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The Most Famous Artworks of Detroit Institute of Arts

The 60 most celebrated works of the Detroit Institute of Arts museum, ranked by renown across 2,095 works in the catalog.

A note on the ranking: "fame" here is a measure of renown, not of merit — synthesised from how widely a work is cited and held. It leans toward the Western canon and the best-digitised collections. Read it as a popular index, not a verdict.

  1. The Nut Gatherers
    The Nut Gatherers William Adolphe Bouguereau · 1892
  2. Grandma's Hearthstone
    Grandma's Hearthstone John Haberle · 1896
  3. River Landscape with Swimmers
    River Landscape with Swimmers Isaac van Ostade · 1644
  4. Ellen's Isle
    Ellen's Isle Robert Seldon Duncanson · 1870
  5. The Cottagers
    The Cottagers Joshua Reynolds
  6. Woman nursing by a cradle with a dog at her feet
    Woman nursing by a cradle with a dog at her feet Pieter de Hooch · 1675
  7. Evening on the Sea Shore
    Evening on the Sea Shore Torvalt Arnt Hoyer · 1939
  8. Return of the Holy Family from Egypt
    Return of the Holy Family from Egypt Karel Dujardin · 1662
  9. Sleighing Scene
    Sleighing Scene Martin Edgar Ferrill · 1873
  10. The Nightmare
    The Nightmare Henry Fuseli · 1791
  11. Martha and Mary Magdalene
    Martha and Mary Magdalene Caravaggio · 1600
  12. Hawking party resting by a fountain
    Hawking party resting by a fountain Philips Wouwerman · 1660
  13. A Pass in the Apennines
    A Pass in the Apennines Jan Both · 1639
  14. The Fair at Oegstgeest
    The Fair at Oegstgeest Jan Steen · 1657
  15. Interior of a Protestant Church
    Interior of a Protestant Church Emanuel de Witte · 1689
  16. A Windy Day
    A Windy Day Jan van Goyen · 1651
  17. A River Scene
    A River Scene Meindert Hobbema · 1658
  18. The Adoration of the Shepherds
    The Adoration of the Shepherds Jean-Baptiste Marie Pierre · 1745
  19. Still Life with Columbine Goblet
    Still Life with Columbine Goblet Willem Kalf · 1660
  20. Adam and Eve
    Adam and Eve Lucas Cranach the Elder · 1528
  21. Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John the Baptist and Angels
    Madonna and Child with the Infant St. John the Baptist and Angels Pier Francesco Fiorentino · 1460
  22. Madonna and Child
    Madonna and Child Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano · 1500
  23. Courtship
    Courtship Caspar Netscher · 1665
  24. Winter Landscape in Moonlight
    Winter Landscape in Moonlight Ernst Ludwig Kirchner · 1919
  25. Adoration of the Magi
    Adoration of the Magi Joos van Cleve · 1525
  26. The Nieuwe Kerk at Delft with the Tomb of Willem the Silent
    The Nieuwe Kerk at Delft with the Tomb of Willem the Silent Emanuel de Witte · 1650
  27. The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine
    The Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine Antonio da Correggio · 1512
  28. Soldiers Carousing with a Serving Woman outside a Tent
    Soldiers Carousing with a Serving Woman outside a Tent Philips Wouwerman · 1655
  29. American Lake Scene
    American Lake Scene Thomas Cole · 1844
  30. Watson and the Shark
    Watson and the Shark John Singleton Copley · 1792
  31. Judith with the Head of Holofernes
    Judith with the Head of Holofernes Titian · 1570
  32. The Cottage
    The Cottage Meindert Hobbema · 1663
  33. Landscape with Maid Milking a Cow
    Landscape with Maid Milking a Cow Aelbert Cuyp · 1655
  34. The Circumcision
    The Circumcision Parmigianino · 1523
  35. The Annunciation
    The Annunciation Giovanni Battista Cima da Conegliano · 1500
  36. Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket
    Nocturne in Black and Gold – The Falling Rocket James McNeill Whistler · 1875
  37. Madonna and Child
    Madonna and Child Giovanni Bellini · 1509
  38. Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist
    Madonna and Child with Saint John the Baptist Bronzino · 1540
  39. Warship and Dutch Sailboats near the Shore
    Warship and Dutch Sailboats near the Shore Ludolf Bakhuizen · 1696
  40. The path
    The path Camille Pissarro · 1895
  41. Holy Family with St. Anne
    Holy Family with St. Anne Jacob Jordaens · 1617
  42. Landscape with the Ruins of Rijnsburg Abbey
    Landscape with the Ruins of Rijnsburg Abbey Aelbert Cuyp · 1645
  43. Forest Landscape with Stag Hunt
    Forest Landscape with Stag Hunt Jan Hackaert · 1667
  44. A Lady at Her Toilet
    A Lady at Her Toilet Gerard ter Borch · 1660
  45. Portrait of Madame Paul Poirson
    Portrait of Madame Paul Poirson John Singer Sargent · 1893
  46. A Party of Peasants
    A Party of Peasants Jan Steen · 1649
  47. Bagpipe player and a woman holding a pewter jug
    Bagpipe player and a woman holding a pewter jug Unknown · 1610
  48. Head of a Bearded Old Man in High Beret
    Head of a Bearded Old Man in High Beret Rembrandt van Rijn · 1630
  49. Bull in a City Street
    Bull in a City Street Adriaen van de Velde · 1670
  50. St. Francis receiving the Stigmata
    St. Francis receiving the Stigmata El Greco · 1596
  51. Madonna and Child
    Madonna and Child Pietro Perugino · 1500
  52. Young Man Reading
    Young Man Reading Gerard ter Borch
  53. The Holy Family
    The Holy Family Nicolas Poussin · 1641
  54. Krishna Prepares for Radha's Visit (page from the Gita Govinda)
    Krishna Prepares for Radha's Visit (page from the Gita Govinda) Unknown · 1700
  55. Portrait of Hendrik Swalmius
    Portrait of Hendrik Swalmius Frans Hals · 1639
  56. A River Scene
    A River Scene Aert van der Neer · 1665
  57. The Holy Family
    The Holy Family Dosso Dossi · 1516
  58. Deer in Repose
    Deer in Repose Rosa Bonheur · 1867
  59. St. Francis receiving the Stigmata
    St. Francis receiving the Stigmata El Greco · 1596
  60. Man and Machinery
    Man and Machinery Diego Rivera · 1933