One App That Will Make Your Life Far More Colorful!

I’m always impressed with myself when I recognize
a famous painting, and actually know who painted it.

If I happen to know the artistic period during which it was painted, I think I’m a genius. I am not one to stand in front of a painting for half an hour, discussing its hidden meaning or symbolism, or to rent detailed audio tours at an exhibition, but I do find it fascinating to learn about artists and their work. For instance, which famous French artist was captivated by the Moroccan landscape, women and architecture? (Answer: Matisse)

When I heard about an app called Art Authority, by Open Door Networks, I knew I wanted to have it. Featuring a comprehensive and well-organized collection of over 70,000 paintings and sculptures by over 1,000 of the western world’s major artists, from ancient times to today, the app includes detailed captions (including title, date, size, location), as well as in-depth information about the works, the periods, and the artists.

Art can be viewed as thumbnails or full-screen, and your favorite images can be saved or shared. One cool feature also shows you the size of each piece relative to the person viewing it, and another, called Art Near Me, helps you find art near your current location.

Art Authority for the iPad or Mac is $9.99 and $4.99 for the iPhone. A kid-friendly version (K through 12) is $7.99 and a marvelous way to get your grandkids (or any curious kids) to start appreciating art. MacWorld Magazine calls this one of the “Best 25 Apps Of All Time.”

Ever since I installed the app on my iPhone, I read up on one artist each night after I get into bed. I am feeling so cultured.

First take our fun quiz to to see how much you really know about a handful of famous works, and
then download the great app.

Scroll down when you’re ready to check your answers!

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Answers

A • B • B • D • B

Question 1
A — Soleil Levant (Claude Monet), Impressionist	B — Les toits de Collioure (Henri Matisse)
C — Charing Cross Bridge (André Derain)	D — Rue Pifre (Raoul Dufy)
Question 2
A — Two Sisters (Pierre-Auguste Renoir)	B — Wanderer above the Sea of Fog (Caspar David Freidrich), Romantic
C — Sunflowers (Vincent Van Gogh)	D — The Stroll (Claude Monet)
Question 3
A — Indefinite Divisibility (Yves Tanguy)	B — The Scream (Edvard Munch), Expressionist
C — The Juggler (Marc Chagall)	D — Ciphers and Constellations, in Love with a Woman (Joan Miró)
Question 4
A — The Lady of Shallott (John William Waterhouse)	B — Liberty Leading the People (Eugène Delacroix)
C — The Oxbow (Thomas Cole)	D — The Birth of Venus (Sandro Botticelli), Renaissance
Question 5
A — Houses at L’Estaque (Georges Braque)	B — I and the Village (Marc Chagall), Surrealist
C — Violin and Glass (Juan Gris)	D — Portrait of Ambroise Vollard (Pablo Picasso)

Whether you’re already an art lover, or would love to learn more about the world’s artistic treasures, be sure to download Art Authority (iPhone, iPad) to start your adventure.