The Greatest Gold Art of All Time
People treasure gold and they have for millennia. As a result, the yellow metal has found its way into some of the world’s great literature. Yesterday, we shared with you some of the greatest gold quotes of all time, gleaned from a contest we ran with Roy Sebag. The winner walked away with a one-ounce gold coin.
With gold’s striking beauty, it comes as no surprise that the yellow metal has also been the subject of visual art. Roy decided it would be fun to see some of the greatest visual depictions of gold, so he ran another contest to find the greatest golden art of all time.
The rules were simple: respond to a Twitter thread by uploading an image, photograph, or screenshot of your favorite painting or work of art which relates to gold in any way. Roy picked four finalists and chose the winner out of a hat.
I am giving away another ounce of gold worth $1,650 today! To enter the draw, respond to this thread by uploading an image, photograph, or screenshot of your favorite painting or work of art which relates to gold in any way. Winner will be announced tomorrow.
— Roy Sebag (@roysebag) February 25, 2020
Over 600 people responded.
And the winner was…
Charlemagne
And here are the other three finalists.
Simone Martini (1284 ca. – 1344)
Tempera on wood, gold background
Uffizi Art Gallery, Florence
This is the image of the oldest Gold treasure in the world w/ astounding pieces of craftsmanship. Found in Varna, it’s estimated to be at least 6000-7000 years old.
The Golden Throne of King Tutankhamun
Here are a few more of the best entries.
The Mask of Tutankhamun
The gold casts of South Africa’s first democratic president – Nelson Mandela commissioned by Harmony Gold.
In Feudal Japan, the Kabuto armor Samurai donned often featured gold as a symbol of wealth and therefore ability.
Fish Art Thai painting
The San Diego Museum of Art will unveil, Nancy Lorenz: Moon Gold, the first solo museum exhibition for the noted contemporary artist Nancy Lorenz, this spring.
Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi’s “Adoration of the Magi.”
The Alfred Rodriguez painting with true American western miner nostalgia.
King Midas in happier times.
Woman in Gold by Adele Bloch Bauer
Gustav Klimt – Pallas Athena Incorporates gold leaf, and inspired the David Bowie song of the same name.
Solid Gold Godzilla. 33lbs of him.
