The Telegraph has compiled a nice list of The 50 Best Works of Art (and how to see them)
Zen garden, Ryoan-ji Temple
(late 15th century) Kyoto, Japan
Getting there: bearableThis is the most celebrated example of what in Japanese is called a karesansui, or “dry landscape”. Since it consists of nothing but raked white sandy gravel and mossy stones, it could, in Western terms, be thought of as a sculptural installation. Its point, achieved with incomparable simplicity and elegance, is one of the fundamental objectives of art: to focus meditation on the mystery of existence.
Obviously there are going to be works you want to be on this list and those you believe don’t merit a place on it – still, it’s interesting.
via Kottke