Pietro Da Cortona, Triumph of the Barberini, ceiling
fresco in the Gran Salone, Palazzo Barberini, Rome , Italy.

My favorite thing about this fresco painting in the view of it. Looking up at a painting gives it a whole new perspective, and Cortona's  use of realism and 3D imagery make the image seem more than just a painting. It appears as though you are actually looking up at an actual event, not just a still image.

Giovanni Battista Gaulli, Triumph of the Name of Jesus, ceiling fresco, Rome, Italy

Just like Pietro Cortona's Triumph of the Berberini, I really like Gionanni Gaulli's Triumph of the Name of Jesus because of the perspective of looking upward at the image. I find the colors brilliant, especially in the center where there is a glimpse of heaven, and I love the 3D effect that this fresco portrays.

Albrecht Altdorfer,  Battle of Issues, 1529.
Oil on wood. Pinakothek, Munich

In Albrecht Altdorfer's work Battle of Issues, I really like the amount of detail he put into painting each individual troop, as well as all of their weapons. The color pallet really pops out at me. The way the color scheme goes from cool blues and grays at the top, to warmer hues of browns and reds towards the bottom really draws my attention to every part of the painting. The bird's-eye view of this this painting shows off Altdorfer's love of landscapes. In the distance, rocky mountain peaks rise next to a still body of water. The sight is almost surreal.

Quinten Massys, Money-Changer and His Wife, Oil on wood.
Musee du Louvre, Paris

I like the darkness of this painting. The clutter in the background and on the table make it seem really realistic, as well as the reference to the painting by Petrus Christus, A Goldsmith in His Shop. The convex mirror on the table reveals a reflection of the window, giving a glimpse of the outside world and creating a broader perspective of the room around them.

Leonardo Da Vinci, Mona Lisa, ca 1503-1505,
Oil on wood. Musee du Louvre, Paris 

Leonardo's Mona Lisa is probably the world's most famous portrait. I really like the realistic qualities in this painting. Leonardo gives her a gentle grin, rather the the normal serious, emotionless face in many other portraits. I also like that there is little symbolism in this painting. Mona Lisa is a convincing representation of an individual. It does not serve solely as an icon of status. She does not wear fancy robes and expensive jewels. Leonardo's portrait of this self'assured woman without exposing great wealth or a higher power, is truly quite remarkable.

Sistine Chapel, Vaticon City, Rome, Iltaly. Ceiling and
altar wall frescoe by Michelangelo Buonarroti.

Michelangelo Buonarroti is not only one of my favorite

artists, but his brilliant piece in the Sistine Chapel is one of my all time favorite works of art. Michelangelo focuses mainly on the realistic expressions on the human figure. To him, the human body is beautiful in its natural form, as well as its spiritual and philosophical significance. He made sure to capture this realism in his paintings. In the Sistine Chapel, many of the figures appear to be "painted sculptures."