If you could choose one artwork to own, what would it be?

[AllaMova]

With the following caveat, you must select one that you love, rather than for its worth etc.

At the moment, I would choose “Sketch of a Seated Cat” by Gwen John. ❤️

https://www.alamy.com/dollman-john-charles-famine-british-school-19th-century-image370660291.html

Nationa Museum and Gallery in Cardiff is free. Well worth a visit even if you don’t go to the Gwen John. They have a great collection of impressionist paintings. I used to go every week when I worked in Cardiff. If I could choose one painting from there it would be this tiny gem though. There’s something about the light.

Or this portrait of Mary Wollstonecraft:

https://www.ecosia.org/images?q=portrait%20of%20mary%20wollstonecraft&_sp=72dc8670-9388-4e88-84a6-4fb5ee477933&sr=1#id=861B4E87CDF2AB8C7C5A643C8422C19D2CC4475B

I love Atkinson Grimshaw’s paintings.

I’m not sure which one I’d choose. Maybe A Lane in Headingley, or Boar Lane, or perhaps Fairy. I love the Old Mill (which is weirdly reversed - the actual mill is at Dunham Massey).

I love, and have done since at school 55 years ago, when it was on the wall in a new school building, Guernica by Picasso. We made a trip to Madrid this year and saw the original, and I found it very emotional. For a less controversial piece, I really like the work of Marc Chagall, particularly Blue Lovers.

Great thread.

There is a restaurant near me that had a near to life size version of this on its wall. It always baffled me as to why you’d think a painting about wartime atrocity would go well with eating! After a few years (and perhaps a few bemused diners saying ‘why …’ ) it’s been replaced!

My painting would be the Arnofini portrait or le passeur by Stott of Oldham. I’d never heard of him previously but every time I visit Tate Britain I just get lost in it.

www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/jan-van-eyck-the-arnolfini-portrait

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/william-stott-of-oldham-533/william-stotts-le-passeur

So many incredible gems have been mentioned - I absolutely love this thread! It's wonderful how diverse the selections are, reflecting so many different styles, tastes, moods, emotions, memories and personal stories - and all of it just glorious!

Would look brilliant in my house.

Nope, the museum is free entry, but you have to pay to enter the exhibit.

Fantastic, I’ll definitely go!

I’m pleased you like it!

I have read somewhere, (but can't find the reference again), that the cat is not actually Percy, but another cat of the Clark's.

Something from Monet's Waterlilys series perhaps?

Oh I’ve always loved this, good shout!

birth of venus or van gogh night sky

I would also choose " Christ of St. John of the Cross". It means so much to Glaswegians.

Garbati's ^Medusa with the head of Perseus" is more powerful imo. Medusa was cursed with the snake-hair and deadly eyes as a punishment for having been raped and never did Perseus any harm. (Read Stone Blind by Natalie Haynes)

If I had a mansion it would be an installation My Bed Tracy Emin

Anything by Victoria Brookland. I have this as a print.

And another Victoria Brookland

I'll happily take Holbien's Christina of Denmark. The painting of the black velvet and the fur make me want to reach out and run my hand over them and show his incredible talent & patience. Fell deeply in love when I saw it at the National Gallery years ago and periodically go back and reassure myself it's still stunning. Would look perfect at the top of my stairs - if only.

This

edited to say I’m not sure I know how to add pics so very likely nothing will appear hey ho

Starry night is a favourite, it has to be said. Dp got me some converse with them on, sadly too small, but my niece loves them. Galartsy is a great website for that sort of thing.

I'd love a Moore, or Hepworth, so strokable, but I'd need a bigger house and garden.

I'd also love a Louise Bourgeois spider, the ones in the tate modern were wonderful.

And a Faberge egg.

And Guernica.

I don't want much, do I....

Yves Klein, Big Blue Anthropometry
John Bellany - Maybe one of the ones with his puffin face
david Hockney - too many to choose just one, the garden, or pool with two figures maybe

I was so taken with this that I bought this "copy" off Amazon.

"Adonis Dream" by Richard Franklin.
I quite like a lot of his paintings actually especially "Danae" but this one is the one.