World's Most Romantic Painting

[River]

That's one of those romantic scenes that's just utterly timeless, yov. You could see a scene like that on any college campus on warm day, though instead of a hawk the young man would be holding a hat or a phone or a skateboard or a ball or what-have-you.

[Frelga]

Here's something different:

Karl Brulloff.Italian Woman Heavy with a Child Examining a Shirt and her Husband Making a Cradle. 1831

Marc Chagall. The Three Candles. 1938-40.

Victor Vasnetsov. Prince Ivan Riding the Grey Wolf. 1889.

There are more that I just can't find at the moment.

[Elentári]

Oooh, thank you everyone, some really gorgeous pictures there.

Soli, I knew you could do it! I love the Millais, of course, but the Klimt is truly beautiful and very sensual

River, you are right Yov/Nin's painting is timeless! I love the way such an early picture captured the playful and happy mood of the couple.

Frelga - particularly liked the Brullof, that is a really heartwarming picture.

[solicitr]

No votes for my avatar, the 18-year-old Dream King?

[Elentári]

The one who grew up to be old Mad Ludwig II of Bavaria?

Nah, but he had a good taste in opera and interior design. I visited his pad on my honeymoon, so I do have a soft spot for him..

[sauronsfinger]

from Elen

And I certainly agree about the PB & J, sensuality is an essential part of romance, but I fail to see how you find a painting of poor Hylas being lured to his death by a group of wanton nymphs romantic? Even if he does die with a smile on his face... erotic, yes but not romantic in my book!

but what a way to go.

There was an artist and illustrator by the name of Mara McAfee who used to do work for National Lampoon magazine in the Seventies. She had some tremendous paintings which were done on the subject of love and romance but with a twist. One that stands out was called "Love". Good luck in finding that as her works seems to have vanished after her death.

Audrey Flack - a noted hyper realist - has a great painting called MARILYN

http://www.csupomona.edu/~plin/women2/i ... ck_big.jpg

I always found it romantic but others may not see it.

Lawrence Alma Tadema produced some stunning work including
The Women of Amphissa
http://www.purepaintings.nl/upload/pain ... iginal.jpg

The Silent Greeting
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3471868751/

Welcome Footsteps
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3460528074/

The Roses of Heliogabalus
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3460513852/

The Parting Kiss
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3460503470/

The Favorite Poet
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3460492388/

Shy
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3460489898/

Ask Me No More
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37621323@N06/3459644991/

[Elentári]

Oooh, yes...Alma-Tadema....warm, sunny and very sensual....

I particularly like "Ask me no more" from the suggestions above, and I would also add

"The promise of Spring"
http://www.cnoilpainting.com/upimage/20 ... 2031_M.jpg

and

"A difference of opinion"
http://cgfa.acropolisinc.com/alma/alma13.jpg

to your list...

[Voronwë the Faithful]

Looking closer to home (Hall of Fire home, that is), I vote for the painting Breogán did for truehobbit that is in her posts. It always makes me feel wrapped in love.

Not to mention the painting of Andreth and Aegnor that she did that I insisted she allow me to include in my book. She captures all of the bittersweet beauty of their brief, star-crossed romance.

[axordil]

Bathsheba at her Bath, Rembrandt van Rijn, 1654.

Romance != happy

[Padme]

Has Dicksee's Romeo and Juliet been mentioned yet or
Waterhouse's Echo and Narcissus

of course I'm the oddball I think Monet's Nympheas Effet du Soir is one of the most romantic paintings ever...but it has no people in it. Then again I like Renoir's Promenade, Seated bather and Loge. And of course there is always Rembrant's Jewish Bride...which must of been way over the top at the time it was painted.

I will add I love Winterhalters Portrait of Mme. Rimsky-Korsakova. She's what I would actually picture Arwen to look like.

oh forgot some.

Boucher's Aurora and Cephalus and his Dianna leaving her Bath

[Elentári]

Mmm..those are some interesting ones...

V - I love Breogan's work too! and the face of Andreth is truly luminous

Lali chose the Dicksee Romeo & Juliet already, and Echo and Narcissus is a another beautiful but sad painting..I saw this and many others of his works at the Waterhouse exhibition at the Royal Academy last summer. I have to say I'm fond of his "idealized" females, especially the nymphs, I much prefer them to more Rubenesque nudes

Padme - The Jewish Bride is very romantic...the body language speaks volumes...

I had never seen the Winterhalter before, but I love it...the woman is lovely, beautiful in a very natural way, not covergirl perfect.
Apart from the eye colour I have to say that she bears a passing resemblance to me at 18 If only we could prevent the ravages of time!!!

http://www.abcgallery.com/W/winterhalte ... lter2.html

[sauronsfinger]

link failed

[sauronsfinger]

this is by a modern watercolorist named Steve Hanks. He seems to specialize in erotic nearly nude women in bedrooms alone and children - which is a unusual combination that you do not usually see as twin specialities of one painter.

I like this a great deal

http://www.artcountrycanada.com/images/ ... o-come.jpg

[Elentári]

Thanks for the introduction, I hadn't come across Hanks before, though his style seems terribly familiar!

I like this one even better...



I find it wildly romantic!

[Padme]

I love most of Georgia O'Keeffe's flowers, I've been told they were supposed to represent the female anatomy. Which they might, but I think it was the love she shared with Alfred Stieglitz that made her blossom into the artist she was.

During my last trip to Santa Fe in her museum they had this picture on display or a copy of it...I think it was the actual picture. I know it's just hands, but as a person who has an artist that works with their hands in the family the significance of hands is important.

Plus the picture speaks volumes of how much he was enchanted, in love with, adored and worshipped his wife. I know there are other pictures he took of her, but this one shows exactly how wonderful he thought she was...he loved her hands. That is real love.





I also like Wyeth's Helga paintings. But I have a special place in my heart fo Wyeth Hurd family, as my daughter got to be impromtu schooled by them on human figure drawing a few years back, before Andrew passed. In fact she was so inspired she did a rendition of Christina's World, and owns a Wyeth hand scetch. Talk about timing, walking into the right galary at the right time in the right place. I still don't think she understands the significance of meeting them. Me, I'm still gobsmacked.

[Padme]

I like Kim Anderson's photo's of kids, I think they are just so darn cute.

This picture is one of series she took, I have a mouse pad with another picture in the series. I have been asked many times if they are my kids, well my kids when they were younger. I'm say no but they do look a good deal alike.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/angel_electrico/490556079/

[Elentári]

The children are very cute

I agree with you about the hands...I always find my eyes drawn to a person's hands after their face if they're visible in photographs. I'm also reminded of the fashion for casts that the Victorian's started:

Here are Queen Victoria's hands:



I think focusing a painting or photograph on just part of a person's anatomy can often be more sensual than showing the whole thing..

[Elentári]

I have just come across this timely selection for Valentine's Day...some old favourites here...

http://www.artadox.com/top-works-of-art ... tines-day/

Venus doesn't look too impressed with Mars' performance

warning for the Hogarth "After"

for Rodin's " The Kiss"

[sauronsfinger]

The Kiss is pretty hot.

I love those kids

http://www.flickr.com/photos/angel_elec ... otostream/

[solicitr]

Nah, but he had a good taste in opera and interior design. I visited his pad on my honeymoon, so I do have a soft spot for him.

I grew up ten clicks from Linderhof, and the Kreuzgruppe he gave to the village was just across from our kitchen window, so I have a very, very soft spot for the poor demented chap.