Editor's note
Ranking is generated by Storgy's classification model, which scores each poem's thematic depth on this subject relative to the rest of the corpus. The list is re-indexed weekly as new poems enter the public-domain corpus.
Best poems about — Storgy
art.
Twenty-five poems, ranked.
25 of the finest public-domain poems about art, ranked by thematic depth. Scored by Storgy's classification model against the rest of the corpus, and re-indexed weekly as new works enter the canon.
The leading three
01
Ars Poetica
Archibald MacLeish · 1926
“MacLeish's "Ars Poetica" (1926) suggests that a poem shouldn't aim to explain or preach — it should simply *exist*, much like a physical object does in the worl…”
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02
Black Art
Amiri Baraka
“Written in 1965 during the peak of the Black Arts Movement, "Black Art" is Amiri Baraka's passionate manifesto-poem urging Black poetry to move beyond decoratio…”
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03
Gaspar Becerra
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“A weary artist named Gaspar Becerra has been trying to carve a flawless image of the Virgin Mary, but his vision keeps eluding him no matter how hard he works.…”
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The complete index
- 04
Keramos
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A poet observes a potter at his wheel, getting lost in a musical daydream that takes him around the world—from the tile-makers of Delft to the porcelain kilns of China—exploring th…
- 05
Ode on a Grecian Urn
John Keats
A poet gazes at an ancient Greek urn adorned with carved figures — lovers, musicians, a priest conducting a sacrifice — and ponders the stories captured on its surface. Since the s…
- 06
On a Portrait of Dante by Giotto
James Russell Lowell
Lowell gazes at Giotto's renowned portrait of Dante, reflecting on the true cost of being a poet. He shifts from the youthful, idealistic Dante in the painting to the older, exiled…
- 07
On the Medusa of Leonardo Da Vinci in the Florentine Gallery
Percy Bysshe Shelley
Shelley gazes at a painting he thinks is by Leonardo da Vinci, depicting the severed head of Medusa. He feels torn between horror and fascination with its beauty. He contends that…
- 08
Picture-Writing
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This is Canto XV of Longfellow's epic poem *The Song of Hiawatha*, which narrates the tale of how the famed Ojibwe leader Hiawatha created picture-writing. This system of symbols,…
- 09
The Artist
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A poet gazes at a block of marble and thinks: the sculpture is already within it, just waiting — the artist's job is to chip away everything that doesn’t fit. He then applies this…
- 10
The Descent of the Muses
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
This sonnet envisions the nine Muses—goddesses of art and knowledge from Greek mythology—descending from their sacred mountain to dwell among regular folks. Upon their arrival, the…
- 11
Why I Am Not a Painter
Frank O'Hara
Frank O'Hara's "Why I Am Not a Painter" is a lighthearted, chatty poem that explores the creative process — particularly how both a poet and a painter create works that often stray…
- 12
Shakespeare
Percy Bysshe Shelley
This short poem by Shelley honors Shakespeare, expressing awe at the immense scale and diversity of his creative genius. Shelley essentially suggests that Shakespeare's imagination…
- 13
Poetry
Marianne Moore · 1919
Marianne Moore starts by confessing her dislike for poetry, then spends the entire poem detailing what might change her mind about it. She argues that poetry deserves recognition o…
- 14
Hugh Selwyn Mauberley
Ezra Pound · 1920
Hugh Selwyn Mauberley marks Ezra Pound's farewell to his early career and offers a sharp critique of modern Western culture. A poet who feels out of sync with his time struggles to…
- 15
Beethoven in Central Park
Alfred Noyes · 1922
After witnessing a huge Victory Celebration in New York City, the speaker retreats to a quiet corner of Central Park and notices a statue of Beethoven. The loud cheers of the crowd…
- 16
The Reward of Song
Alfred Noyes · 1922
A poet wonders why anyone bothers to create art and then responds to his own question: it's not for fame or applause, but for the hope that some unknown reader in the future will f…
- 17
Addressed to Haydon
John Keats
Keats composes a sonnet that honors the painter Benjamin Robert Haydon, suggesting that real appreciation for outstanding artists isn't just for the wealthy or well-known — it's fo…
- 18
Addressed to the Same
John Keats
Keats passionately names three influential creative figures—Wordsworth, Leigh Hunt, and Benjamin Haydon—referring to them as "great spirits" who are subtly transforming the world f…
- 19
After Reading Trollope's History of Florence
Eugene Field
Eugene Field invites us on a whimsical midnight stroll through Renaissance Florence, inspired by a history book. He brings to life the spirits of Dante, Michelangelo, Raphael, and…
- 20
A Sapho
Sappho
This poem honors the ancient Greek poet Sappho, celebrating her brilliance, beauty, and the enduring impact of her work. The speaker expresses amazement that even after centuries,…
- 21
A Une Femme Ignorante
Sappho
A poet, channeling Sappho and endorsed by the muse Erato, mocks a woman who never chased after poetry or art, suggesting she will fade into obscurity. The poem juxtaposes this blan…
- 22
Aurora Leigh
Elizabeth Barrett Browning
*Aurora Leigh* is a lengthy poem in nine volumes that tells the story of a young woman determined to pursue her dream of becoming a great poet, even when the man she loves urges he…
- 23
Chaucer
John Keats
A young Keats wonders what the most beautiful and peaceful things in the world are, then replies: Sleep, and above Sleep, Poetry itself. This poem reveals his ambition — he aims to…
- 24
Epistles
John Keats
Keats's "Epistles" consists of verse letters written to friends and fellow poets, joyfully celebrating the pleasures of reading, writing, and imagination. These poems have a warm,…
- 25
Fra Sebastiano
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
A monk or artist named Fra Sebastiano challenges a cardinal's idealized perspective on the artistic life, asserting that those who truly experience it have a different viewpoint. I…
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