European Classical Art
While there is no official period of art known as "classical," when people think of important historical paintings from Europe—that is, work that is not modern—they often think of works by the "old masters." According to the Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art, an old master usually means a well-regarded painter who worked between the years of 1300 to 1830. This period gave birth to many of the world's most famous and well-regarded works of art, from many schools of painting.
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Leonardo Da Vinci
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The Renaissance was a time of rebirth in art, literature and science throughout Europe. Italy was a leading force in this resurgence, and artists from what is called the "high renaissance" are typically Italian and are often used to illustrate the classics of the period.
Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) is one of the best-known European artists, and perhaps the best-known artist in the Western world. According to Boston's Museum of Science, da Vinci began painting around the year 1469. Among his most famous paintings are the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper.
Michelangelo
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Other famed Renaissance artists include Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475-1564), who is as well known for his sculpture of David as his frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City.
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Raphael
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The artist known as Raphael was born Raffaello Santi (1483-1520). His frescoes are also on display at the Vatican and his work can be seen in what are referred to as the "Raphael Rooms" in the Vatican Palace.
El Greco
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Domenikos Theotocopoulos (1541-1614) was known to the world as El Greco. He was a Greek artist who created many religious paintings. According to The Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art, El Greco's work influenced later movements such as Expressionism and Cubism. El Greco is often mentioned as part of the Mannerism school of painting. Mannerism refers to the time between the High Renaissance and the Baroque period and it comes from the Italian word for style.
Peter Paul Rubens
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The Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art writes that Peter Paul Rubens (1577-1640) is one of the greatest of the old masters and was the premier painter in Northern Europe during his lifetime. He is known for his Baroque style, which means he used color and movement to emphasize a sensuality in his work. Some of Rubens' most well-known paintings include The Judgment of Paris, Samson and Delilah and Venus at the Mirror.
According to the Encyclopedia of Irish and World Art, Ruben's paintings can be split into three distinct categories. First are the works he painted himself. Second are those he partially painted (usually faces and hands) and third are the paintings by others under his supervision. Rubens supervised many students and apprentices during his career.
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References
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