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You are here: History Lists · People · Top 10 Most Famous Classical Music
Composers

Top 10 Most Famous Classical

Music Composers
Classical music may not enjoy as much popularity as it used to in its
golden age from 17th to the early 20th century. But it continues to
impress and inspire, especially the works by the greatest composers of
all times. Some of them may have lived hundreds of years ago but their
masterpieces simply remain unsurpassed.

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)

German organist, composer, violist and violinist is widely regarded as
one of the best classical composers of all times. He wrote over 1100
compositions which include cantatas, songs and arias, chorales, passions
and oratorios, organ works, works for harpsichord, concertos,… Best
known works by Bach include the Brandenburg Concertos, Air on the G
String, Toccata and Fugue in D minor and Arioso, to mention only a few.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791)

Austrian composer impressed his contemporaries already as a child. At
the age of 5, he mastered keyboard and violin, and entertained the social
elites including royalty throughout Europe. Mozart composed more
than 600 works in all music genres known in his time. Some of most
famous and most widely performed Mozart’s works include Requiem,
Symphony No. 40, operas The Magic Flute and The Marriage of Figaro,
Piano Sonata No 16 in C Major, Symphony No. 25, Piano Concerto No.
21 and Piano Sonata No. 11 (Mov. 3 - Turkish March).

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

German composer and pianist was the most outstanding figure in the
transition between Classical and Romantic periods, and one of the most
famous classical music composers of all times. Some of his best works
including the 9th symphony were created after he became almost
completely deaf. Other notable works by Beethoven include Sonata No.
14 (Moonlight Sonata), 5th Symphony, 6th Symphony, Bagatelle No. 25
(Für Elise) and Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op.73.

Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)

The celebrated Italian composer is best known for his operas that remain
popular to this day. His musical career, however, didn’t start smoothly.
After his wife’s death and failure of his second opera (Un giorno di
regno), he fell into despair and nearly give up composing. Fortunately,
La Scala’s impressario convinced him to write Nabucco which was a
huge success. Soon, more followed and Verdi established himself as the
dominant figure of the 19th century Italian classical music. Verdi’s most
famous operas besides Nabucco include La traviata, Rigoletto, Aida,
Don Carlos, Otello and Falstaff.

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)

Most famous Russian classical music composer wrote in a variety of
genres. He composed symphonies, operas, concertos, chamber music,
sacred choral music, overtures, suites and ballets. Some of his best
known works include his three ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake and
the Sleeping Beauty, Marche Slave, First Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat
minor, Overture 1812, Symphony No. 6, Fantasy Overture (Romeo and
Juliet), Serenade for Strings and opera Eugene Onegin.

Frederic Chopin (1810-1849)

Just like Mozart, Chopin was a very gifted child and established himself
as one of the foremost Polish composers at a very young age. One of the
best piano composers and virtuoso pianists in history wrote almost
exclusively for solo piano. But he also wrote two piano concertos and
three sonatas. Chopin is also credited with the invention of the
instrumental ballade and several musical innovations. Some of his best
known works include Nocturne in E-flat major, Op. 9 No. 2, Funeral
March (Prelude in C minor), Minute Waltz (Waltz in D-flat major),
Revolutionary Etude (Op.10, No.12) and Fantasie-Impromptu (Op.
Posth. 66).

Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741)

Italian Baroque composer and violin virtuoso continues to be admired
throughout the globe for his works, especially for his instrumental
concertos for violin. His greatest masterpiece is a series of violin
concertos called Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons). In total, Vivaldi
composed more that 500 concertos of which more than half are for solo
instruments and strings, mainly for violin. Other works include operas,
sacred choral music, symphonies, sonatas and chamber music. Of these
is probably best known choral composition Gloria.

Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)

He is widely referred to as “the greatest Italian opera composer after
Verdi” and “the last of Italy’s great opera composers”. His works – La
Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Il trittico and Turandot are indeed
masterpieces and are among the most widely performed operas in the
standard repertoire. The mentioned operas also contain a number of
outstanding stand-alone arias including Mi chiamano Mimi, O soave
fanciulla, Che gelida manina, E lucevan le stelle, Un bel di vedremo, O
mio babbino caro and Nessun Dorma.

George Frideric Handel (1685-1759)

German-born British composer is widely considered one of the greatest
masters of the Baroque era and one of Britain’s foremost classical
composers. He wrote over 40 operas, 29 oratories, more than 100
cantatas, duets and trios, 16 organ concertos and a number of arias,
ecumenical pieces, chamber music, odes and serenatas. His greatest
works include the Messiah, Sarabande, Water Music and Music for the
Royal Fireworks, to mention only a few.

Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971)

Russian born French and then American composer, conductor and
pianist is one of the most outstanding and influential 20th century
composers. He was and still is admired worldwide for the novelty of his
works which, however, also caused a great deal of controversy in his
time. Stravinsky’s greatest works include The Firebird, Petrushka, The
Rite of Spring, A Soldier’s Tale, The Song of the Nightingale, Mavra,
Oedipus Rex, the Symphony in C and the Symphony in Three
Movements.

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Famous Authors
Authors throughout history have helped capture something about their lives, their era, and the
society around them. From Homer in the 8th century BC all the way until now, there is
something in the works of these authors that can capture our imagination and help us expand our
knowledge. Here are some of the greatest authors in history and a little something about the
works that they created.
 Famous Authors of Antiquity

Virgil (70 BC-19 BC)

Homer (8th Century BC) Nationality: Roman
Nationality: Greek Known for: Eclogues,
Known for: Iliad, Odyssey Sun Tzu (544-496 BC) Georgics, Aeneid
Homer is considered to be the Nationality: Chinese Widely known as one of
greatest of the ancient Greek Known for: The Art of War Rome’s greatest poets, Virgil
poets as he wrote two epic Sun Tzu was a military strategist in had a major influence on
poems that still live on today – ancient China. His book – The Art of Western literature. The
the Iliad and the Odyssey. These War – was written as a strategy for the Aeneid is modeled after
stories were epic poems that Chinese military. It is still widely read Homer’s works and it tells
detailed Greek culture, including today by leaders of armed forces. In the story of a Trojan, named
the geography, history, and fact, it is on the list of recommended Aeneas, who was adopted by
ideals. It also set a precedence reading for the US Marine Corps and the Romans. His work had
because other empires wanted other divisions of the military. such an impact that Dante
similar epic poems written about used him in his Divine
their cultures. Comedy to guide him
through hell.
Dante Alighieri (1265-1321)
Nationality: Italian
Known for: Divine Comedy
Dante’s Divine Comedy is
considered one of the greatest
works in all of literature.He is
often referred to as the “Father
of the Italian language” and he is
one-third of “the three crowns,”
along with Petrarch and
Boccaccio. Some of his other
works include Convivio, or “The
Banquet,” and Monarcha, a
treatise on political philosophy.

Famous Authors of the 1500s to 1700s

William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
Nationality: English
Known for: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet,
Othello, King Lear
Shakespeare, known as the “Bard of Avon,”
is one of the best known English writers in
history. He is credited with writing nearly 40
plays, more than 150 sonnets, and several
poems. His first recorded works include
Henry VI and Richard III, which were written
during the 1590s.
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
Nationality: English
Known for: Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice,
Mansfield Park
Much of Austen’s work focused on the woman’s social
standing in the 18th century and how it depended greatly
on the man that they marry. She did not receive many
positive reviews for her work as she generally critiqued
the societal norms of her time. It was not until the 1940s
after her memoirs were published when she achieved
posthumous fame as a prominent English writer.

Famous Authors of the 1800s

Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) Charles Dickens (1812-1870)

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) Nationality: English
Nationality: French
Nationality: American Known for: Oliver Twist, A Tale of
Known for: The Count of Monte
Known for: The Raven, The Pit Two Cities, A Christmas Carol
Cristo, The Three Musketeers
and the Pendulum, The Tell-Tale Often referred to as the greatest
Dumas is one of the most
Heart novelist of Victorian times, Dickens
prominent French writers with
Poe was one of the premier had several works that were
his historical novels that tell of
writers during the Romantic praised by critics and peers. His
adventurous tales. Since the
Movement. His works are known first recognized work was in 1836
early 20th century, his works
for their mystery and grim with The Pickwick Papers. He
have been made into about 200
themes, many of which include helped popularize serial
movies. His complete works total
the death of one of the publications, which meant pieces of
100,000 pages and due to the
characters. He is credited with his work were published in
level of success of his early
being the father of detective magazines in installments.
works, he was able to be a full-
time writer and dedicate himself fiction as well as one of the early
solely to writing. science fiction writers.

Jules Verne (1828-1905) Mark Twain (1835-1910)

Herman Melville (1819-1891)
Nationality: French-Algerian Nationality: American
Nationality: American
Known for: Journey to the Center Known for: The Adventures of Tom
Known for: Moby Dick
of the Earth, Around the World in Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn,
Known mainly for his work Moby
80 Days Pudd’nhead Wilson
Dick, Melville was virtually
Verne was one of the leaders in Often referred to as the “Father of
unsuccessful as an author and
the science fiction genre of American Literature,” Twain has
novelist. He had other small
literature. In fact, he is often contributed a great deal to the
successes, such as Typee in 1845,
referred to as “The Father of culture. His 1885 novel –
which became a bestseller in
Science Fiction,” along with H.G. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – is
London. He also published Omoo
Wells. Many have called his credited with being the “Great
based on the success of his
works of exploration American Novel.” Twain served as a
previous work. But his later
inspirational, including Jacques pilot on a riverboat along the
years were not nearly as
Cousteau, the astronauts on Mississippi River for some time
successful as his earlier ones.
Apollo 8, and J.R.R. Tolkien. before becoming an author.
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
Hermann Hesse (1877-1962)
Nationality: Irish Jack London (1876-1916)
Nationality: German
Known for: The Picture of Dorian Nationality: American
Known for: Steppenwolf,
Gray, The Importance of Being Known for: The Call of the Wild,
Siddhartha, Demian
Earnest The Sea Wolf, White Fang
A recipient of the Nobel Prize in
Wilde was known as one of As an advocate of ideals like
Literature in 1946, Hesse’s novels
London’s most prominent socialism and unionization,
typically had themes of exploring a
playwrights during the last London worked these themes
person’s search for spirituality and
decade of the 1800s. He had one into many of his works, including
self-knowledge. His first recognized
novel published during his career The Iron Heel and The People of
novel was published in 1904 and it
– The Picture of Dorian Gray – the Abyss. He had more
was entitled Peter Camenzind. His
along with several plays that straightforward works that
subsequent novels were popular in
were performed on stage. He explored these themes, including
Germany and parts of Europe, but
also wrote several essays and essays like How I Became a
they did not become well-known in
shorter fiction pieces, including Socialist and What Communities
the United States until the counter-
The Decay of Lying and The Lose by the Competitive System.
culture revolution of the 1960s.
House of Pomegranates.
 James Joyce (1882-1941
Nationality: Irish
Virginia Woolf (1882-1941)
Known for: Ulysses, A Portrait of
Nationality: English
the Artist as a Young Man
Known for: Mrs. Dalloway,
Joyce was innovative in some of
Orlando, To the Lighthouse
the techniques he used and
As one of the more prominent
perfected in his writing,
authors of the 20th century,
including the idea of stream of
Woolf contributed a great deal
consciousness, referencing a
to the field of literature and to
character’s psychic reality, and
the English language in general.
exploring a character’s inner
Her use of “stream of
monologue. In his work
consciousness” in her novels was
Finnegans Wake, he discarded
innovative for the time and it
the tradition of having a
allowed her to explore the
conventional plot and he used
thoughts and inner lives of her
free dream associations, obscure
characters more intimately.
language, puns, and literary
allusions throughout the book.

Famous Authors of the 1900s

Franz Kafka (1883-1924) Fernando Pessoa (1888-1935) Dale Carnegie (1888-1955)

Nationality: German
Known for: The Metamorphosis,
The Trial, The Castle
A great deal of Kafka’s writing
focused on surreal situations that
involved mental and physical
brutality, conflicts between
Nationality: Portugese
Known for: The Book of
Disquietude
Pessoa is often referred to as the
greatest poet of the Portugese
language. He wrote under several
different pseudonyms, includnig
Nationality: American
Known for: How to Win Friends
and Influence People
Carnegie made a name for
himself in the writing world for
publishing books about self-
improvement and interpersonal
parents and children, fighting the
maze of bureaucracy, and
alienation. The term
“Kafkaesque” has come to refer
to situations that are reminiscent
of his writings and ideas. Many of
his works also include the theme
of existentialism.
albert Caeiro, Alvaro de Campos,
and Ricardo Reis. In addition to
his original works, Pessoa
translated many English works
into Portugese, including The
Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel
Hawthorne and Poe’s “The
Raven,” among others.
skills. He began as a lecturer and
became one of the most famous
lecturers ever. He even sold out
Carnegie Hall for some of his
speaking engagements. Within 20
years of its first printing, his How
to Win Friends and Influence
People had sold more than five
million copies.

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) Nationality: American
Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
Nationality: English Known for: The Great Gatsby, The
Nationality: English
Known for: The Lord of the Rings, Beautiful and Damned
Known for: And Then There Were
The Hobbit Fitzgerald was part of the “Lost
None, Witness for the Prosecution
Credited with bringing the fantasy Generation” group of writers.
As the author of more than 65
genre back into the mainstream, This was a group that served in
detective novels and more than a
Tolkien is often referred to as the WWI and it also included T.S.
dozen short stories, Christie
“father of modern fantasy Eliot, Waldo Pierce, Ernest
created popular characters like
literature.” He was ranked sixth Hemingway and others. The term
Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot.
on The Times’ list of 50 great referred to their feelings of
In addition to detective novels,
British writers of the latter half of emptiness due to the war.
she also wrote The Mousetrap,
the 20th century in 2008. He died Fitzgerald’s work often
which has been running
in 1973, but he made the Forbes exemplified this feeling as much
continuously since 1952. It is the
2009 list of top-earning of it centered on consumerism,
longest running play ever.
celebrities at number five. greed, and alcohol to suppress or
hide those negative feelings.

C. S. Lewis (1898-1963)
Nationality: American
Known for: The Chronicles of
Narnia, The Screwtape Letters
Lewis was a novelist, essayist, and
Christian apologetic who used his
writings to explore ideas about
religion and other themes. His
The Chronicles of Narnia has been
turned into a series of motion
pictures. He also authored Space
Trilogy, a science fiction work for
adults, and The Pilgrim’s Regress,
his first novel after converting to
Christianity.
Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961)
Nationality: American John Steinbeck (1902-1968)
Known for: A Farewell to Arms, Nationality: American
The Sun Also Rises, The Old Man Known for: The Grapes of Wrath,
and the Sea Of Mice and Men, East of Eden
Hemingway started out as a The collection of Steinbeck’s work
journalist before becoming a includes 16 novels, six books of
novelist. His first job out of high non-fiction and five short stories.
school was being a reporter for In 1962, he won the Nobel Prize
The Kansas City Star. Before long, for Literature to the dismay of
he left to go to Italy to enlist as an many of his critics and literary
ambulance driver for World War analysts of the time. His most
I. His time serving in WWI and in recognized work – The Grapes of
the Spanish Civil War gave him Wrath – was published in 1939
inspiration for his novels. He won and it won a Pulitzer and a
the Nobel Prize in Literature in National Book Award.
1954.
 Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)
George Orwell (1903-1950) Nationality: American Ayn Rand (1905-1982)
Nationality: English Known for: Green Eggs and Ham, Nationality: Russian-American
Known for: 1984, Animal Farm The Cat in the Hat, How the Known for: The Fountainhead,
Orwell is considered one of the Grinch Stole Christmas! Atlas Shrugged
greatest British writers of the Theodor Seuss Geisel, popularly Rand was both a novelist and a
20th century. In fact, he was known as Dr. Seuss, is known for philosopher and she used her
listed as number two in 2008 on a his children’s picture books that writing skills to explore a system
list published by The Times. The he wrote and illustrated. He she referred to as objectivism in
themes he explores in his books, published 46 of them with some her works. Although her novels
namely 1984 and Animal Farm, of the most imaginative rhymes were not bestsellers, they have
have been termed “Orwellian,” and characters. In his early been major influences for the
but he has coined other popular career, he was an illustrator for Libertarian Party and the
phrases, such as “Big Brother” various businesses and Conservative Party in American
and “thought police.” organizations, including the U.S. politics.
Army.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) Roald Dahl (1916-1990) Isaac Asimov (1920-1992)

Nationality: French-Algerian
Known for: The Stranger, The
Myth of Sisyphus, The Plague
As a philosopher/author, Camus
worked many of his philosophical
thoughts into his novels. In The
Stranger, for instance, he
explored the theme of
existentialism as well as nihilism
and stoicism through characters
like Meursault and Masson. His
Nationality: British
Known for: Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory, James and the
Giant Peach
Dahl has been referred to as a
great children’s storyteller,
though his books have a dark
sense of humor and twist
endings. He wrote many short
stories for magazines, including
Harper’s, The New Yorker, and
Nationality: Russian
Known for: The Intelligent Man’s
Guide to Science, I, Robot,
Nightfall
Asimov has been called one of
the most prolific writers in history
with more than 500 books either
written or edited by him. He is
mainly recognized for his science
fiction works, but he has written
books on many different topics,
novel The Plague discussed the Ladies Home Journal, just to including mysteries, William
human condition and the idea of name a few. He received three Shakespeare, the Bible, and
destiny. Edgar Awards for his original more. There is also a literary
works. award named after him.

Anne Frank (1929-1945)

Maya Angelou (1928- )
Jack Kerouac (1922-1969) Nationality: German
Nationality: American
Nationality: American Known for: The Diary of Anne
Known for: I Know Why the
Known for: On the Road, Big Sur, Frank
Caged Bird Sings
The Sea is My Brother Frank was not a writer in the
With a total of seven
The writings of Kerouac are traditional sense, but her diary is
autobiographies and several
eclectic in that they span a variety one of the most recognized works
poetry works to her name,
of topics, including Buddhism, of non-fiction in history. During
Angelou is one of the more
poverty, promiscuous sex, drugs, the German occupation of
successful African-American
and traveling. He was one of the Amsterdam, Frank was in hiding
authors to date. She was
pioneers of the Beat Generation with other family members.
nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in
and the hippie movement. He However, the family was
1971 and she was selected to
was heavily influenced by James captured by German troops and
read her poem – “On the Pulse of
Joyce and references his work taken to concentration camps
Morning” – at the inauguration of
many times in his own writings. where they died. Her diary was
Bill Clinton in 1993.
saved and published in 1947.

Haruki Murakami (1929- )
Nationality: Japanese
Known for: Kafka on the Shore,
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle
Murakami is a Japanese writer
who has won several awards for
his work, including the Frank
O’Connor International Short
Story Award, the Franz Kafka
Prize, and several others. His first
novel was Hear the Wind Sing in
1979. Following that, he wrote
and published a sequel to it
entitled Pinball, 1973. Since then,
he has had success with
subsequent novels in his career.
Sylvia Plath (1932-1963)
Nationality: American
Known for: The Bell Jar, Ariel
Plath had a short career with few
publications to her name, but the
works that she did have
published were significant. Her
work The Bell Jar was somewhat
autobiographical and discussed
her depression and other life
events. She attempted suicide
several times during her life and
succeeded in 1963, after which
she posthumously won the
Pulitzer Prize for The Collected
Poems.
Hunter S. Thompson (1937-2005)
Nationality: American
Known for: The Rum Diary, Hell’s
Angels, Fear and Loathing in Las
Vegas
Thompson spent several years
working as a journalist, but he
was not well-known until after he
published his book about the year
he spent riding with the Hell’s
Angels. He was a leader in the
counter-culture and he created a
new style of journalism, which he
entitled “Gonzo” journalism. In
this style, the journalist gets
involved in the story themselves
and they become a central figure
of it.

Paulo Coelho (1947- )
Nationality: Brazilian
Known for: The Alchemist
Coelho is one of the most popular
authors in modern history. He
had several moderately
successful books published, but
The Alchemist is one of the best-
selling books of all time. It was
published in 1987 and Coelho has
followed up his success with a
novel every couple years since
then. He has published 30 books
in total.
Salman Rushdie (1947- )
Nationality: British-Indian
Known for: The Satanic Verses,
Midnight’s Children
Rushdie began his writing career
working as a copywriter for ad
agencies. While coming up with
memorable slogans, he also
wrote Midnight’s Children during
his free time. published his first
novel – Grimus – in 1975 and it
became his first work to be
published. He won the Booker
Stephen King (1947- )
Nationality: American
Known for: Carrie, The Shining,
Salem’s Lot,The Dark Tower
With 50 novels published and
almost 200 short stories, King is
one of the more prolific authors
of horror fiction today. He has
received numerous awards for his
work, including British Fantasy
Society Awards, Bram Stoker
Awards, and others. He also
received the prestigious O. Henry
Award for his short story, The
Man in the Black Suit.
George R. R. Martin (1948- )
Nationality: American
Known for: A Song of Ice and Fire
His work – A Song of Ice and Fire
– has been turned into a wildly
popular TV series entitled Game
of Thrones. In 2011, Time
magazine named Martin one of
the “most influential people in
the world.” He has won several
awards for his work, including the
Hugo Award three times and the
Locus Award six times.
James Patterson (1947- )
Nationality: American
Known for: The Alex Cross Series,
Daniel X
Following a career in advertising,
Patterson dedicated himself to
writing. However, he had several
publications prior to leaving his
advertising career. His first novel
– The Thomas Berryman Number
– was published in 1976. Since
then, he has had more than 90
novels published and 19 of them
have been consecutive
bestsellers.
Nora Roberts (1950- )
Nationality: American
Known for: Time and Again, “In
Death” series
Roberts’ novels have spent a total
of more than 860 weeks on the
NY Times Bestseller list as of
2011. For 176 of those weeks, her
novels were at the top of the list
at number one. She has written
under the pseudonyms J.D. Robb,
Jill March, and Sarah Hardesty. By
1996, she had 100 novels
Prize in 1981. In 1988, he published and more than 200 by
published The Satanic Verse, 2012.
which caused great controversy
and death threats for Rushdie.

Rick Riordan (1954- )

Douglas Adams (1952-2001)
Nationality: American Neil Gaiman (1960- )
Nationality: English
Known for: Percy Jackson and the Nationality: English
Known for: The Hitchhiker’s
Olympians, The Kane Chronicles Known for: The Graveyard Book,
Guide to the Galaxy
In addition to his works centered Stardust, Coraline, American Gods
As a humorist and a dramatist,
on mythology, such as Percy Gaiman is the first author to have
Adams’ works were often made
Jackson and the Olympians, won the Carnegie medal and the
into radio shows and TV series.
Riordan has worked on other Newbery medal for a single work
He wrote three stories for Doctor
projects. He helped write the – The Graveyard Book. He began
Who, which was a science fiction
children’s novel series entitled his career in journalism and he
program that ran on the BBC. The
The 39 Clues with other authors. worked for the British Fantasy
series has since been updated
One of the books in the series Society. His first story was
and remade. Other books of
that he authored – The Maze of published in 1984. He went on to
Adams’ include The Meaning of
Bones – went to number one on publish several books and
Liff, Last Chance to See, and
the New York Times Best Seller become a graphic novelist.
others.
list.

Suzanne Collins (1962- )
Nationality: American
Known for: The Hunger Games
Trilogy
Before becoming a successfully
published author, Collins spent
several years writing for
children’s TV shows, including
Oswald and Clarissa Explains it
All, just to name a few. From
there, she went on to write
children’s books, including the
series The Underland Chronicles,
of which the first book in the
series was number one on the NY
Times bestseller list.
Dan Brown (1962- )
David Foster Wallace (1962-
Nationality: American
2008)
Known for: The Da Vinci Code,
Nationality: American
Angels and Demons
Known for: The Pale King, Brief
Brown has written two best-
Interviews with Hideous Men,
selling novels that been turned
Infinite Jest
into major motion picture. In
Wallace’s Infinite Jest was his
total, his novels have sold more
second novel and his most
than 200 million copies
recognized. Time magazine
worldwide as of 2012. The
named it as one of the 100 best
themes for his novels typically
novels published between 1923
include conspiracy combined with
and 1925. Another one of his
Christian motifs, making them
books – The Pale King – was
rather controversial. He is in the
published after his death and it
top 20 best-selling authors of all
was nominated for a Pulitzer
time despite only having six
Prize.
books published.
 Nicholas Sparks (1965- )
J. K. Rowling (1965- ) Nationality: American
Stephenie Meyer (1973- )
Nationality: British Known for: The Notebook, Nights
Nationality: American
Known for: Harry Potter series in Rodanthe, A Walk to
Known for: The Twilight Series
With more than 400 million of the Remember
The Twilight series is one of the
Harry Potter books being sold With 18 published novels to his
more successful series in modern
worldwide, Rowling has gone to name, Sparks is one of the more
history. In 2008 and 2009, Meyer
the top of the list of bestselling prominent authors of today.
was the bestselling wrier in the
authors of all time. Before writing Several of his novels have been
US with more than 45 million
and publishing the Harry Potter turned into major motion
copies selling in those two years
series, she was receiving benefits pictures, including Message in a
combined. She was ranked as one
from the state to help her live. Bottle, A Walk to Remember, and
of the top 50 of the 100 most
But her success turned her into a The Notebook, which was
influential people of 2008 by
multi-millionaire within just a published in 1996 and it was
Time magazine.
couple years. listed on the NY Times bestseller
list within a week after its release.

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Famous Artists and Their Work

November 7, 2011 , cherran , Leave a comment

1. Pablo Picasso

Pablo picasso

Pablo Picasso was a prolific Spanish artist. He was born in 1881 with a natural gift which bloomed later on in
his life. He painted many famous portraits as an artist. His artistic talent can easily be observed in his portraits.
From his many portraits Pablo Picasso produced Guernica, the Three Dancers, and Three Musicians are the
best. These are his finest creations as an artist.

2. Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonard da Vinci was the greatest Italian artist and inventor. He was born in 1452 in the small town of Vinci.
He had a great talent in disguising secret messages in his portraits. His best efforts reflect in the paintings Mona
Lisa, The Last Supper, and The Virgin of the Rocks. Whatever happens to the world, it will always remember
Leonardo da Vinci for entertaining everyone with his magical creativity. He will be remembered especially for
creating Mona Lisa; an enigma of this artistic world.

3. Vincent van Gogh

Vincent van Gogh was

born in Holland in 1853. He had a very pathetic life, and his experiences are vividly visible in his portraits. His
greatest portraits are: The Starry Night, Girl in the Woods, and Wheatfield with Crows. After he finished the
painting Wheatfield with Crows, he decided to shoot himself. He was a very dark artist. He painted portraits of
sad incidents and memories.

4. Salvador Dali

In 1904 Salvador Dali

was born in Spain. He was not very bright in any of the subjects in school. He even got kicked out of art school.
He was famous because of his ability to represent normal things in an odd way in his portraits. His best creations
are: The Persistence of Memory, The Sacrament of The Last Supper, and Crucifixion. He used to paint portraits
he dreamed about, and he used to have scary dreams so his portraits were often scary.

5. Claude Monet
 Claude Monet

Claude Monet was born in 1840. The French artist was born in Paris. He was a gifted artist even as a child. He
is one of the few artists who became famous while they were still living. His best portraits are Marine Near
Etretat, Lily Pond and Morning Haze.

6. Pierre Auguste Renoir

 Pierre Auguste
Renoir

Pierre Auguste Renoir was born in 1841. He was born in France in a poor family. He was and still is famous for
his ability to paint human beings. He believed in himself, and he made his way to become a very good artist.
The best of his portraits consist of figures of human beings, mostly women. The greatest of his portraits are:
Bathers, Jeanne Samary, and The Swing.
7. Henry Matisse

Henry Matisse

Henry Matisse was born in 1869 in Italy. He studied law as a young man. Then he started to learn about
painting, and later on in his life he became an artist. He always said that he liked to paint portraits with human
beings in them as it made it easy for him to express himself. His famous portraits are: Chapel of the Rosary in
Venice, Creole Dancer, and La Fougere Noire. He painted the famous Chapel of the Rosary sitting in his
wheelchair.

8. Andy Warhol
 Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol was born in Pennsylvania, which is a state of the United States of America, in 1928. He had an
unusual way of painting things. He painted regular, everyday items with bright and cheerful colors. People liked
him because of his positive portraits. He became famous as an artist very quickly. Campbell’s Soup Can, 100
Campbell’s Soup Cans, and Money are his best creations as an artist.

9. Caravaggio
 Caravaggio

Caravaggio was born in 1571 in Italy. His real name is Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio. He was a gifted artist
with the ability to combine the physical appearance of objects and the emotions of human minds. The lighting
of his paintings were flawless and to the point. He trained to be an artist in Milan. Caravaggio’s true talent can
be seen in his portraits: Martyrdom of Saint Matthew, Calling of Saint Matthew, and The Crucifixion of Saint
Peter.
10. Raphael

Raphael

Raphael was born in 1483 in Italy. He was an artist as well as an architect. His art was admired greatly for its
clarity. He died at the young age of 37. In his short life, he achieved what most artists are unable to achieve in
their long and healthy lives. He had a vast workshop and endless energy to work and create art. His best known
portraits are: Stanza della Segnatura, The School of Athens, and The Fire in the Borgo.