The lighting is beautiful in each, but the first one is unusual, and it appeals to me a lot. The river makes me think of the one that runs behind my house, which could be part of it. I like the way the sun is shining on the side of the barn, and the one light in the house window.

Your second picture isn't showing up. I have a fondness for MP. My late father left me a very old (and large) lithograph of MP's "Hilltop."

He said it reminded him of his home in Virginia. :)

But if I were to buy a new piece of art? I have no clue. lol.

I prefer the first painting because I would imagine many stories about that farm, and I also like the color palette.

I don't have to think twice about which painting I would choose - Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party. There is so much happening in the picture. All the people were friends of Renoir, artists, actresses, writers, art collectors. To me it is a lively and enticing scene. Wiki states that Renoir did not do an underdrawing for the painting, which IMO makes it even more amazing!

Leaving in an hour for an out-of-state trip, but will try to follow this thread. It's a nice subject.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Renoir Masterpiece!

I prefer the first painting because I would imagine many stories about that farm, and I also like the color palette.

I don't have to think twice about which painting I would choose - Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party. There is so much happening in the picture. All the people were friends of Renoir, artists, actresses, writers, art collectors. To me it is a lively and enticing scene. Wiki states that Renoir did not do an underdrawing for the painting, which IMO makes it even more amazing!

Leaving in an hour for an out-of-state trip, but will try to follow this thread. It's a nice subject.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Renoir Masterpiece!

Sorry for the mess-up. You can't pack and post at the same time! The second link works.

Something by David Bates... like this...

http://art.1stdibs.com/art_zoom.php?id=30563&view=1

Here is a link that might be useful: David Bates

I'm confused, as usual. Are we supposed to help you pick, or state our own preferences.
I would choose a Picasso for myself. Goofy eyes, breasts all over the place; lovely hands holding flowers -- that's what I would choose. I wouldn't know what to choose for you, but I'm wishing you a happy, lovely trip.
Annie'71

I'd have a Constable landscape.

I love MP and even though I don't generally care for nudes, I LOVE this one.
Personally, although he is too iconic to be taken seriously, I'd still choose a Monet waterlily painting.

Wow! What a wide-open question. I don't think I can pick one specific work. I like too many. In general, I would probably choose a landscape or seascape, either realistic or impressionistic.

Not sure why the 2nd link isn't showing up for you...it is for me. It's a Parrish piece called "The Old Glen Mill".

The question was what would you select for your home if you could select any work of art regardless of price, and I guess I should say current ownership. I doubt the Louvre would part with the Mona Lisa, but if you could own it, would you select it?

Perhaps something by Michaelangelo...I remember even with all the art overload we were on when we were in Florence, his work stood out in an extraordinary way....

And I do love William Holman Hunt's Lady of Shallot:

I remember seeing it against the wall down the hallway and I made an immediate bee-line for it because it so struck me.

I guess what also triggered the question is, my artist cousin suggested I look up an architect's work as it is very neat. Neat indeed, very special, but I'd find it impossible to live there as the lines are so strong as to be completely overpowering.

I guess I would feel the same way about the David. Extraordinary work of art, but even if I had a place large enough to accommodate it, it's too powerful for me to live with.

There's a lot of picasso that I don't like, but the one I always found extraordinary because of its simplicity is his "Femme". How 4 simple lines on a page can so perfectly define a body is amazing.

Landscapes are among my favorite subjects, and it's hard to think about them without thinking about Bierstadt...

or Church...

But then again, how could I ignore a Tiffany window?

This post was edited by AnnieDeighnaugh on Wed, May 29, 13 at 23:14

I would probably pick a Monet or Degas.

While in Palm Beach on a short holiday with my 3 DD's, we visited a historic home where the original works of Walter Gay were on display~I had never heard of him before then. He was a very renown American artist in Paris in the 30's, where most of his work was done. The detail in his art is phenomenal, as are the colors. I've always been attracted to sketches of room vignettes in decorating books, and these are beyond any i've ever seen!

If I could afford just one of his pieces, I would be ecstatic!

Here is a link that might be useful: WG prints

Picking pictures for the home is difficult. Some pieces need very much wall space which I don't have and some need a large space in front of it. I have 13 pictures in my living room, oils, acrylics, water colors, screen prints and drawings, a couple of relievos and figurines, all of them not too large and fairly conventional, mostly landscapes and figures. One needs to like a picture for a long time and not tire of it, at least I do. I have a personal relation to all of them, either because I know the artist or I inherited the picture. Only one is very good, so good that many people have wanted it and the artist has borrowed it for exhibitions, the rest are good enough for me!

If my house burnt down or something else should happen to my pieces of art I should want almost any picture painted by the Canadian Group of Seven. There is a great similarity of motifs but not of color between the paintings of these artists and Swedish artists of the same period. The light in Canada is so much stronger than the light in Sweden. The pictures are familiar and foreign at the same time which makes them very intriguing. Tom Thomson's Northern River would perhaps be my first choice but I would feel bad to deprive the NGC of it! The Louvre may keep Mona Lisa for all I care. Picasso, too, except perhaps his Women on the Beach. But I fear that it would irritate me after a few years of staring at it.

Marianne in Sweden

This post was edited by mariannese on Thu, May 30, 13 at 4:37

I think I would choose something by Vermeer. I just love the use of light in his paintings and real-life scenes and the choice of colors.

Well, the choices are way too many, but I've missed an early morning walk in the desert for a long time, and I've always liked this artist, so

My very favorite painting is probably Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" (same as Sable's choice). It always makes me incredibly happy to look at it. It seems to be Summer personified: blue skies, warm weather, sunshine, fresh air, good food, good friends and family, happy times together . . . and being on or by the water. (Sigh!) I was born and raised on the water and always miss it.
BTW, Susan Vreeland wrote a wonderful book by the same name, about Renoir and the period of his life while he was painting this masterpiece. Great Summer read!
Lynn
{{!gwi}}

I'd buy an original by Tabora

Here is a link that might be useful: Roy Tabora

If you are a fan of Monet and would like to see his work in a home setting, you might consider visiting Hill-stead museum in Farmington, CT. The home was designed by architect Theodate Pope for her parents who were art lovers. They have some Monets (as well as other famous artists' works) and designed the rooms around the art. A real treasure.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hill-stead

I'm unable to choose just one. Like pugga, I do love Vermeer, so one of the things I'd do is hang Young Woman with a Water Pitcher. Then, I'd periodically change that one out for Young Woman with a Pearl Necklace, Woman Holding a Balance, The Music Lesson...and the rest of my Vermeer collection.

I might hang one of the Unicorn Tapestries somewhere. I could also ask the Uffizi to return Botticelli's Primavea, which I've loaned to it. ;)

Of course, I'll be hanging my Garbers as well: The Studio Wall is gorgeous, and Tanis is a masterpiece.(I've actually seen both IRL, and I think one could sit and stare at them for hours.) I am incapable of choosing one Garber landscape out of the ones he did. Here's why (thumbnails are clickable):

http://www.artnet.com/usernet/awc/awc_thumbnail.asp?aid=424318133&gid=424318133&cid=79237&works_of_art=1

Aaak! What an awful question, Annie!
(DH and I had a lovely time on a drive back from somewhere the other day, spending the $700 million we'd win if we ever actually bought a ticket, and realized that for pictures, we needed first to buy another house...)

But to your question, if I could only buy one, now, for this life, price no object, I'd opt for a great big gorgeous messy 17th or 18th century Dutch still life with wine, food, silver, flowers, linens - a glorious aftermath - to hang in my dining room and inspire laughter, enthusiasm, and mild excess around the table.

... although I'd have to pull off two major museum heists to get them, this one by Charles Marion Russell.

I would put it over a vertical channeled upholstered couch (suede or mohair) and a red Persian rug with touches of indigo. Formal, but soft,

Next to her would be this one, also by Russell, in a matching frame:

For my homage to Pinkie and Blue Boy.

I'd be happy with something from any Hudson River School artist. The larger the better. Something with amazing dawn or sunset light effects, so I could spend hours and hours staring at the perfection of every reflection and every leaf on every beautiful tree.

Originally I put what I put over my couch,,,,,I too go for more traditional art work.

This post was edited by ilene-84 on Mon, Jun 3, 13 at 7:03

sketches by da Vinci; tapestries like the Five senses (the unicorn ones), early rugs from the ancient world, numerous statues and metal works from the very ancient world, the early maps, globes and armillaries of the universe and the world, early grimoires and anicent alchemy texts -- and LOTS of early artworks of herbs and garden designs ....

sonicmom, DH and I went to a museum yesterday...they had an exhibit of Ansel Adams photography which was phenomenal. They also had a Frederic Church and a Bierstadt on display...just fascinating stuff.

teacast, I'm with you on the daVinci sketches...and I do love tapestries too.

van Gogh (Starry Night in Arles)

Also Chagall, Miro and Kandinsky

I love almost anything from Maxfield Parrish. I have about 6 prints in my bedroom.

I do like many Monet and VanGogh pieces too. I think my favorite might be this Klimt though.

I know you see it everywhere. but how wonderful to have the original.

This post was edited by boopadaboo on Sun, Jun 2, 13 at 8:24

Well, I'd go for anything by Rembrandt, especially one of his drawings,

OR the portrait of the Campbell family piper (IIRC) in the Edinburgh portrait museum -- so full of character and life!

I love the great 19th century landscape painters and early 20th century modernism -- two disparate styles. Always swinging between traditional & modern in my tastes, it seems.

I'd love to own this portrait of Vita Sackville-West. Love the colors, the era it represents, and Vita & her husband Harold Nicholson are ever fascinating to me.

awm03, I have a copy of A Joy of Gardening, published when I was one year old. :)

As for art, I have an inexpensive copy of A.Wyeth's 'The Berry Picker'. I'd love to have the original because it reminds me of my mother.

Why not get them both? There are SO many wonderful artists with so many beautiful works. Fill your house with art!

boopadaboo, your klimt isn't showing up....which one is it?

Not sure what happened there....

It is the kiss.

UGH. It works in preview and then does not work. Maybe it is the issue I saw in another thread. Is Img src not working in chrome either?

I see it now...very interesting....I love seeing everyone's choices...it's like visiting an art gallery of all your favorites.

I'm drawn more towards sculpture than artwork.

Luiz Philippe

Rashad Alakbarov

Neil Dawson

I'm sure I could find a place for this Willard Metcalf though.