The National Gallery, London
Sitting proudly at the heart of London on Trafalgar Square, this gallery boasts a collection of 2,300 paintings from the 13th century to the early 20th century. A hearty concoction of legendary artists including Vincent Van Gough, Claude Monet, Rembrandt, Paul Cezanne, Raphael and Leonardo Da Vinci can be amassed in this paradise for art lovers. The best part of this gallery is that it is free of cost and can be enjoyed again and again without the interruption of standing in any queues.
The Louvre, Paris
The biggest and the most visited museum in the world, The Louvre gained popularity as it houses the most priced painting ‘Mona Lisa’ by grandmaster Leonardo Di Vinci. That is just one painting in the vast collection of sculptures, relics, artefacts and ornaments. Divided into different sections ranging from different time periods and locations, the must-visit is the Napoleon III Apartments, Egyptian Antiquities and of course the European paintings by the most famous painters that ever existed. The focal point is the glass pyramid by I.M. Pei which serves as the museum’s entrance and is a perfect amalgamation of the old and modern.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
This museum is called the MET by the New Yorkers and is a prominent fixture in many Hollywood movies. It has more than 2 million collections of artwork from all over the world and features timeless paintings including ‘Self-Portrait with a Straw Hat’ by Vincent van Gogh, ‘Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies’ by Claude Monet, Early Cubist paintings by Pablo Picasso and ‘Madonna and Child’ by Duccio among others. Located on the famous Fifth Avenue it also holds modern American paintings along with African, Asian, Oceanian, Byzantine, and Islamic art.
State Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg
The historic appeal of this unique city lures many visitors each year and many structures and locations are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Topping the list of must- visit places is the Hermitage Museum which serves as an ode to the rich and vast Russian culture and history. Sprawled across 6 historic buildings the central one being the Winter Palace which resided many Russian emperors. Being one of the largest museums in the world it showcases more than three million artworks and artefacts. It has decorative arts, jewellery, Prehistoric art, Classical antiquities, Russian art and many more categories.
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna
This majestic building with an octagonal dome and large windows emitting an abundance of sunshine is opposite a similar building which is the Museum of Natural History. The museum is built in a Renaissance Revival style of architecture and entering the grand double staircase gives it a very royal appeal. The grand stairway is decorated with hyper-realistic paintings by Gustav Klimt and many other important Austrian painters. The Kunstkammer, the Picture Gallery, the Greek and Roman Antiquities Collection, and the Egyptian and Near Eastern Repository are where the important works are displayed.
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
An extant collection of Dutch Art is meticulously restored and presented in this museum which is a repository of beautiful artwork. They have over 8,000 artworks and 1 million articles from the 13th century to the 21st Century and display the works of brilliant artists like Johannes Vermeer Rembrandt, and Frans Hals signifying the Dutch Golden Age. The museum also organised a temporary exhibition on Dutch slavery and their collection is available to see online during the Covid era. The vast library and the Michelin star restaurant in its complex are a must-visit too.
