“It’s not a museum. It’s not an area of artefacts; it is a place of ideas”

-Jeanie Kahnke

Museums are spaces where times collide to transport you to different worlds all together with disparate ideas, civilisations and people. One should go to the museums and galleries more often to sense the world’s beauties in the truest sense.

Amidst the pandemic, all of us are living monotonous lives. So, here’s for you a virtual tour into the best art museums in the world-

1. Le Louvre, Paris, France

When talking about the world-famous art museums, one may ask what is the no. 1 museum in the world or what is the most visited art gallery in the world? The most common answer to these questions is Le Louvre Museum situated in Paris, France. The Louvre is the world’s largest art museum. Established on 10th August 1793, the museum ranks number 1 in most world ratings. It enjoyed approximately 9.6 million users in the year 2019. The museum is back into operation from August 2020, and visitors can visit the museum with proper safety measures. The most famous artworks located here are Mona Lisa, The Last Supper(by Leonardo da Vinci), Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss, the Venus de Milo, the Raft of the Medusa and Liberty Leading the People. However, the most valuable collection item in Le Louvre is the painting of Monalisa.

2. Van Gogh Museum, Netherlands

It is a Dutch art museum dedicated to Vincent Van Gogh and his contemporaries. The museum contains works of Vincent Van Gogh, the impressionist painter who is a famous figure in the Realist Art Form. His most popular paintings include The Starry Night, The Potato Eaters, Sunflowers and the Bedroom in Arles. All these artworks are housed in the art gallery. Each year around 1.6 million visitors visit the museum.

3. Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum dedicated to the arts and history of Amsterdam. It houses a collection of about 1 million objects and receives around 2.5 million people each year. The museum also offers free virtual tours, where all you need to do is go to their website and please your eyes with beautiful art and the history of the Netherlands. The most famous artworks of the Museum include Vermeer’s Milkmaid, Van Gogh’s Self-portrait and Rembrandt’s most well-known painting: the Night Watch.

4. State Hermitage, Russia

State Hermitage is an art and culture museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. It is the second-largest art museum in the world. It has a collection size of 3 million items which includes the largest collection of paintings in the world. One should not miss the following artefacts at the Hermitage- The Great Imperial Crown of the Russian Empire, The Crouching Boy, Cupid and Psyche among various other masterpieces.

I love you, Peter’s great creation,

I love your view of stern and grace,

The Neva wave’s regal procession,

The greyish granite –her bank’s dress…

:-Alexander Pushkin

Also Read: Top 10 Islands in the World

5. British Museum, U.K.

The British Museum is a treasure trove of ancient artefacts from different civilizations. Containing 8 million collection items, it is a must-visit. A few must-see treasures of the British Museum are The Rosetta Stone, The Portland Vase, The Cat Mummies, The Lewis Chessmen, Aztec Double-Headed Serpent, to count a few.

6. Musée d’Orsay, France

Musée d’Orsay is a museum in Paris, France that boasts of iconic works such as Gustave Courbet’s The Artist’s Studio, Édouard Manet’s Luncheon on the Grass, and Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s Dance at Le Moulin de la Galette. The artworks primarily include impressionist paintings from the period 1848 to 1914.

7. Vatican Museums, Italy

The Vatican Museums are the art and sculpture museums in Italy. These bring one of the most extensive collections in the world belonging to the Catholic Church. These are visited by more than 6 million tourists each year. The Spiral Staircase, Raphael’s Transfiguration. Pinecone Courtyard. Laocoön. Apollo Belvedere, The Rotunda Room and Porphyry Basin are the must-see artefacts and paintings, in case you decide to walk through the museums.

8. Museo del Prado, Spain

Museo del Prado, commonly known as the Prado Museum, is an art and culture museum located in Madrid, Spain. The museum’s masterpieces include The Annunciation, the Descent from the Cross, Self- Portrait(Dürer), The Crucifixion, The Cardinal among others.

The sculpture and decorative arts collection is mostly composed of European Classical, Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque pieces.

9. National Gallery, U.K.

The National Gallery is an art museum, founded in 1824 and located in Central London. It houses collection items from the 13th Century to the 19th Century. It is open 361 years a day, free of cost. The most popular masterpieces housed in The National Gallery are A young woman standing at the Virginal, Bacchus and Ariadne, Bathers, Sunflowers, The Baptism of Christ, and The Virgin of The rocks.

10. Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, USA, commonly known as the MET, has a collection of more than 2 million items, ranging from ancient arts to the present. It is the largest museum in the United States. It received more than 6 million tourists in 2019. The greatest masterpieces in the MET are Washington Crossing Delaware, Self Portrait with a Straw Hat, a Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies, The Dance Class, etc.

In case you are looking for a famous museum in India, then you are at the right place.

National Museum, Delhi

The National Museum, Delhi is one of the largest and most popular museums in India. Some of the must-see artworks contained here are The Dancing Girl of Harappa, Nataraja, Buddha Relics, Miniature Paintings, Ganjifa Cards, Wood Carved Doors, to name a few. When in Delhi, it is a must to traverse through these ancient times of glory through The National Museum.

So, here was a virtual tour into the best museums in the world. Hope you enjoyed reading! A lot of these museums offer virtual tours, so do not curb your artistry side. Instead, walk through the beauty and magnanimity of the ancient beauties and treasures online!

Also Read: How to pamper yourself at home