Best Painters in History

from a technical point of view, Rembrandt was pretty average, he was good at textures, like fur, jewels, and skin, but struggled with human anatomy more than most of the baroques. However, from a gestural and expressive point of view alone, Rembrandt is one of the all-time greats.

Leonardo is known more for his mind. Rembrandt for his heart. I will go with Rembrandt every time. Saw a beautiful show recently. Painting of his son Titus was just superb. Wide range of talent, Perhaps the best draftsman of all time.

In recent times, perhaps my favorite artist. So many things to admire. Agree with Manet that Valladolid is one of the best paintings ever.

When you are within the top 7, very difficult to rank meaningfully.

Michelangelo brought the idea of a 3 dimensional form coming out at you in a 2 dimensional space to painting. Should be higher.

One must remember that most of his paintings are fresco, thus unfair to compare to oil painters. His draftsmanship, inventiveness, and depth are unassailable, should never be underrated.

One of the most inspiring artists of all time. Just amazing that this genius could have existed -- and did.

Invented the look of baroque painting after him. Rembrandt and Velazquez are just a couple of major artists who owe a lot to him.

Painting for painting (what is his oeuvre? 37 works?), one of the most important artists of all time. What a mystery!

Read 1600 pg 3 volume set of his letters. A truly great artist. Even his lesser works proclaim his spirit.

Whether you like the persona or not, it doesn't matter. People are forgetting that this list is greatest painters of all time, not greatest artists. Dali was a great painter. Early on, he created some of the most expressively complex work out there at the time. He had some of the greatest motifs and compositions of all-time. Later in his career, after the originality and initial shock of his work wore out, he re-defined his technique to be the absolute picture of technical draftsmanship.

Dali was fun, but more a personality, more a hack. Even he admits he is not a great painter.

Must agree he is underrated. Never underestimate the genius of Monet.

Underrated!

He had technical skill, but consciously chose to adopt a style that solely conveyed emotion. He was the first true expressionist painter.

I knew Guston. I like the man very much. But I cannot in honesty put him in this company.

Mindblowing draftsman. Try to copy one of his nicer drawings. Then you can appreciate it.

I own a Chagall, yet willing to say he is clearly overrated here. Do not consider him a seminal artist, and find little joy in looking at his works.

Always inspiring. Study any work in detail -- and be amazed. THE modern genius.

I understand he can be called original, but does anyone really want to look at a Kandinsky?

Manet is one of my favorite artists. Just had to vote him above this "Repin".

Think highly of the Russian writers. But the painters?? Repin would never cross my mind.

Certainly believe Willem should be above Delacroix here. I believe deK was a better draftsman.

Never did much for me.

Had to vote up Poussin. Come on now.

Yes, yes we all like Morandi. But does he really rank high on this list? No, not really. He is a sensitve, albeit minor artist.

I have to say overrated. There were tons of color field painters in the 50s and 60s. Even though Rothko had a scope and scale to his work that made him stand out from the crowd, if you include him, you should also rank Bridgette Riley, Alex Katz, and Robin Denny near him.

Your heart breaks to see a Chardin. Great great artist.

His oil sketches were a forerunner of impressionism. Highly innovative.

Hahahaha. Pardon me. It's just funny to put Kelly on any list of good painters.

It appears that someone added many modern Indian artists here, that clearly do not belong on this list. I took to trouble to view their work, and... really...