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The Virgin of the Rocks, 1483-86 by Leonardo da Vinci.
Leonardo created two almost identical versions of the same scene of the Virgin with the angel Uriel, John the Baptist and the Christ child. The first work was commissioned by an organization and when they did not pay right away it was purchased by an individual, finally the group gathered the money and another version was made for them.
London version
Psyche et l'amour, 1817 by Baron Francois Gerard, Louvre, Paris.
A popular subject throughout the 19th century, Gerard version of the story of Cupid and Psyche almost portrays the figures as secondary to the outdoor temple and landscape setting. The vibrancy of the bright colors also serve to draw our attention from the couple.
Egyptian Faience Hippo, Middle Kingdom Period, 3800 - 1710 BC.
Faience is a type of ceramic with a high concentration of quartz. When fired it turns a bright blue. While the Ancient Egyptians considered the male hippo very dangerous the female was thought to bring luck in maternity. The lotus flower and other plants that decorate the body represent the river where the hippo lives.
Also see William at the Met.
Mona Lisa, 1503/06 by Leonardo da Vinci, Musee de Louvre, Paris.
The mystery surrounding one of the most famous paintings in the world stems from the unknown identity of the sitter and the fact that the artist is one of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance. Leonardo used a painting technique he created called sfumato.