Orient meets History

Moorish Guard in the Alhambra by the Austrian painter Rudolf Ernst (1854-1932). Ernst lived in Paris and was one of the best orientalist painters. Here he combined an orientalist harem guard with a historical scene. But it's all the same, pure exotic fantasy.

Sweet Priestess

A Priestess (1893) by the British painter John William Godward (1861-1922). Godward was a protégé of Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and painted this Greek/Roman girls in series. I doubt that a priestess in ancient times went like this, but it was what sold good in the late 19th century.

A brave Messenger

The little Messenger by the French battle painter Joseph Louis Hippolyte Bellange (1800-1866). Bellange was specialized in the Napoleonic wars and depicted here a more cheesy scene with a brave little boy.

The White Company

The White Company by the great American illustrator N.C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth (1882–1945). This was the cover for the historical adventure novel by Arthur Conan Doyle which is set during the Hundred Years' War. Maybe it should be mentioned that the real mercenary company with this name never wore white white clothes, the name refered to "white" armour, i.e. plate armour.
But anyway Wyeth painted an impressive bunch of cutthroats.

A City Founder

The Foundation of Saint Petersburg by the German-Russian painter Alexander Ewstafijewitsch von Kotzebue (1815-1889). Kotzebue depicted here Tsar Peter the Great as a the visionary founder of the city. Artisans and architects are fascinated at his feet while he is dramatically illuminated.

Kind of Nature

Battle of Svolder (1883) by the Norwegian painter Otto Ludvig Sinding (1842-1909). Sinding depicted here the decisive battle which resulted in the independence of Norway. Quite normal work that far, but more interesting is that he was much more famous for his landscape paintings of the wild Lofoten Islands. And because of that, I think, his battle painting is much more about the sea in the North and the light there than about that battle itself.

Merry Old Times

Bacci Ball (1880) by the Italian painter Ludovico Marchetti (1853-1909). Marchetti was specialized in sweet scenes settled in the Orient or in an innocent past, in this case mostly early 18th century.

A New Start

The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers by the Anglo-American painter George Henry Boughton (1834-1905). One of the great foundation myths of the United States. The men are pious but armed, few in a deserted hostile world. Looks nothing inviting at all, their new world.

Peeping in the Arena

Faithful Unto Death - Christianae ad Leones (1897) by the British painter Herbert Gustave Carmichael Schmalz (1856-1935). One of that typical cheesy arena paintings where decorative naked Christians are waiting for the lions. Should be a great horror show but in the end it's all about the beautiful girls exposed to the onlooker – of the painting!

Ecce Homo!

Ecce Homo! (1871) by the Italian painter Antonio Ciseri (1821-1891). Ciseri depicts here the moment when Pontius Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd. That's a classical scenery, but really new it isn't a religious painting, with all the architecture, the clothes the dramatic scenery it's pure history painting. It's much more decoration than religion.

Art Deco Cleopatra

Cleopatra by the American artist Maxfield Parrish (1870-1966). Parrish doesn't intend to simulate a far past, Cleopatra looks like a woman of the golden twenties. She's only a symbol for the timeless femme fatale.

Sacred Act

Druids cutting the mistletoe (1900) by the French history painter Henri-Paul Motte (1846-1922). Today it looks much more like a fantasy scene from the Lord of the Rings, but then many people thought that their past may have looked like this.