History like Hollywood

Cleopatra and Anthony (1902) by the American artist Joseph Christian Leyendecker (1874-1951). History is here only the decoration for much greater emotions. With this powerful illustration Leyendecker kind of anticipates the movie of 1963 starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

A Great Victory

The Victory at Narva (1905) by the Swedish painter Gustav Cederström (1845-1933). Once again Cederström glorifies here the great time of the Swedish warrior king Charles XII.

Westward Ho

Westward the Course of Empire takes its Way (1861) by the German American painter Emanuel Gottlieb Leutze (1816–1868). This painting better known as "Westward Ho" decorates as a mural the United States Capitol Building.
It symbolizes Manifest Destiny, i.e. the belief that the United States was destined for Western expansion from the   Atlantic coast to the Pacific ocean.

Brave Soldiers

Sounding of the Horn (1879) by the Italian painter Cesare Auguste Detti (1847-1914). Detti was specialized in historical genre scenes mainly settled in the 17th or 18th century. Here he depicted a group of well composed soldiers, probably some Italian mercenaries in Flanders or Germany.

Saint James the Moor-slayer

Saint James at the battle of Clavijo (1885) by the Spanish painter José María Casado del Alisal (1832-1886). In the Spanish legend Saint James miraculously appeared to fight for the Christiansduring the battle of Clavijo (844), and became therefore as Santiago Matamoros, or the Moor-slayer the national saint of Spain.
Interesting is that Casado del Alisal did here a kind of history painting instead of a religious one. In this manner he is assuring the "historical reality" of the legend.

Columbus the Genius

Columbus (1865) by the German painter Karl Theodor von Piloty (1826–1886). Despite this is one of the few paintings showing Columbus as a sailor Piloty focuses the attention on the lonely genius, it's much more Faust in his study than a captain aboard his ship.

A Lonesome Ruler

Ivan IV by the Russian painter Viktor Vasnetsov (1848-1926). Vasnetsov shows here the feared Ivan the Terrible as a lonesome ruler who seemed to be frozen by symbols and burden of his power.

Weary Warriors

Morning of the Battle of Agincourt 25th October 1415 (1884) by the English artist Sir John Gilbert (1817–1897). Gilbert started more as a craftsman. He did mostly illustrations and woodcuts for magazines like Illustrated London News Punch or The London Journal and books.
Anyway, I appreciate a lot his interpretation of the  the Battle of Agincourt. Old weary warriors are praying and awaiting their fate while above them are already flying the crows to feast on the dead.

Who Trusts a Cardinal

Afternoon Tea by the Italian classicist painter  Francesco Brunery (1849-1926). Brunery studied with Gérôme and was well known for his anti-clerical art. Here it looks like the older lady is hooking up the cardinal with a young girl, maybe her daughter or niece.

Another Highlight of History

Tsar Ivan IV Vasilyevich the Terrible conquers Kazan (1880) by the Russian painter Alexey Kivshenko (1851-1895). Kivshenko depicts here one of the great highlights of Russian history. The Russians now free from the Mongol yoke are now beating back and starting their own conquest.
It's easy to imagine that this painting was very popular as illustration in schoolbooks and so on.

Pleading for Compassion

Priamus at the Feet of Achilles pleading for the Body of Hector (1876) by the French painter Joseph Wencker (1848-1919). Despite the story nowadays is mostly forgotten it was a very popular subject in the 18th and 19th century. The old king softening the heart of the harsh and bitter hero.

Classical Exploitation

Summer Bath at Pompeii (1876) by the French painter Gustave Clarence Rodolphe Boulanger (1824-88). The classical scenery here is a mere smokescreen to present a bunch of stretching nudes.