Following the Paris Commune of 1871, history painters resorted to indirect reference in paintings of obscure episodes in mediaeval history.
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From David’s history paintings of the end of the eighteenth century, the genre went from strength to strength, with major works by Goya, Géricault, and even Manet.
It was the patrons who funded, enabled, and occasionally directed the movement towards realism and secular subjects, and developed the genres.
In two early expeditions to the Americas, he gathered great amounts of information about flora and fauna, and the ethnography of indigenous peoples.
In which Don Quixote thinks he stopped a youth being beaten, gets a beating himself, and ends up back in his bed while his priest sets about burning his library.
More extraordinary tales from French and European history told in his paintings.
He was probably the last traditional history painter in Europe. This selection of his works is accompanied by full explanations of the history behind each.
Gloves have long been objects of fashion: paintings from Fantin-Latour’s portrait of Manet to Khnopff’s mysterious symbolism.
Like eyes and the rest of the face, hands are most usually seen uncovered in figurative paintings. These paintings show gloved hands which have special purposes and meaning.
Superb, finely detailed views of Australia and New Zealand from its foremost landscape painter of the late 19th century.
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