I'm not an artist, but I can Photoshop over one.

August 30, 2007 12:40 PM

What are some pictures/paintings of groups of people that are instantly recognizable? I'm thinking along the line's of da Vinci's "The Last Supper" and would lend itself to having photographs (probably poorly) photoshopped over the faces for a friend's going-away gift?

I've already butchered "The Last Supper" and showed it to a few people who thought it was the funniest thing ever, so I'm looking for a few more suggestions of easily recognizable pictures of large groups of people. I'm at a complete loss.

posted by banannafish to media & arts (35 comments total)

Signing the Declaration of Independence.
posted by oneirodynia at 12:42 PM on August 30, 2007

Album covers, like Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band or Band on the Run.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:44 PM on August 30, 2007

Washington crossing the jefferson
posted by chickaboo at 12:46 PM on August 30, 2007

The delaware I meant to say
posted by chickaboo at 12:46 PM on August 30, 2007

the supreme court.
also, I've seen similar done with the cast of various sci-fi movies/tv shows (star trek seems common)
posted by Kellydamnit at 12:48 PM on August 30, 2007

Dogs playing poker! Dogs playing poker!
posted by doift at 12:49 PM on August 30, 2007

Lunch atop a skyscraper, which is sort of amusing juxtaposed with The Last Supper.
posted by gatorae at 12:50 PM on August 30, 2007

Las Meninas
posted by yeti at 12:51 PM on August 30, 2007

Off the top of my head:

Manet - Lunch on the Grass

David - The Oath of the Horatti

Michaelangelo - The Creation of Adam

I'm sure I'll think of more once I leave this forsaken computer lab.
posted by fair_game at 12:52 PM on August 30, 2007

Pretty much any space shuttle crew portrait.
posted by yeti at 12:53 PM on August 30, 2007

Sunday in the Park
posted by sjuhawk31 at 12:56 PM on August 30, 2007

Two people: the V-J Day Kiss is instantly recognizable.

Four people: Mount Rushmore. Also, I think the Queen II album cover is really recognizable.

Groups: What about A Sunday on La Grande Jatte? Botticelli's Birth of Venus?

There's a lot of humor potential in the movie poster shot from The Breakfast Club if your pals are of the right generation.
posted by pineapple at 12:57 PM on August 30, 2007

Hopper's "Nighthawks" (already widely parodied)
posted by adamrice at 1:00 PM on August 30, 2007

Ruby shooting Oswald.
posted by rocket88 at 1:01 PM on August 30, 2007

The Raft of the Medusa was used for last week's New Yorker cover, I believe.
posted by Rash at 1:03 PM on August 30, 2007

Holy moly. This is going to be the best hack-job ever. Keep 'em comin!
posted by banannafish at 1:07 PM on August 30, 2007

Liberty Leading the People.
posted by yeti at 1:10 PM on August 30, 2007

The Birth of Venus

or

Primavera
posted by amtho at 1:20 PM on August 30, 2007

Jan Van Eyck's Arnolfini "Wedding" Portrait. Wood's American Gothic.
posted by buka at 1:28 PM on August 30, 2007

More David (he painted a lot of famous groups):

The Death Of Socrates

The Intervention of the Sabine Women

The Coronation of Napoleon
posted by fair_game at 1:29 PM on August 30, 2007

Virgin of the Rocks by Da Vinci.
posted by buka at 1:30 PM on August 30, 2007

Yalta

Going with the "going away" theme: Nixon's Resignation
posted by Pollomacho at 1:31 PM on August 30, 2007 [1 favorite]

Judith & Holofernes has good comedic potential. This page has Caravaggio's and Gentileschi's paintings.

If you want a big crowd, maybe a Bosch? Here's the Last Judgment.
posted by Marit at 1:40 PM on August 30, 2007

Renoir's Le Moulin de la Galette is a fun party scene of people dancing. There's room for at least six faces in the foreground, but you could put many others in the background.
posted by saffry at 1:48 PM on August 30, 2007

Here's a hi-res image that when re-photoshopped with friend's faces will be hilarious.
posted by yeti at 1:50 PM on August 30, 2007

The Simpsons all sitting on the couch.
posted by happyturtle at 1:54 PM on August 30, 2007

The Dutch Masters by Rembrandt.
posted by nanojath at 1:59 PM on August 30, 2007

More Rembrandt: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp
posted by hydrophonic at 2:39 PM on August 30, 2007

Les Demoiselles d'Avignon.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 2:52 PM on August 30, 2007

Yes, Sgt. Pepper.
posted by wafaa at 4:28 PM on August 30, 2007

Luncheon of the boating party, Renoir
posted by kjs4 at 4:37 PM on August 30, 2007

A bit of a downer, but there's always The Death of Marat.
posted by Joe Invisible at 5:29 PM on August 30, 2007

Gustave Courbet, Burial at Ornans
J.S. Sargent, The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit (excellent choice for your golf buddies or frat brothers)
posted by Rock Steady at 9:02 PM on August 30, 2007

Oh, and Rembrandt Van Rijn's The Nightwatch is one of the most important group portraits in art history.
posted by Rock Steady at 9:05 PM on August 30, 2007

Valley of the Dolls movie poster or book cover.
posted by La Cieca at 10:26 AM on August 31, 2007