# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/81 "2018-07-31T16:18:08Z")
Elvis on black velvet. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/82 "2018-07-31T16:23:19Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Elvis on black velvet. I considered that, but I’m guessing a lot of people my generation and younger wouldn’t be familiar with it. I first learned of it from the Weird Al song, “Velvet Elvis.” Also, there appears to be no one specific iconic “Velvet Elvis” painting, is there? ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/83 "2018-07-31T16:31:14Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I considered that, but I’m guessing a lot of people my generation and younger wouldn’t be familiar with it. I first learned of it from the Weird Al song, “Velvet Elvis.” Also, there appears to be no one specific iconic “Velvet Elvis” painting, is there? Well, there are four original versions of _The Scream_ (plus one run of lithographs) and nobody’s disqualifying it… 😃 ---
**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 31, 2018, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/84 "2018-07-31T16:34:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I thought there was some humor in **Riemann** ’s statement but it is quite well known. Yes, I was joking about the art cognoscenti part of my prediction. _Dogs Playing Poker_ is a real contender, I agree. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/85 "2018-07-31T16:42:47Z")
> [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](#): > > Well, there are four original versions of _The Scream_ (plus one run of lithographs) and nobody’s disqualifying it… 😃 Hell, there are two versions of _Mona Lisa_! ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/86 "2018-07-31T17:42:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Here are a couple of other very famous ones that I’m not sure have been mentioned yet. [The Son Of Man](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Son_of_Man) and [The Treachery Of Images](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Treachery_of_Images) both by Magritte Magritte could be a future winner as some soon-to-be-famous paintings in private collections (La colère des dieux comes to mind) are bought for record sums by museums. Both The Son of Man and The Treachery Of Images kinda have to be taken as part of larger series of similar works. They’ll never win “famous named” category, and if they did, the confusion between different paintings, (like Hokusai’s multiple prints) are a bit of a cheat. That said, because of famous artworks primary use as financial instruments, even **the first** most famous painting has potential doubles. ---
**Author:** ![eunoia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eunoia/32/97_2.png) [@eunoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eunoia)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/87 "2018-07-31T17:52:05Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Hell, there are two versions of _Mona Lisa_! Not in time to add: d’oh :smack: **silenus** just mentioned it! ---
**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 31, 2018, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/88 "2018-07-31T19:59:40Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Doug K.** : > > The Hands Resist Him? I’d never heard of it, and on Googling it, I don’t recognize it. ---
**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 31, 2018, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/89 "2018-07-31T20:28:30Z")
One point in favour of _Starry Night_ over, say, _The Last Supper_ in terms of public awareness- does the latter feature in any easy listening classics? I know \*technically \*the song is called _Vincent_, but many people know it best as _Starry, Starry Night_. ---
**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 31, 2018, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/90 "2018-07-31T20:34:31Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > _The Hands Resist Him_? > [@Riemann](#): > > Now that we covered the obvious candidates, the thread will continue with people naming obscure paintings to signal their status as art cognoscenti… Ok, now we’re definitely into this territory. I have never seen this painting before, and I have never heard of the artist. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/91 "2018-07-31T20:54:15Z")
Well, a while back, for about 15 minutes, this was probably the most famous painting: > **[Ecce Homo (Martínez and Giménez)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Homo_(Mart%C3%ADnez_and_Gim%C3%A9nez,_Borja))** > > The Ecce Homo (Latin: "Behold the Man") in the Sanctuary of Mercy church in Borja, Spain, is a fresco painted circa 1930 by the Spanish painter Elías García Martínez depicting Jesus crowned with thorns. Both the subject and style are typical of traditional Catholic art. > While press accounts agree that the original painting was artistically unremarkable, its current fame derives from a good faith attempt to restore the fresco by Cecilia Giménez, an untrained amateur artist, in 2012. The interve... ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/92 "2018-07-31T21:41:45Z")
Durer’s Praying Hands drawing is very recognizable, although most people don’t know the artist > **[Praying Hands (Dürer)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer))** > > Praying Hands (German: Betende Hände), also known as Study of the Hands of an Apostle (Studie zu den Händen eines Apostels), is a pen-and-ink drawing by the German printmaker, painter and theorist Albrecht Dürer. The work is today stored at the Albertina museum in Vienna, Austria. Dürer created the drawing using the technique of white heightening and black ink on (self-made) blue colored paper. The drawing shows a close up of two male hands clasped together praying. Also, the partly rolled up sl... ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/93 "2018-07-31T21:45:10Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Well, a while back, for about 15 minutes, this was probably the most famous painting: > > [Ecce Homo (García Martínez and Giménez) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Homo_(Mart%C3%ADnez_and_Gim%C3%A9nez,_Borja)) [Fixed link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Homo_(Mart%C3%ADnez_and_Gim%C3%A9nez,_Borja)). (And hah!) > [@zimaane](#): > > Durer’s Praying Hands drawing is very recognizable, although most people don’t know the artist > > [Praying Hands (Dürer) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer)) [Fixed link.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer)) (Don’t recognize that one at all.) ---
**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 31, 2018, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/94 "2018-07-31T21:49:10Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > [Fixed link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecce_Homo_(Mart%C3%ADnez_and_Gim%C3%A9nez,_Borja)). (And hah!) > > [Fixed link.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praying_Hands_(D%C3%BCrer)) (Don’t recognize that one at all.) Wikipedia puts a helpful “…did you mean [link with terminal close bracket]” every time this happens. You’d think they might as well just redirect. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/95 "2018-07-31T21:51:30Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > Wikipedia puts a helpful “…did you mean [link with terminal close bracket]” every time this happens. You’d think they might as well just redirect. Hah. I didn’t even notice that. Yeah, you’d think if 99% of the url matches except for a common formatting misstep, it’d just go ahead and assume what you meant. ---
**Author:** ![Delayed\_Reflex](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/delayed_reflex/32/3172_2.png) [@Delayed\_Reflex](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delayed_Reflex)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/96 "2018-07-31T22:27:35Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I am so surprised at the votes for The Last Supper. I encounter references to it much less often than I encounter references to some of the others mentioned. Even if we just look at religious artwork, The Creation of Adam seems much better-known. > > But this may get to the question of what constitutes fame: if we’re going by ability to name the painting, The Last Supper may win, just because its name is so straightforward. I wonder about this too - while I think a great many people might recognize the image of _the Creation of Adam_, I wonder how many of them know its name and who painted it. _Starry Night_ is the painting that came to mind before I opened the thread, and I would think most people who recognize the painting also know its name and painter. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/97 "2018-07-31T23:35:48Z")
> [@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’ve first seen “American Gothic” in the _Rocky Horror Picture Show_ and didn’t even understand then that the picture they were parodying was an important piece of art. I only learned that much later. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2018, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/98 "2018-08-01T04:27:56Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > It seems likely to me that the second most famous painting is gonna be one that’s got serious pop culture chops. Las Meninas? No chance. The Last Supper? Still very low chance. The Wave? I love it, but unlikely. [The Last Supper in pop culture](https://www.google.com/search?q=the+last+supper+pop+culture&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjvtujBgcvcAhWpv1QKHVgHB1UQ_AUICigB&biw=1468&bih=772&dpr=1.25) ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2018, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/99 "2018-08-01T04:47:47Z")
Trump crosses the swamp > **[Someone Actually Painted Trump Draining The Swamp And It's Truly Incredible](https://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/crossing-the-swamp-good-painting?utm_term=.bdkJO1x8d#.ksYvn19RJ)** > > Sadly, Scott Pruitt was either absent the day this portrait was taken or had already resigned in disgrace, but everyone else is here! (h/t Southpaw) ---
**Author:** ![jsntodd10](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6a8cbe/32.png) [@jsntodd10](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsntodd10)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2018, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822/100 "2018-08-01T07:09:46Z")
> [@E-DUB](#): > > Trump crosses the swamp > > [Someone Actually Painted Trump Draining The Swamp And It's Truly Incredible](https://www.buzzfeed.com/expresident/crossing-the-swamp-good-painting?utm_term=.bdkJO1x8d#.ksYvn19RJ) Absolutely Marvelous! Can’t deny the talent and creative flare behind these works. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-second-most-famous-painting/818822.md?page=6)