott">best opera singers of all time</a>.The best living opera singers on this list range every voice type and include talented musicians like Roberto Alagna, Pl&aacute;cido Domingo, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Angela Gheorghiu, Kathleen Battle, Jessye Norman, and Cecilia Bartoli. Vote up the best living opera singers below or add an opera singer you think is great, who is still alive, but isn't already on the list.

Anna Netrebko

The Greatest Living Opera Singers

Band/Musician

The 50+ Best Living Opera Singers, Ranked By Fans

Lists about the greatest performers and most spectacular plays, musicals, and other shows ever to sparkle in the bright lights of Broadway.

Lights Are Bright on Broadway

poll

This list ranks all of the greatest stars to have performed on Broadway during the 21st century, young and old, male and female. From newcomers such as Lea Michelle and Fantasia Barrino to those with extensive Broadway experience such as Tyne Daly and Estelle Parsons, whoare the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-broadway-stars-of-all-time/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway performers</a> of the 21st century?Some of the best Broadway stars of the 21st century have launched their Broadway careers after long and successful histories as television and movie actors. Stars like Toni Collette and Denzel Washington have all found success on stage, after their great success on screen.Of course, some stars who’ve graced Broadway in the 21st century are continuing their Broadway legacies. Tyne Daly, featured in a 2014 production of Mothers and Sons, began her Broadway career in 1967. Her performances over the years have been so great, in fact, that she won a Tony Award - she earned the Tony for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-actresses-who-won-tonys-for-musicals/celebrity-lists?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Best Actress in a Musical</a> in 1990 for her portrayal of Rose in Gypsy.These are the Broadway stars to watch in the 21st century. Some play dramatic roles, while others are known for their amazing singing voices, but either way, they’re all the greatest the century has to offer in terms of theater actors. Cast your votes below for the best Broadway stars of the 21st century and see how the performers you think are great rank!

Laura Osnes

The Best Broadway Stars of the 21st Century

Theater Actor

Best Broadway Stars of the 21st Century | Greatest Broadway Stars of the 2000s

Art! What can&#39;t it do? From conveying our ancient history to showing how much we have in common with our ancestors, it provides a window into our past and present. It&#39;s through this point of view that the fine people at <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/trippinthroughtime" target="_blank">r/trippinthroughtime</a> make the funniest memes we&#39;ve seen in an age.&nbsp;

27 Funny History Posts That Prove Fine Art Makes For The Best Memes

Mark Rennie

These Broadway stars have been the biggest audience draws in the past, and many are sure to be in the future. All the theater stars on this list have performed at one of the forty designated Broadway theaters. Many theater actors listed here originated roles that have become beloved by audiences of all ages. From newer names (like Lea Michele) to old favorites who have passed on (such as Sammy Davis, Jr.), you’ll find them all here on this list of the greatest Broadway stars of all time.Did you know that one amazing Broadway star performed two leading roles in a single day? Howard Keel, who later went on to star on the hit television show “Dallas,” understudied for the lead in Carousel in 1945. After he began performing in Oklahoma!, his understudy skills were needed - and he performed both plays in one night. Not only for his amazing performances, but also for his vigor, Keel has earned his place on this list of the most amazing Broadway stars.Other Broadway stars are just beginning to make their marks. A prime example is Lea Michele, who is perhaps most widely recognized for her “Glee” character, Rachel Berry. She conquered the Broadway stage when she originated the role of Wendla in Spring Awakening. Audiences responded to her great Broadway performance, as did critics, and she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. Michele and her cohort of Broadway newcomers are definitely building their names as the most popular Broadway performers. On this list you’ll find all of the greatest Broadway stars from the past and present. Although some have left the stage, their memories live on and give new generations of Broadway stars something to aspire to. Cast your votes below for the greatest Broadway stars of all time.

The Greatest Broadway Stars of All Time

Greatest Broadway Stars of All Time | List of the Best Broadway Performers in History

Art History

People spent years searching&nbsp;Leonardo da Vinci&#39;s Last Supper painting for hidden clues. And whether or not any conspiracies exist, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/renaissance-art-symbols-and-codes/kellen-perry" target="_blank">Renaissance symbols</a> in da Vinci&#39;s&nbsp;Last Supper prove the artwork portrays events differently than how they may have actually happened. Instead of being historically accurate, the artist&#39;s piece&nbsp;reflects the time in which he lived. He reinterpreted a famous scene&nbsp;for his audience.

Considered one of the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-painters-of-all-time/ranker-art" target="_blank">best painters of all time</a>, da Vinci finished the piece in 1498 as a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Last-Supper-fresco-by-Leonardo-da-Vinci" target="_blank">fresco painted directly on&nbsp;the wall</a>&nbsp;of an Italian monastery. Painting on&nbsp;dry plaster was a flawed technique, however,&nbsp;and the painting started disintegrating only years later.

Numerous anachronisms in the Last Supper exist, showing the artist took&nbsp;comfort in 15th-century culture. But many of those inaccuracies come from da Vinci&#39;s desire to play with and expand Renaissance art styles like naturalism and perspective. Still, though,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Last Supper&nbsp;demonstrates his skill as an artist,&nbsp;if not a great historian.

Fact Checking Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

Inaccuracies in 'The Last Supper' Painting By Leonardo Da Vinci

Erin McCann

It's no secret that the art world attracts a lot of unusual people, but the quirks of artists always manage to surprise us. Some of our most revered artists had some pretty weird hobbies: stealing pens, carrying around guns, making time capsules. Others just really needed a bath.Some of these artists, like Salvador Dal&iacute;, have famous quirks and are known for being unusual. However, even those who weren't known as quirky artists have their own strange habits, influences, or traits. Check out this list for some seriously weird facts, and vote up the strangest quirks!

Keith Haring Was Briefly an Evangelist

Weird Personal Quirks of Historical Artists

Person

Katie Mach

Trending on Ranker

Michelangelo was more than a&nbsp;sculptor and painter &mdash; he also used his platform to display his admiration of men&nbsp;in an era that did not look fondly on any form of non-heterosexual&nbsp;physical or romantic relationships. When he painted the Sistine Chapel, Michelangelo used the muscular bodies of working Romans he met in the bathhouses as his models, transforming one of the holiest chapels in Catholicism into an altar to the male form. These Michelangelo facts show&nbsp;the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/quirks-of-famous-artists/machk" target="_blank">artist</a>&#39;s genius was linked to his sexuality, which he refused to hide.

Despite of all his visits to the bathhouse, Michelangelo reportedly never bathed. Instead, he used the experience to study&nbsp;men in the baths, just like <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/anatomy-in-renaissance-art/genevieve-carlton" target="_blank">he traded art for corpses</a>&nbsp;to learn more about anatomy. Other Michelangelo inspirations include a 20-something nobleman who a 50-something&nbsp;Michelangelo wooed with love poems, as well as&nbsp;male pleasure workers and young apprentices who appeared in Michelangelo&#39;s art as biblical heroes. Michelangelo&#39;s entire career celebrated the male form, even in the heart of the Catholic Church.

How Michelangelo's Relationships With Men Inspired His Art And Stuck It To The Catholic Church

How Michelangelo's Subversive Sex Life Inspired His Art And Stuck It to the Catholic Church

Genevieve Carlton

Old Stuff

By its own accounting,&nbsp;the Victoria &amp; Albert Museum contains more than <a href="https://www.vam.ac.uk/info/about-us" target="_blank">2.7 million objects</a> that span 5,000 years of human history. It&#39;s a staggering collection of artifacts, art, curios, textiles, photographs, books, ceramics, jewelry, and even bits and pieces from stage plays of centuries past.

The V&amp;A Museum ranks highly among the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-museums-in-the-world" target="_blank">best museums in the world</a>, and it&#39;s no secret why. There&#39;s more stuff&nbsp;than you could possibly shake a stick at, and the V&amp;A archives encompass the vast breadth of human endeavors - from the most essential to the charmingly frivolous.

If you&#39;ve never been, you&#39;re in for a treat. Photographs of the V&amp;A collections are readily available online, and can make for hours of fascinating viewing when you&#39;re stuck at home.&nbsp;

The Most Fascinating Artifacts Housed At Queen Victoria’s Museum

Pierce Nahigyan

Whoa Facts

&quot;Art&quot; is a subjective phrase. Some people hear it and think of music, beauty, or anything that inspires a burning passion. Others hear it and picture rich, snooty folks sipping rich, snooty wine and eating the richest, snootiest cheeses. Both interpretations can be correct.

Genuine art is an expression of the artist, but once a <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-most-incredible-pieces-of-artwork-ever-made?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">piece of art</a> is out in the world, it takes on a life of its own. You may already be familiar with the&nbsp;Mona Lisa,&nbsp;the&nbsp;Girl with the Pearl Earring, or La&ouml;coon, but each of these masterpieces is surrounded by a wealth of history - and <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-painting-conspiracy-theories/katherine-ripley" target="_blank">sometimes intrigue</a>.

The following fun facts about art may make you see these popular works in a new light. Vote up the ones you just learned today.

Facts We Just Learned About Famous Artworks That Made Us Say 'Really?'

2000s

What are the best Broadway shows today? This has been ranked by theater lovers to determine the top Broadway musicals from the 2000s to the present. From Wicked to Spring Awakening, today's <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway musicals</a> are carrying on the musical theater legacy and drawing in audiences both during their Broadway runs, and on tour as well.Though revivals and adaptations have been increasing in popularity, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie, West Side Story and South Pacific, notable new shows such as Wicked and The Book of Mormon continue to draw audiences to Broadway musicals. Today's Broadway shows dazzle with nonstop dancing, music, and energy, as seen in shows like Hairspray and Billy Elliott. The 2000s have also seen a large draw to musical comedies, including the dark satire of Urinetown, a show with an outrageous plot that kept audiences laughing in their seats.&nbsp;Though the decade has seen its fair share of criticism that the original musical is dead, Broadway shows are still enjoyed by many who delight in the dazzle of the lights. Broadway today attracts families to shows such as Seussical or Legally Blonde, but treasures such as The Color Purple and Next to Normal continue to keep the Broadway musical alive.Cast your votes below for the greatest <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-stars-of-the-21st-century/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">modern Broadway musicals</a> and see where the musicals of the 2000s you think are the best rank.

Tarzan of the Apes

The Best Broadway Musicals of the 2000s

Awards

This list ranks the greatest musicals that have won the Tony Award for Best Musical, though many of these Broadway musicals have garnered multiple additional Tony Awards in other categories as well. Broadway musicals that’ve been honored with the Best Musical award include many that are instantly recognizable by fans around the world, including My Fair Lady and Annie. Thanks to their accolades and their recognizability, each musical on this list deserves a spot as one the best Tony Award winning musicals.The Tony Awards were introduced in 1947, but it wasn’t until 1949 that the Best Musical category was introduced. That year, the show many people consider to be one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time took the award: Kiss Me, Kate, based on Shakespeare's&nbsp;The Taming of the Shrew and with music by Cole Porter. Since then, many amazing Broadway musicals have been handed the award, including Kinky Boots, which debuted on Broadway in 2013.With so many great Broadway musicals, however, it isn’t always easy to choose the winner of the Tony each year. That was certainly the case in 1960, when The Sound of Music&nbsp;and Fiorello! tied for the top spot. Both Tony Award winning productions were so popular that they’ve subsequently been staged on Broadway multiple times, earning them each a spot on this list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-musicals?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Broadway musicals</a> that have won the Tony.This list contains all of the greatest winners of the Tony for Best Musical. If you’ve yet to see a few of these productions, don’t worry, they’re so popular that they’re sure to make it back to Broadway, and this list includes videos from these top Broadway musicals. Vote up the best Broadway musicals on the list below.

Hairspray

The Best Tony Award Winning Musicals

List of the Best Tony Award Winning Musicals

You have to pick a pretty obscure color if you don't want to find a few songs about it. Between Coldplay's &quot;Yellow,&quot; Madonna's &quot;True Blue&quot; and Prince's &quot;Little Red Corvette,&quot; it's safe to say that almost every color has at least one song written about it. This is a ranked list of all songs about colors, as voted on by music fans like you. Some of the songs included below may have the words &quot;red,&quot; &quot;blue,&quot; &quot;black,&quot; &quot;white,&quot; or &quot;pink&quot;&nbsp;in the lyrics or title (among many more), while others are only about colors as a subject or theme. Virtually <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/extremely-colorful-animals/erin-mccann?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">every color of the rainbow</a> has music for it, so dig through the songs on this poll and find some you haven't already heard.Music isn't typically categorized by the meaning of the words, so this music list is a great way to find some colorful tracks that are thematically similar. Vote for the colors songs that you enjoy the most, and downvote ones if you think they're not worthy of being high on the list. If one of your top songs is missing, add it to the list so others can vote for it too. Many genres of music are featured below, including rock, pop, folk, metal, and more.&nbsp;

The Best Songs About Colors

Song

Best Songs About Colors List

Reference

Art and Architecture lists at Ranker provide the best of famous artworks, paintings, and designs by well-known artists and designers voted on by 1000s of people.

Art & Architecture lists on Ranker

Best Rankings of Famous Artworks, Paintings and Designs by Well-Known Artists and Designers

Megan Marie Hart

Leontyne Price

Joan Sutherland

The School of Athens

Sistine Chapel ceiling

The Last Supper

Rigoletto

Turandot

La bohème

Les Misérables

Hamilton

Wicked

Vote on these lists of outstanding female vocalists, musicians, songwriters, and performers in every genre.

Who Run the World?

While opera isn't the most popular for of modern entertainment, it is still a significant cultural staple in many countries, and can be an incredibly moving experience. An opera singer is skilled in the art of singing, acting, and most importantly, projecting their voice in a powerful way to a live audience, filling the entire theatre with music. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-female-opera-singers/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Female opera singers</a> can hit the high notes with ease.Who are the best female opera singers of all time?&nbsp;The talented women featured on this list have made a significant impact in the world of opera, and are incredibly talented. Female opera singers are usually sopranos or altos. If you’re interested in opera and want to see these female singers in action, but can't afford to attend, there are many operas available on DVD as well.The greatest female opera singers on this list include Maria Callas, Renee Fleming, and Anna Gottlieb. Vote up the best of the best below or add the top female opera singers you think are the best if they aren't already on the list.

The Greatest Female Opera Singers of All Time

The musical phenomenon Hamilton follows the life of one ambitious immigrant who helps win a revolution and shape early American politics, all while earnestly sticking to noble ideals. 

History Has Its Eyes on You

List of the best musicals to ever run on stage, whether on Broadway, the West End, or in smaller fringe theaters around the world. The greatest musicals combine music, dancing, amazing stories, and top casts to take the viewer out of a theatre and into a world they never imagined. The best Broadway musicals are a cross-section of classic musicals like Les Miserables (now an <a>Oscar winning</a> movie) and Cats as well as new favorites like The Book of Mormon and Wicked. Their casts feature some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-broadway-stars/mollie">best stars on Broadway</a> from throughout the years, and they are all worthy of more than one viewing. The best thing about musical theater, of course, is that it's never the same show twice.What are the top Broadway musicals? What are the best musical theater shows? Which shows are the greatest musicals ever to be on stage? That's for all you musical theater fans to decide! Vote on your favorite musicals and if your favorite Broadway musical show isn't on the list, add it so others can discover a best new Broadway musical to see.

The Phantom of the Opera

The Greatest Musicals Ever Performed on Broadway, Ranked

Ranker Community

Classical

List of the best operas of all time - a comprehensive greatest opera list that includes work that includes works from all over the world by Italian, French, German, Austrian, Russian, Czech, and American composers, and many more. This list features a variety of operatic genres and styles, including opera seria, opera buffa, opera comique, as well as bel canto and Singspiel styles of singing. Be sure to vote for the famous operas you believe are the greatest of all time, and vote down any you don't like. You can also re-rank this list in any order you want.What makes a great opera so great? A compelling storyline is certainly important, but it's the music that keeps us enraptured. Some of the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-opera-songs/bustermcdermott" target="_blank">best opera songs</a> of all time are included in these operas listed here, including &quot;Habanera&quot; from 'Carmen,' &quot;Nessun dorma&quot; from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/giacomo-puccini-operas/reference" target="_blank">Giacomo Puccini's</a> 'Turandot' and &quot;Celeste Aida&quot; from <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/giuseppe-verdi-operas/reference" target="_blank">Guiseppe Verdi's</a> 'Aida.' The operas listed here are classics. Many have been enjoyed by opera lovers for centuries, in fact. Some are tragedies, and they'll <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/operas-that-will-bring-tears-to-even-the-driest-of-eyes/sarahmarie" target="_blank">bring tears to even the driest of eyes</a> (Puccini's 'La boheme' comes to mind, as does his 'Madame Butterfly' and Verdi's 'La traviata'). Wipe those tears away, and start voting for the best operas, right here and right now.

Lucia di Lammermoor

The Greatest Operas of All Time, Ranked

Best Operas of All Time | Greatest Opera List

Click on any list item to see replica pricing and more information!&nbsp;This is a CrowdRanked List of the most fantastic pieces of art ever made. While art is most definitely subjective, these are pieces that few can argue about and have withstood the test of time and changing cultural tastes. Make your own list and rank the artwork you think is the best, or just make a list to add an item you think is missing.