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The Veiled Virgin
This breathtaking statue was carved from marble in Rome in the late 19th century by Giovanni Strazza. It was created to emulate the innocence and beauty of the Virgin Mary. Strazza, Giovanni. The Veiled Virgin. 1850, Cathedral Square, St. John's. -
The Crystal Palace
The Crystal Palace was designed by Joseph Paxton and built in London in the late 19th Century with one of its primary purposes being to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. The use of sheet glass and its incredible size made the Crystal Palace an international spectacle. The Palace was destroyed in 1936 by a fire but has since been partially restored. Paxton, Joseph. Crystal Palace. 1851, London, United Kingdom. -
Moby Dick
This epic novel written by Herman Melville depicts sailor Ishmael's quest for Ahab. It has been a timeless classic taught and read by millions for more than a century. Melville, Herman. Moby Dick. 1851. -
The Third Class Carriage
This oil painting by Honoré Daumier provides insight into the reality of how the industrialization of Paris impacted the daily lives of the lower class. Daumier, Honoré. The Third Class Carriage. 1864, The Metropolitan Museum of Art. -
Crater of Vesuvius
This pencil and pen drawing by engineer-turned-artist James Nasmyth was a pivotal creation that led to Nasmyth eventually drawing and designing an accurate model of the moon's surface. Nasmyth, James. Crater of Vesuvius. 1864, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. -
La Danse' (The Dance)
La Danse' is an 1869 sculpture designed by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux. It has been scrutinized and even vandalized numerous times over the past century for being too graphic. Carpeaux desired to depict nakedness that was free of shame. Carpeaux, Jean-Baptiste. La Danse' (The Dance). 1869, Musée d'Orsay, Paris. -
Trinity Church
Trinity Church in Boston, designed by Henry Hobson, is as beautiful as it is (and was) popular. It once held one of the largest Episcopalian congregations. The architecture makes it a visual piece of art as well. Richardson, Henry Hobson. Trinity Church. 1877, Boston. -
Anna Karenina
Anna Karenina is a spectacular novel written by Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. It has been regarded as one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. Tolstoy, Leo. Anna Karenina. 1878. -
A Doll's House
A Doll's House by the brilliant Henrik Ibsen is one of the most widely performed plays of all time. Many of its themes directly apply to today's own societal issues, making it a truly timeless piece. Ibsen, Henrick. A Doll's House. 1879. -
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is as iconic as it is practical. Opened to the public in 1883, John A. Roebling's structure is one of the most famous (and photographed) bridges in the United States, if not the world. Roebling, John A. Brooklyn Bridge. 1883, New York. -
The Statue of Liberty
Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi's Statue of Liberty is a visual representation of freedom and prosperity in the United States, sitting aptly in New York Harbor. Bartholdi, Frédéric Auguste. The Statue of Liberty. 1886, Liberty Island. -
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte
George Seurat's A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is an intriguing piece of art that demonstrates the uniqueness of the pointillist technique. This piece is one of Seurat's largest and most popular works, iconic of the neo-impressionist movement. Seurat, Georges. A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. 1886, The Art Institute of Chicago. -
Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette
Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette is one of van Gogh's most intriguing oil paintings, though it is often overshadowed by his more peaceful pieces. His style of painting is still evident while also leaving much interpretation up to the viewer. van Gogh, Vincent. Skull of a Skeleton with Burning Cigarette. 1886, van Gogh Museum. -
Fin du travail (The End of the Working Day)
Jules Breton's Fin Du Travail (The End of the Working Day) is a stunning example of realism. It depicts work-worn French women returning home after a long day of farming in the fields, illustrating one of the many effects of the Revolution of 1848. Breton, Jules. Fin Du Travail (The End of the Working Day). 1887, European Art Galleries, France. -
The Lady of Shalott
John William Waterhouse's 1888 painting The Lady of Shalott is a visual representation of the poem titled "Alfred," written by Lord Tennyson. The bright colors and intense detail make this canvas piece one of Waterhouse's best works and a pivotal piece of the time period. Waterhouse, John William. The Lady of Shalott. 1888. -
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel, is one of the most marvelous examples of architectural engineering of all time. It is an incredible visual spectacle that attracts millions of tourists to Paris each year. Eiffel, Gustave, and Stephen Sauvestre. Eiffel Tower. 1889, Paris. -
"After the Ball"
Charles K. Harris wrote the song "After the Ball" in 1891. This waltz was one of the most popular pieces of music of the era, which was based on how many copies of sheet music it sold: over five million. Harris, Charles K. After the Ball. 1891, Tin Pan Alley. -
"Song of Myself"
"Song of Myself," written by the famous American writer Walt Whitman, is one of the most defining pieces of poetry of the 19th Century. It was part of Whitman's anthology Leaves of Grass and continues to be read and studied by millions as one of the greatest poems ever written. Whitman, Walt. Song of Myself. 1892, Leaves of Grass. -
"Symphony No. 9 in E minor, 'From the New World,' Op. 95, B. 178"
"Symphony No. 9 in E minor, 'From the New World,' Op. 95, B. 178," more popularly known as Symphony of the New World, was composed by Antonín Dvořák in 1893. It is considered one of the most popular symphonies ever composed and conducted, continuing to be performed by countless orchestras today. Dvořák, Antonín. Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, "From the New World," Op. 95, B. 178. 1893. -
"The Charge of the Roosevelt Rough Riders"
"The Charge of the Roosevelt Rough Riders" is a piano score created by Charles E. Coleman in 1898. It was written to draw attention to Theodore Roosevelt's involvement in the Spanish American War and continues to serve as a popular patriotic march in bands across the nation. Coleman, Charles E. The Charge of the Roosevelt Rough Riders. 1898, Gregory A. Wynn Theodore Roosevelt Collection.