In a modern world where contemporary art often makes all the headlines, it is gratifying that the most visited museums are still the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London, principally known for their ancient artifacts. I think the public maintains a love for Old Masters because of the visual window they provide into history.
The artists themselves tended to be such fascinating people. Take Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo—the triumvirate that moved art forwards at record speed in a short space of time and all of whom were extraordinary, but with hugely different characters. Or any of the fascinating female artists, like Artemisia Gentileschi, who forged successful careers in a male-dominated art world. There are brilliant stories to be told around great artists.
