Somewhere and Somewhen

This exotic scenery is by the Austrian painter Rudolf Ernst (1854-1932). Ernst was a famous orientalist painters and did here something which looks a little historical. But I think it doesn't matter. He was alsways looking fpr the exotic, the strange. So it's more a kindof pre-fantasy painting.

A Great Triumph

The disembarkment of Francis I in Valencia by the Spanish painter Ignacio Pinazo y Camarlench (1849-1916). The French king  Francis I was made a Spanish prisoner when he lost the battle of Pavia in 1525. Despite he is received like a king it was one of Spains greatest Triumphs. Maybe the painting  was meant as kindof consolation for all the later defeats.

Victorian Girlie

The Lady of Shalott (1888) by the British painter John William Waterhouse (1849-1917). The Lady of Shalott" is a Victorian ballad by the English poet Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–1892) and tells the story of a noble Lady and her tragic love to the Arthurian knight Sir Lancelot.
Like many of these  Arthurian legends the subject was especially popular amongst the Pre-Raphaelites who did various paintings.
Nevertheless I don't understand why Waterhouse is often called himself a Pre-Raphaelite. He had absolutely no relation to them and exploited only the popular subjects in a cheap way.

Cruel Games

At the Colosseum by the British painter Harold Hume Piffard (1895-1938). Piffard depicts here an elegant Roman noblewoman watching comfortly the bloody spectacle below. A well constucted contrast indeed.

European Art

 Joaquín Crespo at Los Colorados battle (1893) by the Venezuelan painter Arturo Michelena  (1863-1898). With this battle General Crespo decided 1884 a civil war and became president of Venezuela.
Though nothing special, it's interesting to see that these young states in Latin America glorified their presidents and victories in the same way as in old Europe. That's mostly because artists like Michelena learned their trade at the European academies.

Genre Painting

A Duel by the Italian painter Ludovico Marchetti (1853-1909). This well done genre painting is obviously strongly influenced by  "The Duel After the Masquerade" by  French grandmaster Gerome.

Incredible Treasures

Atahuallpa the imprisoned  emperor of the Incas promised Pizarro and his conquistadors to fill the whole room with gold. An illustration for the book "The Men Who Found America" (1909) by the American artist Herbert Moore. The desperate emperor is here effectively confronted with the sinister, greedy Spanish. Interesting are also the symbolic colors: the golden light and the blood red trousers.

Well armed Pilgrims

Pilgrims Going To Church (1867) by the Anglo-American painter George Henry Boughton (1834-1905). Boughton painted here the famous Pilgrim Fathers in their best clothes but also well armed indicating that they were well aware of living in a dangerous new world.

Hanseatic Art

Victory of the Hansa fleet over the Danes in 1234 by the German marine painter Alexander Kircher (1867-1939). Kirchner was very popular for his patriotic paintings. Many were used to illustrade schoolbooks and town halls and offices of shipping companies.

Harem Exploitation

Before the Punishment by the Hungarian painter Franz Eisenhut (1857-1903). Eisenhut is considered one of Austria-Hungary's greatest academic painters in the second half of the 19th century an specialized in Orientalist subjects.
Here he did a really spectacular piece. Two disobedient harem slaves are awaiting their punishment stretching their erotic bodies  for all the onlookers of the painting.

An Artist at Work

The Portrait of a Sergeant (1874) by the French military painter Jean-Louis-Ernest Meissonier (1815–1891). Apart from the fact that it is a very well done painting it is full of small "unheroic" details normally not worth to be noticed by a military painter.

The Joust

Before the Joust by the Italian painter Cesare Auguste Detti (1847-1914). As historical genre painter Detti  specialized more in scenes settled in the 17th or 18th century, but here he was attracted by a medieval subject. The result is a genre painting anyway.