# What's the second most \*famous\* painting? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 30, 2018, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822 "2018-07-30T18:09:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/21 "2018-07-30T19:42:34Z")
Now that we covered the obvious candidates, the thread will continue with people naming obscure paintings to signal their status as art cognoscenti… The only one mentioned so far that surprised me is _American Gothic_. I vaguely knew of the work; I could not have named the artist. I was born in the U.K., I think it must be much more well known in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/22 "2018-07-30T19:55:13Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Now that we covered the obvious candidates, the thread will continue with people naming obscure paintings to signal their status as art cognoscenti… Kill joy. 😉 > [@](#): > > The only one mentioned so far that surprised me is _American Gothic_. I vaguely knew of the work; I could not have named the artist. I was born in the U.K., I think it must be much more well known in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. I agree. That’s a pretty famous painting in the US, but not so famous outside. Is “The Creation of Adam” really a painting? Isn’t it just a piece of a larger work? Personally, I’d go with “The Birth of Venus”. But I’m not an art cognoscento. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/23 "2018-07-30T19:57:34Z")
Head of Christ from 1940 is a contender, even if people can often not name the painting or its artist. Sold(or at least produced) 500 million copies and has formed the image of Christ in the minds of many. [Head of Christ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/ee/The_Head_of_Christ_by_Warner_Sallman_1941.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/24 "2018-07-30T20:00:40Z")
Fifty years ago, I’d have said “Whistler’s Mother” in the US. Not because everyone knew what it looked like, but the name was used a lot in jokes. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/25 "2018-07-30T20:02:03Z")
I am actually surprised no one has mentioned _Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1_ aka Whistler’s Mother. It or _American Gothic_ is probably one of the most famous paintings by an American artist. Or maybe _George Washington Crossing the Delaware._ ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/26 "2018-07-30T20:05:39Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Now that we covered the obvious candidates, the thread will continue with people naming obscure paintings to signal their status as art cognoscenti… > > The only one mentioned so far that surprised me is _American Gothic_. I vaguely knew of the work; I could not have named the artist. I was born in the U.K., I think it must be much more well known in the U.S. than elsewhere in the world. I think you’re right. It’s a visually arresting image that has attracted a lot of copies, parodies, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/27 "2018-07-30T20:10:58Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > Fifty years ago, I’d have said “Whistler’s Mother” in the US. Not because everyone knew what it looked like, but the name was used a lot in jokes. Or Blue Boy, for the same kinds of reasons (not jokes, but prevalence in popular culture). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/28 "2018-07-30T20:22:38Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Or Blue Boy, for the same kinds of reasons (not jokes, but prevalence in popular culture). Oh yeah, good call. ---
**Author:** ![DavidwithanR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@DavidwithanR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidwithanR)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/29 "2018-07-30T20:26:09Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I am actually surprised no one has mentioned _Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1_ aka Whistler’s Mother. It or _American Gothic_ is probably one of the most famous paintings by an American artist. Or maybe _George Washington Crossing the Delaware._ I think the one of Washington crossing the Delaware is essentially unknown outside the US… I’m sure many Europeans have at least seen a parody of American Gothic, but I’m Canadian and have never seen the Washington one. I have a feeling it’s known there only because of its history-book subject, not because of its quality as art. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/30 "2018-07-30T20:27:22Z")
Dogs playing poker. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/31 "2018-07-30T20:28:42Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Dogs playing poker. > [@Riemann](#): > > …people naming obscure paintings to signal their status as art cognoscenti. Told you this would happen. ---
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/32 "2018-07-30T20:33:58Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > …Another nominee for very famous painting is [Raphael’s Sistine Madonna](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Madonna#/media/File:RAFAEL_-_Madonna_Sixtina_(Gem%C3%A4ldegalerie_Alter_Meister,_Dresden,_1513-14._%C3%93leo_sobre_lienzo,_265_x_196_cm).jpg); unfortunately, not for the greatness of the painting itself, but because people have forever cribbed the two little angels at the bottom of the painting, out of context. Most people (Americans anyway) are familiar with the angels, but don’t know they are from the Sistine Madonna, or who Raphael is. Count me as one of those. I was visiting the Gemäldegalerie in Dresden, not knowing what sorts of works of art were in the museum, beyond a bunch of Bellotto’s paintings, when I turned a corner and saw this giant Madonna on the far wall of a nook in the museum. Stared at it a sec, saw the bottom of the painting, and was shocked to see the putti. I had no idea what painting they originally came from, and if I did, I certainly didn’t expect to see it there. A highlight of the trip, along with visiting Meissen. Probably the most surprised I’ve ever been when viewing works of art. EDIT: I don’t think it’s second place, but Delacroix’s [Liberty Leading the People](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liberty_Leading_the_People) is another pretty famous image, not yet mentioned. I think it’s probably Creation of Adam, if I had to guess one. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/33 "2018-07-30T20:36:42Z")
> [@HubZilla](#): > > My brother-in-law saw the Mona Lisa in the Lourve, noting it wasn’t much bigger than a postage stamp, behind bulletproof glass, and battling a large crowd to get to it. It’s 77 cm × 53 cm (30 in × 21 in), about the size of a coffee table book, and frankly, IMHO not all that special. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/34 "2018-07-30T20:38:57Z")
I just thought of another famous painting: The painting of Henry VIII holding a turkey leg. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/35 "2018-07-30T20:40:14Z")
Outside chances for\* Persistence of Memory\*, _Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear_ , _Guernica_, _The Kiss_, _Girl With A Pearl Earring_, _Napoleon Crossing The Alps_, _Olympia_ or _Night Watch_. But really, it’s _Starry Night_. \*The Great Wave off Kanagawa \*and _Vitruvian Man_ are disqualified by virtue of not being paintings. Note I didn’t have to specify who any of those were by… > [@dorvann](#): > > I am actually surprised no one has mentioned _Arrangement in Grey and Black No.1_ aka Whistler’s Mother. It or _American Gothic_ is probably one of the most famous paintings by an American artist. _Christina’s World_? _Night Hawks_? > [@](#): > > Or maybe _George Washington Crossing the Delaware._ Only in America. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/36 "2018-07-30T20:40:27Z")
I guess another famous image, though lots of people wouldn’t know the artist, is the Gilbert Stuart painting of Washington that was used as the basis for the $1 bill. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/37 "2018-07-30T20:44:11Z")
> [@wonky](#): > > I guess another famous image, though lots of people wouldn’t know the artist, is the Gilbert Stuart painting of Washington that was used as the basis for the $1 bill. I suppose then you’d have to add the portrait of Ben Franklin on the $100 bill as well. Or the engraving of Abraham Lincoln on the US penny. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/38 "2018-07-30T20:46:10Z")
> [@DavidwithanR](#): > > I think the one of Washington crossing the Delaware is essentially unknown outside the US… I’m sure many Europeans have at least seen a parody of American Gothic, but I’m Canadian and have never seen the Washington one. I have a feeling it’s known there only because of its history-book subject, not because of its quality as art. I’m Canadian too, and Washington Crossing the Delaware is extremely well known. It’s been parodied by many, even Larson in The Far Side. Whistler’s Mother is probably a painting most people would know. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/39 "2018-07-30T20:48:58Z")
I think that _Starry Night_ is pretty clearly van Gogh’s most famous painting, though most will also recognize his _Sunflowers_ and _Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear_. As for American paintings, _American Gothic_ is probably the single most famous, but Norman Rockwell’s oeuvre as a whole is probably better-known (except, again, there’s no one of them that stands out above the rest). Would any of Picasso’s be contenders? I’m thinking either [Three Musicians](https://www.pablopicasso.org/images/paintings/three-musicians.jpg) or [Don Quixote](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Quixote_(Picasso)). Overall, though, I’m going to have to go with either _The Last Supper_ or _The Creation of Man_. And if we call the entire Sistine Chapel a single work, then it’s probably in the lead, because there are other well-known panels in it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/40 "2018-07-30T20:56:56Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > I just thought of another famous painting: > > The painting of Henry VIII holding a turkey leg. Heh. Nice try. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822.md?page=3)