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. ❤️

It's yours 😄

Stripes give me vertigo!

I saw an exhibition of her work at the De La Warre pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea. It was a great venue for it.

I'm very much enjoying the way we are handing one another works of art in a lordly and generous manner. 'Here, have a Botticelli!' 'Don't mind if I do -- I have a Hilma af Klimt, if anyone would like one? Couple of Carvaggios and a Lucian Freud lying around as well if you're interested?'

I'm in a very giving mood 😄

I'm loving this thread @AllaMova, thank you.

And thanks to everyone who's added a link or an image!

I would like the tiny Faberge crystal flower that was on the Antiques Roadshow years ago and which belonged to a regiment somewhere and was a table decoration at their special banquets.

@Whosthetabbynow, snap! Posted earlier this morning and I love the story behind it. It’s also hugely impressive when seen - I’ve made do with a decent size print.

This has been one of the best threads for ages! Thoroughly enjoying seeing all these different works of art. Some absolute corkers.

I posted Kawase Hasui earlier but have to admit The Execution of Lady Jane Grey always always takes my breath away.

I didn't add images first time, so here they are:

Louise Bourgeois's Femme-Maison
Paula Rego's Angel
Vanessa Bell's Studland Beach

Monet’s La Gare Saint-Lazare

Also lots of Andrew Wyeth’s work, Christina’s World and in particular Jacklight:

Thanks everyone, what a great thread!!! I’ve really enjoyed learning about new art & artists, lots to look at now and admire. Lovely happy thread 😁

I wish you'd quoted. I'm going to have to trawl the thread now ......

Sebastiao Salgado's penguins

Henri Rousseau's "Tiger in a Tropical Storm". I've loved it since I first saw it in the 1970's, and if ever I find myself in the vicinity of Trafalgar Square with a bit of time to kill, I pop in to the National Gallery to say hello to it.

I would love to have it in my house.

Many of my favourites have already been mentioned - I love this, by Emily Sargent (John’s younger sister).

Studland Beach is fantastic!

If you've never been, I'd recommend a visit to Vanessa Bell's house, Charleston, in Sussex. You really get a feel for Bell as a person.

Snap! It's just breathtaking, and I see something new in it every time I see it.

Farm at Watendlath
Dora Carrington

That's a fantastic painting. I know it very well, having spent a fortnight doing a jigsaw puzzle of it when I was off work with glandular fever!

Had this on my wall (the print) for decades. I love it too.

But mine would be pretty much anything by Waterhouse - either of the lady of Shalott (in red by the window, or in the boat on the lake) or Miranda/The Tempest. Pre-Raphaelite with literary connections 🥰

Christ of St John of the cross by Salvador Dali. Or anything by Artemisia Genteleschi

The Hay Wain by Constable.

My husband took me to see it for our 4 th date. It was a quiet and sunny day. There was a bench opposite it. It was pure magic. He held my hand, I felt butterflies and we spent about 2 hours looking at it. It is nothing like the coasters or posters. It glitters like gold, every detail is beautifully crafted and it’s huge. The detail is exquisite it is a true masterpiece the more you look the more you see. I knew then that I loved my husband and he was the one for me and it was one of the happiest days of my life and that painting, oh my god it is magical.

Dali’s Christ of St John of the Cross, a print of which was on the wall of the church hall where I went to brownies as a child and fascinated me, and where I had my 18th birthday party and my evening wedding reception. I saw the original in Glasgow when I moved here as an adult. Somehow I feel like it has been present for some of my main life events, without me ever seeking it out.

Christ of St John of the Cross

Me too. How can you see through a stone veil? There is also a copy at Chatsworth house. They have another sculpture called The Veiled Vestal Virgin, also by Raffaelle Monti (1847). It is often displayed in low light with up lighting to really make it stand out. My DSis and I look forward to seeing it every time we visit.
My favourite painting is “The Dreamers “ by Albert Joseph Moore. It is owned by Birmingham museum and art gallery. The museum has only just reopened after covid so I’m looking forward to going to see it soon. I have a print above our bed.
Id also love any of Damian Hursts sculptures.