So many choices, but I'd have to choose Raphael's Portrait of Baldassare Castiglione, in the Louvre. There's just something about his expression that's so kind and honest. And he was the 'stand-in' when the Mona Lisa was stolen early in the 20th Century!

Hmmmm....a painting. Not sure, but probably a Caravaggio.

But, if we are allowed to choose a sculpture,then definitely Bernini's Apollo and Daphne at Rome's Borghese Gallery. If you have seen it, you know why!

The Death of Sainte Genevieve by Jean Paul Laurens which is in the Pantheon in Paris. It moves me deeply. Her bound hands in prayer, the angel gently lifting the sheet from her body, oncense swirling around her and the mourners surrounding her bed. It is so life-like, beautiful, peaceful and full of sorrow.

If I were choosing a painter JMW Turner would be tops on the list, for treatment of a subject matter, Monet's series in London would be on top but for a single painting to own, it is Sargent's "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" that tops the list. I've seen it in two locations besides its home at the Tate Britain and never ceases to bring me joy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/paintin..._sargent.shtml

Picasso's "Guernica" - the greatest anti-war painting ever.

(In the Renia Sofia in Madrid.)

I see the Vermeers are going fast, but fortunately "The Little Street" (my favorite) is still available, so I'll take it.

Why? The description of the painting on the Rijksmuseum"s website says it best: "The scene emanates tranquillity and security."

Anything by El Greco at the Prado. Luckily, the Art Institute here in Chicago has a nice collection, too.

Birth of Venus...I love Boticelli
It is exquisite and I could sit in the Uffizzi and look at the Boticelli paintings all day.

Since everything is going fast...can I have an order of Van Gogh..perhaps Crows in the Wheatfield? No need to deliver, I'll pick it up..And for dessert, perhaps a Renoir...there is one at the Art Institute in Chicago...

I'm a Vermeer lover and some of you have already claimed my favorites from the Netherlands - The Kitchen Maid, The Little Street, View of Delft. I guess I'll take Woman Reading a Letter.

If any of you would sell the others on eBay, I promise to bid high.

Are there any Hoppers in Europe? My favorite is the window open to an ocean view. I was once captive in a room with it for hours. Unfortunately, just being an arts grazer.. have not been as fortunate to have as much exposure to other paintings.

Picasso's "Two Women Running of the Beach" at the Picasso museum. Or maybe the "Still Life with Oranges" by his friend Matisse.

For me.. It would be Titians - Sacred and Profane Love at Rome's Borghese Gallery.

Why? Because my stomach did a major flip flop, in a good way, the first time I saw this.

Aha, just in time! I claim The City Dance and The Country Dance, Renoirs from the D'Orsay.

http://www.renoir.org.yu/gallery.asp?id=33

http://www.renoir.org.yu/gallery.asp?id=32

Next choice would be Edward Hughe's Midsummer's Eve:

http://www.denison.edu/art/fairy/pages/fairy123.html

I totally Ophelia by John Everett Millais, but she is sad. Would I want to hang her in my living room?

http://www.wiliqueen.com/ophelia/millais.jpg

Can I have one of these, please?

I forgot to say why I love them: all of them are so romantic. The Renoirs move me because of their sublime color, shape, and movement. I can almost hearing the music in the background.

Ophelia? The delicacy, tragedy and drama of this painting knock my socks off.

And the Hughes: I am the worlds number one lover of Victorian fairy paintings and this is my favorite.

I would like to have "Bonaparte on Grand St Bernard Pass" by Jacques David.

It is a Romantic vision of Napoleon crossing the pass on his steed, Styrie. It depicts such strength in horse and rider and such masculinity
and power.

I don't know how big it is in person, but I'll make room for it.

http://tinyurl.com/9lpjt

1) jsmith, I am looking at my print of Sargent's "Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose" on my office wall as we speak -- will you do a time-share arrangement on the original with me?

Why? Captures the magic of a summer evening. I love the lantern light reflected in the girls' faces.

2) Boticelli's are going fast; I'd be happy with his Annunciation, at the Uffizi.

Why? I love his dreamy faces, and the angel Gabriel's halo and wings are luminous.

3) Munch's "The Scream."

Why? It is actually not a favorite of mine, (and I have never seen it) but I'd like to trap the thief/thieves into selling it to me, see him/her/them arrested, and then return it. (It IS still missing, correct?)

4) A work by Artemesia Gentilleschi (I think I just massacred her name) would be wonderful, but since there aren't that many and so few women are represented in the art world, I'll leave her alone.

5 etc) Throw in any Picasso "blue" period and maybe a Klimt (not a portrait, one of the landscapes), and a Degas on-stage dancer and I will shut up now!

The Rout of San Romano by Paolo Uccello in the National Gallery - I picked this one many moons ago as "my" painting. My approach is that you can "have" one painting in very gallery - the Uccello was my first painting - I have others but need to be faithful to the first one

jsmith, thanks for the link...I forgot how gorgeous that was....magnificent. The Turners at Tate were fabulous,,,I love his landscapes of the British countryside....so sublime.

Can I add two more?

I also want
Unconscious Rivals
and
The Tepidarium

by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema