one that made a huge impression was carravaggio,s beheading of st john that is in the main church in valletta in malta it,s as big as a 2 story house and kept in this spooky dark climate controlled room which added to the experience, anyone got anymore?

http://markcrossey.theartistsweb.co.uk

The four panels of the Briar Rose series by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones at Biscot Park, followed closely by the Lady of Shalott by John William Waterhouse.
Coming right up to date Mad dogs by Jack Vettriano.
Visited the Borghese Gallery in Rome four years ago and stood in front of 'Sacred and profane love' by Titian. Awesome!!!

Jack

Hi Mark,
The painting that made the biggest impression on me was at the National Gallery in London, I took my wife and son there, my son was so excited running from room to room and I went to find him and there in front of me was this wonderful painting by Paul Delaroche "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey" painted in 1833 It seemed to jump off the wall at you and the others I would say would be the Monet paintings, the transfusion of colour creating the optical illusion of reality and movement in these large paintings, so peaceful and tranquil, but there are many more that are also very impressive.

Richard, I saw the title of this topic and instantly thought of exactly the same picture as you before I read your post! I have always found the Execution of Lady Jane Grey a fascinating painting, both from the point of the execution of the detail and also it's such a sad image a young girl being executed in that way. I took my daughters to the National Gallery just before we moved away from London 4 years ago and they were both fascinated by it too, so it clearly appeals to kids as well as adults (probably the thought of heads being chopped off is nice and gory...).

Here it is for anyone unfamiliar with it:

Elise

Hi Elise,
Yes as you have said it is a sad but beautiful painting, and the young get really attracted to it, the way the artist has posed his figures to create the scene and his use of colour to give it maximum impact, but with a hint of compassion with every thing driving you to the main character, the young Lady Jane. It's been nearly forty years since I first saw the painting, but it has had a lasting impression, as if it were only yesterday, in that time I have seen many paintings by many good artists but that one is foremost in my mind. I have it on my computer with all my art reference's.
Richard.
http://www.richardfbarber.co.uk
http://www.rfbfineart.com

I havent seen the paintings mentioned from other countries, one day I hope I'll find the time to visit but the painting that immediately came to my mind was indeed "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey".

I agree with all that Richard and Elise have said about the way it has been painted and the emotional response it evokes.

Well worth a visit to The National Gallery

I went to Tate Modern a few years ago to see the work of my favourite artist Matisse, but the painting that has stayed in my mind ever since is John Everett Millais' Ophelia. Amazing.

I also adore Ophelia!

The paintings that had the biggest impact on me were John William Waterhouse's 'The Lady of Shalott', and George Stubbs's 'Whistlejacket'. Incredible!!!

Impossible to say really, but the Mark Rothko room at Tate Modern takes some beating, also the Giottos at Padua,The Raft of the Medusa by Gericault is way on up the list, as is a tiny Indian minature , artist unknown, I saw in the VandA years ago. Will post more when I think of them.

For me it's Monet's haystacks at the end of summer.
Part of an Impressionist exhibition in Edinburgh about 20 years ago

Jules, I'd forgotten about Ophelia until I saw your post but it's definitely up there in my top images too

Elise