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John Greenleaf Whittier's 1856 poem “Maud Muller” recounts the tale of Maud, a striking woman who crosses paths with the local judge. Both are instantly enamored, yet neither expresses their emotions. They eventually marry others and live separate lives, but the memory of their encounter lingers forever.
Whittier captures their regret over the missed chance with these poignant words:
For of all sad words of tongue or pen, The saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’
This sentiment echoes the world's sorrow when renowned artists leave their masterpieces incomplete. The causes are diverse—some artists pass away prematurely, others shift focus to new projects, and in certain cases, the reasons remain a mystery.
Yet, much like Maud Muller’s story, we are often left to reflect on the possibilities that never came to fruition.
10. St. Jerome In The Wilderness by Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci saw himself primarily as an engineer rather than a painter, which explains his limited number of completed artworks. His painting St. Jerome in The Wilderness remains unfinished, yet it holds immense value for its rarity and the insights it offers into da Vinci’s artistic techniques.
Created around 1480, the artwork depicts the hermit saint in a rugged setting, clutching a stone for self-punishment. The incomplete piece likely remained with da Vinci until his passing, though its subsequent history remains shrouded in mystery.
The painting was first referenced in the 19th century within the will of Swiss artist Angelica Kauffman. It subsequently vanished, only to be acquired by Cardinal Joseph Fesch, Napoleon’s uncle. Upon discovery, the artwork had been divided into five sections. Fesch managed to retrieve all fragments and meticulously restored the painting.
Later, Pope Pius IX acquired the piece and showcased it in the Vatican Museum Pinacoteca. It’s remarkable that this rare artwork, despite its incomplete state, nearly didn’t survive, yet it remains a breathtaking masterpiece.
9. Symphony No. 8 In B Minor by Franz Schubert
Franz Schubert’s Symphony No. 8 in B minor, often referred to as the Unfinished Symphony, comprises two fully realized movements: an Allegro moderato and an Andante con moto. Sketches for a third movement were later discovered. The B-minor entr’acte from his Rosamunde incidental music seems to have evolved from what would have been the symphony’s concluding movement.
At the age of 25 in 1822, Schubert began composing his eighth symphony. The following year, he received an honorary degree from the Graz Music Society and entrusted the symphonic draft to his friend Anselm Huttenbrenner.
However, Huttenbrenner kept the symphony a secret and made no attempt to stage it, believing it to be incomplete. It wasn’t until 1865 that he handed the score over to the Vienna Music Association, where the Unfinished Symphony premiered for the first time.
Sadly, Schubert never had the chance to witness his symphony performed, as he passed away in 1828 at the young age of 31.
8. Portrait Of Ria Munk III by Gustav Klimt
This portrait was the third and final attempt in a series commissioned by the Munk family to honor their daughter Ria. Following a dispute with her lover in late 1911, Ria tragically took her own life with a gunshot to the chest. Her mother enlisted Gustav Klimt to create a deathbed portrait, but his initial two attempts were declined by the family, and the third remained incomplete.
The incomplete painting, however, provided insight into Klimt’s creative process. It depicted Ria standing sideways, turning to face the viewer with a gentle smile. While her face and the surrounding details were fully rendered, her dress and the floor were outlined in charcoal and left unfinished.
This artwork highlighted Klimt’s spontaneous and instinctive approach. He sketched directly onto the canvas rather than preparing through preliminary drawings. The portrait was initially housed in the Lentos Museum but was eventually returned to the heirs of Ria’s mother. In 2010, it was auctioned for approximately $27.8 million.
7. “Kubla Khan” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Samuel Taylor Coleridge composed his 54-line, unfinished poem “Kubla Khan” after consuming laudanum, an opium-based painkiller. Published in 1816, Coleridge claimed the poem came to him in an opium-induced dream. Although the original vision spanned hundreds of lines, he could only remember a fragment upon waking.
Coleridge delved into the realm of dreams, crafting surreal landscapes that defied reality. The poem narrates the journey of Kubla Khan to Xanadu, where he discovers a pleasure dome of icy caves amidst a sunlit paradise. The narrator vividly describes the striking contrasts of Xanadu, leading critics to interpret the poem as an exploration of the nature of human genius.
6. Portrait Of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart painted over 100 portraits of US President George Washington. His first work, the renowned Vaughan portrait, depicts Washington from the waist up. However, the most iconic is the Athenaeum portrait, commissioned by Martha Washington in 1796. This image, slightly altered, also appears in reverse on the US dollar bill.
The Athenaeum portrait remained unfinished, and Stuart retained it to aid in creating future replicas. Over 75 copies were produced. After Stuart’s death in 1828, the original unfinished paintings were acquired by the Boston Athenaeum library, earning them their name.
5. David-Apollo by Michelangelo
This sculpture, titled David-Apollo, sparks debate over the identity of the figure it portrays. The features suggest it could represent either the biblical David or the mythological Apollo. The smooth, finely chiseled surfaces depict a young man in a dynamic, twisting stance.
David-Apollo was crafted in 1530 for Baccio Valori, then governor of Florence. Likely discarded by Michelangelo before he moved to Rome, the sculpture was left incomplete and abandoned for artistic reasons.
Some believe the marble figure began as David but was later reworked into Apollo before being left unfinished. The true identity remains a mystery, ensuring it will forever be known as David-Apollo.
4. The Mysterious Stranger by Mark Twain
When Mark Twain penned The Mysterious Stranger, he was already celebrated for his realistic works. It was unexpected, then, for him to craft a tale centered on a supernatural protagonist. Twain intermittently worked on this novel for a decade but left it incomplete at his death in 1910. The narrative explores themes of good and evil set in the Middle Ages.
Six years after Twain’s passing, his editors released The Mysterious Stranger. Decades later, in the 1960s, scholars uncovered that the editors had heavily altered the story, straying from Twain’s original vision.
A faithful version of the book, based on Twain’s original manuscript, was published in 1969. Despite its unfinished state, the story stands as a testament to the brilliance of one of the 19th century’s most revered authors.
3. Requiem In D Minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, composed in 1791, stands as one of the most intriguing unfinished musical masterpieces. Left incomplete at his death, the work is immortalized in a poignant painting depicting Mozart on his deathbed, striving to complete his magnum opus. This image not only reflects his deep passion for his craft but also hints at how his relentless dedication may have contributed to his untimely end.
The Requiem in D minor was commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg-Stuppach, who had a habit of claiming commissioned works as his own. This was a pattern he followed with several other musical pieces he had ordered.
Despite suffering from severe fevers, Mozart worked on the Requiem whenever his health allowed. At the time of his death, only the Introit section was fully finished. He had made initial progress on the Kyrie, Sequence, and Offertorium, but the Benedictus, Agnus Dei, and Communio remained untouched.
2. Unfinished Portrait Of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Elizabeth Shoumatoff
Elizabeth Shoumatoff, a Russian-American artist, was renowned for her portraits of prominent families such as the Woodruffs, du Ponts, and Firestones. Her most celebrated work, however, was the portrait of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
At their initial encounter, Roosevelt was deeply impressed by her talent and promptly commissioned her to create a portrait for the White House. Due to his declining health, he later rescheduled their second session.
Despite the delay, Shoumatoff traveled to his retreat. She recounted that Roosevelt was in high spirits and insisted on posing outdoors in Warm Springs, Georgia. As she neared the end of her work that day, Roosevelt suddenly collapsed in his chair, losing consciousness. He passed away a few hours later.
The unfinished portrait, capturing Roosevelt in his final moments, gained immense fame. It is now exhibited at the Little White House, the site of his passing.
1. The Death Of Marat by Jacques-Louis David
In 1793, amidst the Reign of Terror, Jacques-Louis David created a tribute to his slain friend, Jean Marat, a prominent publisher. The painting depicts Marat in an idealized manner, clutching a letter from his assassin. His head slumps heavily on his shoulder, his right arm drooping lifelessly. A blood-stained knife rests nearby, and Marat’s body bears visible wounds.
David, a known supporter of the French Revolution, used his art to inspire political change. The Death Of Marat was initially commissioned by Robespierre but was later returned to David. Today, the painting is housed in the Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium.
