What's the greatest work of fine art you have ever seen in person?

The Raft of the Medusa by Théodore Géricault. It is in one of the large halls in the Louvre, and I make a point to see it every time we are in Paris. This was special to me because I reluctantly had to take an art history course in college, but was captivated by this work when we covered the French Romantics.It is very dark; as is the historical event about which it was conceived.

Something in the triangulation of the raft and the man at the top of the group pulls you into the people's moment and their sufferings. When I first saw it in person I was astonished at its size.It is almost larger than the real scale.

The "Lucky Cat" carving in Nikko, Japan. "The Toshogu is the mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, founder of the Tokugawa shogunate, which ruled Japan for over 250 years until 1868. The shrine is dedicated to the spirits of Ieyasu and two other of Japan's most influential historical personalities, Toyotomi deyoshi and Minamoto Yoritomo Everyone made a big deal out of this carving before we saw it.It's this huge cultural icon and like the Mona Lisa, is itty bitty when you actually see it.

It was very cool, but the experience was what made it memorable.

I viewed Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (1884, 1884-86) at the Chicago Art Institute. It inspired me in a way that I cannot adequately describe. It's simple beauty certainly helped me to better appreciate the works of European artists from that same period.

harley.com/art/abstract-art/images/(seurat)-a-sunday-on-la-grande-jatte.jpg Close-up of Seurat's work to demonstrate his unique technique...

I went to the Dali Exhibit at the Tate Modern in London last year. I saw "The persistance of memory", which is a great piece of art BUT freakin' small. It looks like a stamp compared to the paintings of other artists down the hall.

I think the Sistine Chapel in Rome en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistine_Chapel

The Kiss -sculpture by Auguste Rodin. It embodies the passion between a man and a woman in a powerful emotional statement, frozen in time, carved in marble.

Growing up in the Puget Sound area of the Northwest, I was lucky to see a lot of Dale Chihuly's public installations around downtown Tacoma and Seattle.

I have to say my own. Not because it's great... It's just the feeling of creating something beautiful makes me feel accomplished. It really blows off steam too when my mind isn't always in the best place.

The Allentown Art Museum has an amazing gallery of abstract sculptures. It's one of my favorite places to be when I don't have a paint brush in my own hand.

The Temptation of St. Anthony, the famous triptych painting by It's in the Museu de Arte Antiga, in Portugal.

My personal favorite would probably be some Monet or other. What he does with color and light is extraordinary. And you can't get that from seeing photographs.

The actual paintings, when you can see them in person, are luminous and alive with color. I've seen a lot of Monets, and which I'd choose as my favorite varies over time. Maybe this one... Waterloo Bridge, Effect of Fog.

Hanging in the Hermitage, St Petersburg, Russia.

I haven't seen a lot of fine art in person. I have seen The Statue of Liberty.

Unfortunately, I have not seen real art in a museum for quite some time, so my memory fails me. However, I am lucky enough to have a beautiful painting hanging right in my living room. While abstract artwork may not be everyone's cup of tea, and while it's not necessarily my favorite genre either, this is my favorite piece of art that I have seen in person.

Romi Okumura is the artist, and she has other works that are pretty good, too. (I can't figure out how to put the image directly into the post. )

Another thing that's interesting about this painting is that from different distances, it takes on a different look and feel. I'm also slightly biased because it was a gift from my co-workers, so it has some sentimental value. (It's slightly larger than 4'x5').

I believe that great piece of art work has the power to awe. I love this piece from Louise Bourgeois, a French artist who always expressed her deepest feelings about her childhood with the wildest imagination. With old doors she could make you capture a moment she has created for you to feel.

When I’m completely intrigued and inspired a piece I then can identify with the artist, and admire it even more.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.