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      Alexander Calder, 1898 – 1976

      Alexander Calder's 98 Most Famous Paintings

      Untitled is the painting Alexander Calder is best remembered for; it belongs to the Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze, Florence. Mobile (1932) and Romulus and Remus (1928) complete the trio of best-loved canvases. Our catalogue counts 98 works by Alexander Calder. Here are the 98 most famous, with the year, the museum and the story of each canvas.

      Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated October 2026.

      Portrait of Alexander Calder
      Alexander Calder · 1898 – 1976
      Born · died
      1898 – 1976, Lawnton
      Movement
      Abstract expressionism
      Works in our catalogue
      98
      Most famous
      Untitled
      Most works at
      Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

      The ten best-loved paintings by Alexander Calder

      Romulus and Remus (1928) by Alexander Calder
      3

      Romulus and Remus

      Alexander Milne Calder's "Romulus and Remus," crafted in 1928, isn’t merely a sculpture; it’s a distilled essence of myth rendered in delicate wire. This piece, a testament to the artist’s pioneering approach to three-dimensional form, transcends its subject matter – the legendary founders of Rome – to become a profound meditation on beginnings, brotherhood, and the very act of creation itself. Calder, deeply influenced by Constructivism and early Modernism, sought…

      Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges) (1956) by Alexander Calder
      5

      Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges)

      1956 · Acrylic · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

      Alexander Milne Calder's "Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges)" isn’t merely a depiction of a serene pond; it’s an invitation to lose oneself in the delicate balance of form, color, and movement. Created in 1956, this captivating sculpture – captured through a masterful photograph – embodies Calder's signature approach: embracing chance and celebrating the ephemeral beauty of nature within a distinctly modern aesthetic. The piece resides within a contemporary architectural space,…

      Black Sun (1953) by Alexander Calder
      9

      Black Sun

      1953 · Acrylic On Canvas · Tate Britain, London

      Alexander Milne Calder's "Black Sun," painted in 1953, isn’t merely a depiction of abstract forms; it’s an invitation to contemplate the interplay between chaos and order, darkness and light. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and later establishing himself as a pivotal figure in American sculpture alongside his son Alexander Stirling Calder and grandson Alexander ‘Sandy’ Calder, Milne Calder possessed a singular vision – one that sought to capture dynamic movement and…

      Colored Spots (1970) by Alexander Calder
      10

      Colored Spots

      1970 · Gouache

      In Colored Spots, created in 1970, we encounter a moment of pure rhythmic energy. This gouache work moves away from the heavy permanence of sculpture to explore the lightness of color and shape. The composition is defined by a series of circles, varying in scale, that appear to drift across the surface. There is a specific tension in how these forms are placed; they do not sit static but seem…

      Alexander Calder: canvases 11 to 98 of the ranking

      Calder's Circus (1931) by Alexander Calder
      #11

      Calder's Circus

      1931 · Whitney Museum of American Art

      Alexander Milne Calder’s “Calder’s Circus,” created in 1931, is more than just a charming miniature scene; it’s a meticulously crafted meditation on movement, spectacle, and the enduring allure…

      Red Sun (1968) by Alexander Calder
      #12

      Red Sun

      1968 · Des Moines Art Center

      Alexander Milne Calder’s “Red Sun” stands as a testament to the power of reductive art – a deceptively simple black and white linocut print that encapsulates the spirit…

      Lobster Trap and Fish Tail (1939) by Alexander Calder
      #13

      Lobster Trap and Fish Tail

      1939 · MOMA - Museum of Modern Art

      Alexander Milne Calder's "Lobster Trap and Fish Tail," created in 1939, isn’t merely a depiction of marine life; it’s an embodiment of movement captured within a strikingly reductive…

      Violin (1960) by Alexander Calder
      #14

      Violin

      1960

      In the evocative realm of mid-century graphic expression, Alexander Milne Calder’s "Violin" emerges as a mesmerizing dialogue between form and abstraction. Created in 1960, this striking screenprint transcends…

      Untitled (1948) by Alexander Calder
      #20

      Untitled

      1948 · The Phillips Collection
      A R by Alexander Calder
      #40

      A R

      The artwork titled "A R" is a metal piece featuring the letter A. Created by the sculptor Alexander Milne Calder, this work is crafted from a silver material.…

      Untitled (1968) by Alexander Calder
      #42

      Untitled

      1968 · Buffalo AKG Art Museum
      Crosshatch by Alexander Calder
      #55

      Crosshatch

      A Striking Encounter: "Crosshatch" by Alexander Milne Calder This captivating painting, currently residing within the esteemed Smithsonian American Art Museum, presents a unique and visually arresting depiction of…

      Fish at Sunrise (1974) by Alexander Calder
      #56

      Fish at Sunrise

      1974

      The artwork 'Fish at Sunrise' by Alexander Milne Calder is a mesmerizing piece that showcases the artist's unique style and technique. Created in 1974, this gouache painting measures…

      Nemo by Alexander Calder
      #95

      Nemo

      Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze

      Nemo by Alexander Calder presents an intricate arrangement of geometric forms. The composition is built upon a series of overlapping circles and squares. Large circles act as central…

      Red, Yelloe and Blue Gongs by Alexander Calder
      #96

      Red, Yelloe and Blue Gongs

      Ca' Pesaro - International Gallery of Modern Art

      Red, Yellow and Blue Gongs – Alexander Milne Calder Alexander Milne Calder’s “Red, Yellow and Blue Gongs” stands as a testament to the sculptor's pioneering exploration of kinetic…

      Tache Bleu by Alexander Calder
      #97

      Tache Bleu

      The painting Tache Bleu is a remarkable work of art created by the talented artist Alexander Milne Calder. This stunning piece is a tapestry, measuring 103 x 152…

      Red Mobile by Alexander Calder
      #98

      Red Mobile

      Galleria Civica di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea Torino

      Between the 1920s and ‘30s, Calder regularly made long study and work trips to Paris, where he began to participate in the Abstraction-Création group. Finally, in 1932, at…

      Alexander Calder's canvases, period by period

      What Alexander Calder painted most

      The four subjects that return most often on these canvases, each with its best-loved example.

      Where Alexander Calder's canvases hang

      The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

      Museum City Works by Alexander Calder Paintings from this list
      Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze, FlorenceBiennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze Florence 2 Untitled, Nemo
      Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New YorkSolomon R. Guggenheim Museum New York 2 Romulus and Remus, Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges)
      The Phillips Collection, Washington, D.C.The Phillips Collection Washington, D.C. 2 Untitled, Red Polygons
      Tate Britain, LondonTate Britain London 1 Black Sun
      Whitney Museum of American Art, New YorkWhitney Museum of American Art New York 1 Calder's Circus
      Des Moines Art Center, Des MoinesDes Moines Art Center Des Moines 1 Red Sun
      MOMA - Museum of Modern Art, New York CityMOMA - Museum of Modern Art New York City 1 Lobster Trap and Fish Tail
      Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 1 "Calder #1" Textile (Model No. 1-145)

      Alexander Calder's most famous canvas, decade after decade

      1. 1920s
        Romulus and Remus (1928) by Alexander Calder
        Ranked 3 of 98

        Romulus and Remus

        Age 22 – 31 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

        Alexander Milne Calder's "Romulus and Remus," crafted in 1928, isn’t merely a sculpture; it’s a distilled essence of myth rendered in delicate wire. This piece, a testament to…

      2. 1930s
        Mobile (1932) by Alexander Calder
        Ranked 2 of 98

        Mobile

        Age 32 – 41
      3. 1940s
        Untitled (1948) by Alexander Calder
        20 of 98

        Untitled

        Age 42 – 51 · The Phillips Collection
      4. 1950s
        Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges) (1956) by Alexander Calder
        5 of 98

        Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges)

        Age 52 – 61 · Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

        Alexander Milne Calder's "Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges)" isn’t merely a depiction of a serene pond; it’s an invitation to lose oneself in the delicate balance of form,…

      5. 1960s
      6. 1970s
        Colored Spots (1970) by Alexander Calder
        Canvas 10 of 98

        Colored Spots

        Age 72 – 78

        In Colored Spots, created in 1970, we encounter a moment of pure rhythmic energy. This gouache work moves away from the heavy permanence of sculpture to explore the…

      Alexander Calder's canvases, question by question

      Which canvas is Alexander Calder most remembered for?Read the answer

      Untitled, Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze, Florence. Mobile (1932) and Romulus and Remus (1928) follow.

      What are Alexander Calder's ten most famous canvases?Read the answer

      Untitled, Mobile, Romulus and Remus, Abstraction, Red Lily Pads (Nénuphars rouges), Orange and Black Composition, Puppet Man, Slanting Red Nose, Black Sun and Colored Spots. Each canvas in the ranking above comes with its year and its museum.

      How many paintings did Alexander Calder create?Read the answer

      98 works by Alexander Calder are in our catalogue, dated 1928 to 1975.

      Where do Alexander Calder's most famous canvases hang today?Read the answer

      Mostly in Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze (Florence), Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum (New York) and The Phillips Collection (Washington, D.C.); the list above names each museum and its canvases.

      When did Alexander Calder paint the most famous canvases?Read the answer

      In 1960s, which gave 17 of the 98 works on this page, Abstraction among them.

      Which famous Alexander Calder canvas came first, and which came last?Read the answer

      The earliest canvas here is Romulus and Remus (1928); the latest is Pyramids (1975).

      Which subjects did Alexander Calder paint most?Read the answer

      Sculpture (6), Geometric (5) and Geometric design (4), across the 98 works on this page.

      Which medium appears most in Alexander Calder's paintings?Read the answer

      Acrylic On Canvas, used in 5 of the 98 works on this page.

      Which movement is Alexander Calder associated with?Read the answer

      Abstract expressionism, as the canvases on this page show.

      Which paintings by Alexander Calder are held by the Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze?Read the answer

      The Biennale Internazionale dell'Antiquariato di Firenze, Florence holds 2 of the works on this page, among them Untitled and Nemo.

      Meet the painter: Alexander Calder

      introduction to alexander milne calder

      alexander milne calder was a scottish american sculptor, born in aberdeen, scotland in 1846. he is best known for his architectural sculpture of philadelphia city hall, and both his son, alexander stirling calder, and grandson, alexander 'sandy' calder, became significant sculptors in the 20th century.

      early life and career

      alexander milne calder began his career in scotland, working for sculptor john rhind, while attending the royal academy in edinburgh. he moved to london and worked on the albert memorial. calder immigrated to the united states in 1868 and settled in philadelphia, where he studied with joseph a. bailly and took classes with thomas eakins at the pennsylvania academy of fine arts.

      notable works

      some of alexander milne calder's notable works include:
      • philadelphia city hall: a commission that involved more than 250 pieces in marble and bronze, taking calder 20 years to complete.
      • william penn: a colossal bronze statue that was to crown the city hall's tower.
      • indian figure: a sculpture prior to its installation on city hall.
      • south portal and west portal: illuminated with colored lights, showcasing calder's attention to detail.

      legacy

      alexander milne calder's legacy extends beyond his own work, as both his son and grandson became prominent sculptors. his contributions to the world of art can be seen in various museums, including the smithsonian american art museum and the galleria civica di arte moderna e contemporanea torino. to learn more about alexander milne calder and his work, visit https://TopImpressionists.com/@/alexander-milne-calder or explore the wahoo art timeline for a detailed overview of art history. important to note that alexander milne calder's work has been recognized and appreciated by art enthusiasts and scholars alike, making him a significant figure in the world of art. his contributions will continue to be celebrated and studied for generations to come.

      All 98 works by Alexander Calder →