Art Experts Will Fail This Test. Can You Pass It?

Art has been one of the best ways for people to express themselves for thousands of years. Whether it's through paintings, sculptures or some other kind of etching, famous pieces of art have left a lasting impression on anyone that gazed upon them.

The paintings and sculptures in this quiz are among the most famous and revered of all known pieces of artwork. Many of these works of art have been copied, imitated and referenced many times over the ages, and have served as inspiration for other artists as well. The artists described here are known to have changed the world through their paintings, sculptures and creations, and can be credited with leaving a lasting legacy on human history.

Some of these pieces of art are a few decades old, with the most recent among them having been completed no later than the 1940s. Others, however, are much older, dating back centuries to the age of the Renaissance in Europe and the golden age of sculpture and frescoes. Others still are even older, with some pieces of art dating thousands of years.

If you consider yourself an art lover, you should be more than capable of getting at least 70% on this quiz that's dedicated to art and human expression.

Question 1

This painting, known as The Creation of Adam, is located in which world-famous structure?

Michelangelo is widely considered to be one if, if not the single greatest artist of all time. He is considered the ideal ‘Renaissance Man’, and his works have inspired countless others after him. This painting in particular is one of his masterpieces, depicting one of the most important scenes from the Book of Genesis. In this scene, God comes down to earth and creates Adam, the first man. What’s most interesting about this painting is that it can be found not on a wall, but on the ceiling of an equally-iconic structure visited by millions of people per year.

Question 2

Who painted the Mona Lisa?

This is quite possibly the single most famous painting in the world. It has been referenced countless times in other words of art and in entertainment, and is visited by so many people on a regular basis that it has an enormous barrier around it to prevent people from getting too close. As a result, when you visit this painting in the Louvre, it can only be seen from a distance, and is much smaller than you might expect it to be.

Question 3

Who painted this painting?

Not only is this painting, appropriately titled The Scream, one of the most easily-recognized paintings of all time, but it has been the target of several high-profile art heists. The first theft occurred in 1994, when two thieves stole it during the 1994 Winter Olympics while it was being held in a lower-security facility in Norway. The second occurred in 2004 when armed gunmen stole the painting and damaged it in the process. One possible reason why this is such a popular target for theft is because a pastel version sold at a Sotheby’s auction for an astonishing $120 million in 2012.

Question 4

What is the name of this painting?

This is one of Sandro Botticelli’s most famous paintings, and is considered to be one of the most iconic paintings of the Renaissance era. It depicts a nude female figure standing atop a giant scallop shell, with another figure blowing wind onto her from the left side of the painting and another figure reaching over to her from the right. This painting was also significant in changing mentalities in the art world at the time, because a nude woman was rarely allowed to be the focal point of a painting, much less one by a well-known artist like Botticelli.

Question 5

Who is being portrayed in this painting?

Portraits of political leaders and heroes of the imagination have long been a popular topic among painters and other artists. In this case, we have an oil painting by Jacques-Louis David depicting an 18th & 19th century leader atop his horse as he seeks to cross what appears to be a difficult mountain pass. An interesting note about this painting is that there are five similar-yet-different version of this painting in circulation, with the main differences between them being in shading, background colors, and general contrast.

Question 6

Who is the mastermind behind this sculpture?

This is arguably the most iconic marble sculpture in human history. It portrays the Biblical hero David, this time as a fully-grown man. The statue is widely considered to be a masterpiece in human artwork, due to how much attention its creator put into every minor detail. The sculpture looks almost life-like, with its accurate depiction of the human body down to the smallest of features. The statue has since been replicated in many forms countless times, and today serves as a symbol of the defense of civil liberties.

Question 7

In this painting, titled The Last Supper, who is said to be seated on the right of Jesus Christ?

This iconic painting is yet another one that depicts a memorable religious scene. In this one, Jesus Christ sits in the middle surrounded by his twelve Apostles as he feasts on his final supper before his judgment and crucifixion. In modern media, the figure sitting next to Jesus – i.e. the one immediately to his right, with their left arm closest to his right arm – has been the subject of intense debate and discussion, most notable in the fiction work, the Da Vinci Code.

Question 8

Who painted this painting?

This gorgeous painting, titled ‘Café Terrace at Night’ portrays a simple image in Arles, France. Painted in 1888, the oil canvas does not contain any black paint for the sky; all of it was done with varying shades of blue and violet instead. The artist demonstrated exactly why he is remembered so fondly today for his skills; this painting is filled with tiny details and changes that give the painting a tinge of reality. Even the cobblestone ground is painted in different shades to give the impression that this is based on a real place.

Question 9

Who painted this painting?

This isn’t a standalone painting, but is instead part of a collection of paintings that all depict the same thing: a bunch of anthropomorphized dogs playing poker. Now considered a prime example of ‘kitsch’ in modern art, this painting has been copied and referenced many times over the decades. In one famous instance, Family Guy’s Mayor Adam West appeared as one of the poker players, asking the other dogs if they were interested in buying a pizza. The painting has been a popular depiction of Americans since it first came out in the 1980s.

Question 10

Whats the name of this painting?

Here we have another portrait of a woman, which became an increasingly common subject for painters once the Renaissance began. In this case, the painting features a woman wearing a turban gazing back at the viewer. But the focus of this painting isn’t the woman’s expression, but the absurdly-large pearl earring she’s wearing. The painting is a highly popular one, and even served as the inspiration for an historical novel, which then became both an award-winning stage play and a Golden Globe-winning movie as well.

Question 11

This painting by Pieter Brugel the Elder shows which legendary structure?

The painting shown here is one of three showcasing the same mythical structure. The structure, built by an ancient people, was said to have been built by a single people speaking one language. The purpose of this building was so that all these people could live together in one place, and that their tower would eventually reach Heaven. However, that achievement never happens, as they end up being confounded by a higher power, and are scattered around the world due to them developing different languages and thus being unable to finish this legendary structure.

Question 12

Who painted this painting?

The painting shown here is but one of approximately 250 oil paintings by the same artist created over an extended period of time. This painting, like the others, was inspired by a flower garden the artist had in his home in Giverny, in northern France. What is most impressive about these pieces (apart from their elegance) is that the artist painted most of them while suffering from cataracts. In other words, he had limited vision when he painted yet still managed to create such breath-taking paintings.

Question 13

This painting, titled Massacre of the Innocents, by Peter Paul Rubens, depicts people being slaughtered in which Biblical city?

Biblical and other religious stories have long been a popular subject for painters and other artists. Reubens was no exception, as he painted an iconic scene from the Bible in which Innocents are massacred by soldiers acting on behalf of King Herod the Great. These soldiers were said to be targeting children in specific, as they were looking for the supposed King of the Jews, whose birth had been told to him by the Magi. This painting is but another depicting the early martyrs of the Christian faith as they were slaughtered by the powers in place at the time.

Question 14

Who painted this painting?

This painting, which was completed in 1889, has been on display in the New York Museum of Modern Art since 1941, and is considered one of the most recognized paintings in the entire history of Western culture. Though this painting shares many similarities with a similar and equally-famous painting by the same artist, this is the more famous of the two. The intricate details in the idealized village in the bottom right corner and the swirls in the night sky are among the most recognizable features of this masterwork of a painting.

Question 15

Complete the Title: A ___________ Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

Georges Seurat spent two years working on this painting, and that shows in the smallest of details seen in this work of art. It depicts Parisians relaxing on the banks of a river, with most of them being hidden in the shade by one object or another. This painting differs from most others on this list through the technique used to create the image. Instead of using brush strokes, the majority of this painting was done in the pointillist style, meaning that Seurat made dots in patterns to create images. In other words, what you see here is thousands or perhaps millions of small dots arranged artistically to create a true work of art.

Question 16

Complete the title of this painting: Starry Night over the __________

This is one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. Completed in 1888, this masterpiece portrays the scenery that Van Gogh saw while on a river bank during the evening. The oil on canvas painting shows only a few different colors, yet Van Gogh managed to blend them masterfully. The different hues of blue used for the sky and the water can be distinguished perfectly, which isn’t an easy feat to accomplish. This painting has also been referenced in popular culture several times, most recently in the Witcher 3 expansion, ‘Heart of Stone’.

Question 17

Who are the two men walking in the centre of this painting?

Located in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, this painting is considered one of Raphaël’s finest masterpieces and was once considered, “the perfect embodiment of the classical spirit of the Renaissance.” Known as School of Athens, this painting took Raphaël two years to complete, which makes sense given how many minuscule details there are in this image. It features numerous political, philosophical and intellectual leaders of the Antiquity moving about and talking to one another, with the archways leading the eye towards two of the most influential philosophers of all time.

Question 18

Who painted this painting?

Now we’re entering into the realm of completely abstract concepts. The art style seen in this painting focuses on seemingly random shapes and objects that do not reflect anything known in the real world. Instead, this painting emphasizes complete randomness and chaos in order to create an overarching image. The artist behind this painting is considered to be the earliest expert in the field of abstract art, and even managed to take actual, real-life objects and distort them into abstract images, as seen with one of his other famous works, The Cow.

Question 19

In this painting, titled The Third of May, Spaniards are being attacked by whom?

This iconic painting by Francisco Goya is widely considered to be one of the first paintings of the modern era. Unlike many of its predecessors, which drew on Christian imagery and ‘older’ concepts of war, this painting – titled The Third of May – takes a much darker and more realistic approach. Upon viewing, one can feel the revolutionary undertones of the painting, especially through the one figure with his hands up looking back at his assailants. This piece has also inspired many other painters, including Édouard Manet and Pablo Picasso, who found inspiration in The Third of May.

Question 20

Who painted this painting?

This painting, titled ‘The Night Watch’ is famous for three things. First, it’s an enormous painting by most painting standards, at a whopping 14.34 feet by 11.91 feet. Secondly, the mastermind behind the painting managed to blend light and shadow into the artwork so perfectly that it actually looks like there’s real light being shined onto the central three figures. These elements also create an illusion of motion in the painting, while most other paintings of this type (that is, a military painting) show a static, non-moving image.

Question 21

This painting by Eugene Delacroix features a woman leading a group of people. Who is this woman?

This painting by Eugène Delacroix features a woman holding the French flag in what appears to be a revolutionary scene of some sort. According to scholars of art, the woman in this painting has a dual meaning. On one hand, she’s supposed to be an allegory for some kind of intangible concept that’s worth fighting (and dying) for, while at the same time also appearing as one of the people she’s leading. Even in modern times, this image remains a very important symbol to France and its people.

Question 22

TRUE or FALSE: This painting was painted by Dante Alighieri?

Dante Alighieri is considered to be the mastermind behind virtually all modern concepts of Heaven and Hell. His ‘Divine Comedy’ gave all those that followed him a blueprint on how to depict angels, demons, and the suffering that awaits sinners in Hell (at least, according to the Christian tradition). Dante went into great detail depicting what Hell looked like, from the various ways in which people suffered for their sins, to what kinds of monsters dwelled in the various circles of Hell.

Question 23

Who are the two men standing on the left side of this painting?

Images of angels and demons have long been popular among artists. For centuries, the only people that could read books were monks, religious figureheads, and political leaders. As a result, to tell stories to laypeople, religious leaders commissioned artists to take what was written in religious texts and translate them into visual stories so that those laypeople could understand those religious stories. This is one such a story, featuring two seemingly-righteous figures surrounded by suffering and evil in what appears to be Hell.

Question 24

Who is the mastermind behind this sculpture?

This sculpture has been emulated and replicated many times since it was first displayed to the public in 1904. The figure depicts a nude man sitting with his chin resting on his right hand, as he appears to be contemplating something deep and philosophical. Called ‘The Thinker’, this sculpture, is meant to represent human intellect and poetry. It was once believed that it was also meant to depict Dante pondering his epic journey into Hell as part of the Divine Comedy, but that never happened because this statue ended up being a standalone depiction, instead of the figure being placed next to the Gates of Hell, as was the original intent.

Question 25

In which country will you find these sculptures?

This famous collection of sculptures was discovered in 1974 by farmers, and are estimated to have been finished and interred in a mausoleum some time in the third century BC. The collection of statues includes an estimated 8,000 individual soldiers, 130 chariots, and around 700 horses, all of which are made of terracotta, a type of clay/ceramic substance. Since their discovery, individual statues of this Terracotta Army have been on display in multiple museums around the world, as they demonstrate the impressive artistic abilities of the artist(s) that created them.

Question 26

Who is the mastermind behind this sculpture?

This sculpture is perhaps most remembered by those who’ve read the book ‘Angels & Demons’ or watched the film of the same name. This sculpture is referenced as part of the Illuminati’s plot to assassinate candidates for the next Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, and is considered one of the ‘altars of science’. Titled ‘Ecstasy of St. Theresa’, this painting was said to have been controversial due to the alleged sexual pose and expression by the woman in the sculpture.

Question 27

Who is portrayed in this sculpture?

This bust is believed to be well over 3,000 years old, with most estimates putting its creation at around 1345 BC. The bust, supposedly created by the sculptor Thutmose, has become a symbol of both Egypt and Germany. It is a symbol of the former because it’s one of the few surviving busts of its time, and has served as an icon of feminine beauty for eons. It is a symbol of the latter because the bust it was discovered by a German archaeological team in 1912, and has been on display in that country ever since.

Question 28

Who painted this painting?

Many art connoisseurs consider this to be an early masterpiece of the painter that created it. The scene depicted here is an autopsy, which was considered a social event at the time. Here, a surgeon demonstrates various parts of the human body to other medical professionals. This painting has been praised for its attention to detail, especially when you take into account all the minute differences in the figures' faces and all the details put into the corpse as well.

Question 29

What is the name of this famous painting?

This particular painting was painted by Gentile da Fabriano in 1423, and is one of many that depicts the same scene. This one originates from the Christian Bible, particularly in passage Matthew 2:11: "On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another path."

Question 30

What is the name of this painting?

This widely-parodied and referenced painting depicts a rural American couple gazing sternly in front of their house. The painting was painted in 1930 by Grant Wood, and was meant to depict what Wood understood to be the typical rural American family. The painting conjured up images of old Victorian customs and styles, and evokes a feeling of sadness and melancholy, based on the subjects’ facial expressions. Over the decades, this painting has been parodied many times, with many different kinds of objects being put in place of the pitchfork held by the man in the painting.

Question 31

Who is painted here slaying a dragon?

The dragon has long been a popular image in artwork. Because it isn’t a real creature – and is thus open to the interpretation of those that present it in visual form – paintings featuring dragons are open to wide interpretation. This painting by Paolo Uccello is one of many different interpretations of a heroic figure fighting and slaying a dragon. The tale of a holy man fighting a monstrous dragon is popular across the Christian world, and thus there are many different versions of this painting.

Question 32

Who painted this painting?

With this painting we exit the realism of most of the entries on this list and shift into the surrealist realm. This painting features warped and melting clocks/watches, which contrasts with the hard surface of the table on the left side. This painting came out around the same time as Albert Einstein’s Theory of Relativity, thus the painting came to represent the ‘softness’ of time and how it is experienced differently, as opposed to the hard concept of a fixed order that governs the Universe.

Question 33

Who painted this painting?

Most of the world’s greatest pieces of art depicted something concrete, i.e. something that’s easily discernable or identifiable, even if there was an unrealistic twist to its depiction. Then there’s this piece, which doesn’t appear to depict anything in particular. A perfect example of abstract expressionism, this piece’s chaotic imagery allows for the viewer to draw their own conclusions as to what it’s meant to represent. Most would say that it’s an expression of the chaos inside the artist’s mind at the time it was completed.

Question 34

Who painted this painting?

This baroque painting is yet another take on the famous story of David fighting the monster Goliath. In this version, David stands over Goliath victorious, holding the slain monster’s head in his hands. The painting showcases a degree of ‘modesty’ on the part of David, as the child warrior doesn’t appear to show any celebration or triumph in his monumental feat. This painting would later influence two other masterpieces by the same artist – Sacrifice of Isaac and John the Baptist – as those paintings would contain elements first found in this piece of artwork.

Question 35

Complete the title of this painting: The Lady With The _______

This painting by Leonardo da Vinci is one of only four of his painting that features a woman as his subject. The subject of this painting is Cecilia Gallerani, the mistress of the Duke of Milan. The painting has been considered a masterpiece in the art of ‘psychological portraiture’, and is one of the few Renaissance paintings that has never been altered in any way, shape or form. These days, the painting can be found in the Polish National Museum in Krakow.

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