Timeline of the Great Painters
Travel through 7 centuries of painting: discover where the greatest masters fit into history, and explore their lives at a glance.
Explore
Hover over painters to see their details
Zoom
Use the + and − buttons to adjust the level of detail
Navigate
Click on a painter to open their page
A panoramic view of art
This interactive timeline lets you visualise at a glance the place of the great painters in the history of Western painting, from the 15th to the 20th century.
Painters are positioned according to their date of birth, with a line showing the span of their life.
Click on an element to access its detail page and discover its works, historical context and characteristics.
Chronological landmarks
- 15th–16th centuries: Renaissance and the birth of perspective
- 17th century: the age of chiaroscuro and the Baroque
- 19th century: Romanticism, Realism and the Impressionist revolution
- 1870–1900: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
- Early 20th century: Fauvism, Expressionism, Cubism
- 20th century: avant-gardes and modernity