Glossary
History Painting

History Painting

History painting is a genre of painting characterised by its subject matter rather than a particular artistic style or era.

The term 'history painting' was coined by the French Royal Academy in the 17th century. It was regarded as the most significant genre of painting, surpassing portraiture, scenes from daily life (genre painting), landscape, and still life painting.

Initially, it referred to paintings featuring subjects from ancient Greek and Roman history, classical mythology, and the Bible. However, by the late 18th century, history painting expanded to include modern historical themes.

2 results found for "History Painting"

Artist

Wang Yan Cheng

Wang Yan Cheng was born in 1960 in Guangdong, China, and now lives and works in France.

Wang Yan Cheng
Artist

Ali Banisadr

Ali Banisadr was born in 1976 in Tehran, Iran, and now lives and works in New York, USA.

Ali Banisadr

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painted bronze carrot reclining seductively on a white marble countertop

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Parra's studio, with Parra at the centre, his back to the camera as he works on the large painting takes centre stage, showing a faceless blue woman in a striped dress, painted in red, purple, blue and teal. The studio is full of brightly coloured paints, with a large window on the right and a patterned rug across the floor under the painting.
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