Turner paintings were widely known to be among the most original landscapes and seascapes in Europe. They were influenced by Claude Lorrain, whose paintings were obsessively studied by Joseph Turner. Joseph extensively travelled all over Europe in his search for new scenes to paint.

The Fighting Temeraire, completed in 1839, was one of the great Turner paintings. It featured a glowing sunset over a ghostly ship that fought in the Battle of Trafalgar being towed away. An 1844 painting, entitled Rain, Steam and Speed takes the idea of The Fighting Temeraire even further with hardly recognizable shapes on most of the canvas.

With their romanticism, Turner paintings would later have an influence on the Impressionist movement. Romanticism is itself a by-product of the Neoclassical movement that properly accounted for history through its close attention to detail. Turner paintings are credited for having embarked on a subject matter so great it actually rivalled the history genre.

Among the most influential Baroque artwork in Northern Europe were the Peter Paul Rubens paintings. Included among this collection are paintings of violent, audience-gripping war scenes, critiquing European politics of the times. Other than painting, Peter also pursued a political career as a diplomat.

The two wives of Peter, Isabella Brant and Helene Fourment, figured prominently as both subjects and inspirations in many Peter Paul Rubens paintings. One of the last paintings seen by King Charles I, before his ultimate execution outside the front door of the Banqueting House in London was Peter's only surviving ceiling painting.

Massacre of the Innocents, The Horrors of War and Venus and Adonis are among the most important of Peter Paul Rubens paintings. They provide constant commemoration for one of the most famous and successful European artists of the 17th century.