Top 10 Muses and Mistresses In Art History (PHOTOS)

The old saying tells us that "Behind every great man there is a great woman," but oftentimes artists keep their beauties right where they can see them. The muses in the slideshow below inspired some of history's most visionary artists, exciting both their minds and their bodies; they range from traditional beauties to challenging, liberated women. Click through to see 10 women immortalized for their dynamism, shrewdness, promiscuity, and of course, their dangerous beauty.

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Comments

[Beverly Winters]

12:47 PM on 09/19/2011

Very cool. Do women artists have men as muses? It would be nice to see that side. It's good to see that these men considered the women and not their beauty alone, in some of these cases. Love is blind and art is true to life. Wonderful.

[Artist Jaguar]

04:59 PM on 09/18/2011

I bet half an hour after Daguerre invented his process he had his girlfriend out in a field to pose for nude photos. I get that men and women have different worldviews, but I wonder why there is no solid evidence of men inspiring women artistically? Is it the automatic objectification we men are prone to? Is the urgency of survival such that women don’t have time for the luxury of male personification? Does the art world mainly see what makes it comfortable, so it has never recognized a female created body of work exalting their paramours? It is expected that women would be maternal and giving so we see many examples of major artists that elevate motherhood, children and family life. Our society finds it comforting to think of women as prostitutes and caregivers; Camille Claudel (understandably) makes the grade, but Adele H. (Victor Hugo’s daughter) is dismissed as a woman under the influence (Not every male artists’ attention was desired). Is it truly possible that not one of the millions of girls who screamed for the Beatles and other pop stars ever made museum worthy Art? Really? We can’t think of any female Rock critics or photographers? Why on earth do you think they got into the business? When we start to look for the female equivalent (and it might not be an equivalent, which is why we might be missing it) we’ll discover their muses and the work inspired by their men all over the historical landscape.

[Piaget2011]

01:51 AM on 09/18/2011

I know it's been said, but Yoko should be on this list. She had a huge impact on John which translated into a huge impact on pop culture (for lack of a better term). Love her or hate her, the woman is significant.

[foxisms]

12:57 PM on 09/17/2011

Coming to a television near you, The Annual Musie Awards.
BTW...is there such a thing as a male muse? I would think so, if it involves inspiring the arts.
And I wonder what might a male muse be called?
I mean other than by their names.

[naschkatze]

10:20 PM on 09/19/2011

Someone on page 3 mentions Neal Cassidy, muse or muser if you will, to Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg.

[MeetJohnDoe]

10:19 PM on 09/16/2011

Can HuffPo get any more sexist?

[60699]

12:21 PM on 09/17/2011

yes

[sdema]

12:57 AM on 09/21/2011

Well, how about the video morphing paintings of white women's faces, painted by men (oh, I guess I did see a Cassatt in the mix) - and the articles about so many famous male artists. Damn, don't get me started. I never wanted to be a feminist artist, but I might become so pissed off with the whole thing that I have no choice. I would argue that Rodin was a muse to Camille. I have no problem reading about the impact another person can have on an artist - but when it is presented as 'Top Ten Muses...' the message to women is clear, the message to men is clear. Women - you too can be a top ten muse and help an artist make great things, Men - go forth, find your muse and fortune will follow. Ugh.

[TheOuroborus]

06:20 PM on 09/16/2011

Not even close.

[EvilBananaPt]

04:18 PM on 09/16/2011

Shah Jahan and Aryumand Banu Begam are hard to top

[martinfbc]

11:23 AM on 09/16/2011

Lee Miller, she was extraordinary

[Cassandra45]

04:45 PM on 09/16/2011

Fanned for Lee!

[SmotPoker]

10:28 AM on 09/16/2011

What no John and Yoko? Music is an art.

[Dogma]

10:03 AM on 09/16/2011

Camille Claudel was a hottie.

[euthman]

05:36 PM on 09/16/2011

D'accord. She's the only one who does anything for me. Also, what's with all the smoking? Blecch.

[FireInMyBelly]

09:46 AM on 09/16/2011

I'm a little surprised that Grace Jones is not on the list. She was a muse for Andy Warhol when she first burst onto the fashion scene in the 70s.

[robert11225]

09:16 AM on 09/16/2011

let's see a post about male "muses". im sure there are many women (and gay men) who were inspired by men.

[TheyCallMeArt]

09:04 AM on 09/16/2011

No list of muses is complete without Gala Dalí.

[smallberries]

08:20 AM on 09/16/2011

Mick Jagger and Marianne Faithful

Andrew Wyeth and Helga

[american-dolt]

12:32 PM on 09/16/2011

I don't think Wyeth was with Helga.

[smallberries]

08:21 AM on 09/23/2011

Whatever their relationship was, Wyeth painted her for fourteen years without the knowledge of either his wife or Helga's husband, John Testorf. She certainly qualified as his muse, if not his mistress.

[smallberries]

08:09 AM on 09/16/2011

Dante Rossetti and Lizzie Siddall
James Whistler and Johanna Hiffernan

[naschkatze]

10:12 PM on 09/19/2011

Well, since we're speaking of Dante, how about Dante Alighieri and Beatrice?