Sweet Middle Ages

A Paige by the French painter Alexandre Cabanel (1823-1889).

Cabanel was one of he most influential artists in 19th century France. He was part of the jury of the important Paris Salon. He and Bougereau were responsible that the later impressionist artist weren’t allowed to exhibit their work in the Salon of 1863.
So a kind of ultra-traditionalist artist he presents here his interpretation of a sweet romantic past: a medieval page. The cheesy work was bought by emperor Napoleon III.

Rejecting the tribute

Ivan the Great tearing the khan's letter to pieces (c.1880) by the Russian painter Alexey Kivshenko (1851-1895).

Ivan the Great was the Grand Prince of Moscow who refused in 1480 to pay the customary tribute to the grand Khan of the Golden Horde. And liberated Russia from the so called Tatar yoke.
It’s told that he tered apart the khan’s letter. For every Russian it’s therefore one of the great highlights of national history.

Viking Raiders

The Ravager (1909) by the British artist John Charles Dollman (1851-1934).

Dollman specialized in historical subjects and genre. Besides paintings he did many illustrations for books. Here he depicted a group of Viking raiders with their then so popular decorated helmets. They are advancing over a snow covered plain accompanied by ravens, the vultures of the North.