Artist

 Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer Girl with a Pearl Earring is one of the most celebrated paintings in the history of Western art. Painted around 1665 by Johannes Vermeer , it is often referred to as the "Mona Lisa of the North" because of the subject's enigmatic expression and captivating gaze. Basic Information Artist: Johannes Vermeer Year: c. 1665 Medium: Oil on canvas Dimensions: 44.5 × 39 cm (17.5 × 15.4 in) Current Location: Mauritshuis , The Hague, Netherlands Description The painting portrays a young girl wearing an exotic blue-and-gold turban and a large pearl earring. She turns toward the viewer over her shoulder, her lips slightly parted as if about to speak. The dark background draws full attention to her illuminated face, making her expression appear both intimate and mysterious. Unlike many portraits of the period, the identity of the girl remains unknown. Rather than being a formal portrait, the work is believed to be a...

  The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci The Last Supper is one of the most influential works of Christian art and a masterpiece of the Renaissance. Painted between 1495 and 1498 by Leonardo da Vinci , the mural depicts the dramatic moment when Jesus announces that one of his twelve disciples will betray him. Basic Information Artist: Leonardo da Vinci Year: 1495–1498 Medium: Tempera and oil on dry plaster (experimental mural technique) Dimensions: Approximately 4.6 × 8.8 meters (15 × 29 feet) Location: Santa Maria delle Grazie , Milan, Italy Historical Background The mural was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza , Duke of Milan, for the dining hall (refectory) of the Dominican monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Instead of using the traditional fresco technique, Leonardo experimented with a mixture of tempera and oil on dry plaster to achieve richer colors and finer details. Unfortunately, this method caused the painting to deteriorate soon after its completion...