Dutch Golden Age brandjes, West’s failure, fires in Venice and Copenhagen, and the rivals John Constable and JMW Turner painting London on fire.
Eckersberg
A selection of sky-rich oil sketches made in the Roman Campagna during the first half of the 19th century.
Before folk history changed with the concept of human evolution, caves were sacred places inhabited by hermits, or figures from myth.
One of the most colourful statesmen in classical history. A reckless love life with both men and women, and a general of Athens, who changed sides to help the Spartans and the Persians.
Gérôme’s ‘Ave Caesar’ was a visually stunning wide-angle spectacular, with its detailed reconstructions. Examined in the light of Claude, Girtin, Turner, and others.
From being a sub-genre of landscape painting in the Dutch Golden Age, to recording the catastrophic fire which destroyed most of Moscow when Napoleon occupied the city.
The story of Ulysses’ encounter with the Cyclops Polyphemus is told by a survivor from the Odyssey. Superb paintings by Turner, Böcklin, Reni, and others.
Including Thor, Odin, Valkyries, Freya, Loki, and Baldr, with a selection of fine paintings rather than book illustrations.
Classical history paintings are rarer than those of myth. Even fewer show the most anomalous of classical societies: the Spartans.
You’d think a painting of him in battle would be ideal, not one of him being dragged from a brothel.
The Eclectic Light Company 