... and I only recognize #3. And, amazingly, I only recognize it because I just within the last hour watched a video lecture from The Great Course's DVD, "The History of European Art." What a coincidence.

Are we supposed to name the works we recognize?

... by Pieter Bruegel, in Brussels, Belgium.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landscape_with_the_Fall_of_Icarus

Amazingly, I only learned of it this very afternoon.

... about the museum in Brussels? And I only knew that from looking at the wiki link I just posted. Man, you can learn things fast!

I'm going to Brussels in October and plan to visit the Musee des Beaux Arts so I can at last see the damn thing...

I guess they have more sophisticated analysis techniques these days...

Seems the one in Brussels may be a very early copy of Bruegel's original. Hate it when that happens!

But I'm pretty sure number 2 is at Schoenbrunn in Vienna.

in the Belvedere Gardens. I've not been to Vienna (I plan to, tho!). What is the relation of the Belvedere and the Schoenbrunn?

I'd never heard of Belvedere, but I have visited Schoenbrunn, which was a Hapsburg royal residence in the city. Apparently Belvedere was built for Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was born in France but made his career in the service of the Hapsburgs.

Schoenbrunn also has some famous gardens, which is why I thought this pic came from there.

As an aside, I loved Vienna and recommend it highly. There's tons to see and it also struck me as one of the cleanest cities I'd ever been to.

the Viennese Secession Movement at the turn of the 20th century. It was full of stuff about Vienna, hence this item. And I also went into NYC to see "Adele Bloch-Bauer" at the Klimt show at the Neue Galerie. Fascinating story about that painting and what happened to it over the years and why it is now in the possession of the Neue Galerie...

Stained glass is by Alfons Mucha.

I had no idea about Mucha doing this, even tho I had a Mucha reproduction in my house for several years (I gave it to my son).

This one was easy!!!

It sounds like it is such a beautiful city and one that escaped a lot of WW2 destruction.

Lucky you! Are you of Czech origin?

I hope to spend a year there at some point...hopefully soon!

Near Old Town and the Castle and St Vitus, but not touristy and lots of neat shops and bars...lots of locals and you really get a feel for what it's like to live in this city.

I'm not getting this response...

I really don't think I EVER referred to anyone as an "art ignoramus" unless it was to refer to me, because that was what I was before I decided to study art. We have a nice group of art lovers here. Why are you doing this? We are a peaceful tribe who wants to live in peace with everyone. I don't understand what your problem is...

who marvel that people like know so much about art that you can discuss these works intelligently.

Reread the post as a self depreciating humorous post by someone who wishes they knew a fraction of what you guys know.

Yucaipa CA

am I getting closer?

Timbuktu, Mali?

There are hundreds of us how click on your threads and have absolutely no clue what you are referring to but love the fact that you guys do.

Rancho Cucamonga, CA (homage to Jack Benny)?

We can't get close to an intelligent answer so all we can offer is a little friendly snarky answer and help kick your thread.

Winnemucca NV?

I was telling my husband who had to talk me down...he was concerned that DU had given me a terrible blow...

OK, I get the gist...

Thanks for the reminder.

You know what? Nobody knows ANYTHING when they start out! Really, nobody! I go into the library and pull art books from the shelves and I read. That is what I do. When I find out about other books I order them from other public libraries and they deliver them and I get them. All free.
I am privileged in that I am retired. Otherwise, I couldn't do this.

We can all share in this. We really can. I am not for just a few. I want to attract everyone to my Challenge.

Please come back and be part of this!

I can't even begin to imagine ANYbody being disagreeable with you and these wonderful challenges!!!!

They are entertaining, educational and a total delight!!!

Don't EVER stop!!!

"environment" of art research and it keeps my brain active as I get old!

I've got more coming and actually am doing research this coming week on future Challenges. I love the conversations on art and hearing about DUers experiences with art and travel. Quite honestly, that's why I do this...to hang out and talk about my passion...

One of these is not in Europe...

or is seeking a bit a refuge from "all Ryan all the time" that is just now sinking in...

I saw it in the thread last night but for the life of me couldn't place it even though it's such a striking image and sculpture.

A phone call from a friend this morning jogged by memory...it's in Berlin, not where I misremembered, but at the Kathe Kollwitz Museum sculpture garden. I had scouted going there some years ago but couldn't make the trip.

I can't say that I'm familiar with her work, but that just gives me one more reason to move it to the top of the list. A remarkable artist.

It is far away from Paris...

hmmm, what's going on here....???

I missed that news story.

this thread!

I have LOVED stories about stolen artwork showing up in varied places for a while now. So this really got my interest. Why do people steal famous art? They gotta be kiddin', right?

It's really interesting and feeds my need to get new art Challenges for DU. I'm having a ball when that happens...

I rarely know the answers and even when I think I do, like this time, I'm often fooled. I learn things in every thread and frankly, I just really love looking at the pictures. Sometimes I google the artists and look at their other work.

I have also discovered that there are a zillion art blogs out there, people who just blog about art in regular segments and you can find the strangest (and sometimes wonderful) things about an artist or a particular work of art that you never knew before. I have also discovered that DU has a very art savvy population! And every week someone tells me about their own experience with a work or how they got to know about a particular artist. It's fascinating! I just love the stories.

recovered just a couple of weeks ago--it used to hang in Caracas as an actual Matisse--

Oops (maybe) they will be arguing over this for awhile since the copy is actually prettier than the original! (IMHO)

Big news in the art world...

What is interesting is that nobody seemed to notice that the fake was so different from the original. How can that happen? I'll bet the story of the theft and the switch will be in a book soon. I just love those stories...and movies...about art heists...

I love art caper mysteries, too!

but since it looks like a fresco, it's probably still in Italy. Too many capitals there, tho especially during the Renaissance, to pick one.

so the answer is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esterhazy_Madonna

Apparently, it too was once stolen but was eventually found.

However, there are earlier paintings on panel, such as the Mona Lisa. IIRC, the Venetians came up with the idea for canvas because paintings on wood did not fare well in Venice's humidity...necessity again becoming the mother of invention...

That's what counts, dunnit?

so, even though each of them would have been way off, my aggregate number of 'closest guesses' would have better the smartie pants who would have gotten 2 or 3 correct but had no opinion on the other three, making my aggregate choices the winner even though none of them are within thousands of miles of the actual answer.

And you are funny!

If I can solve my computer problems, we'll all be good for a long time...in the meantime, I have 3 more challenges "in the can" so to speak...