Since the beginning of our time, the human race has always been obsessed with obtaining and maintaining power. This gallery will display paintings, photographs, and sculptures that depict some of this world's most powerful rulers and conquerors. My name is Jason Duncan, and I hope that you enjoy viewing these works of art.
The Last Moments of Napoleon I, Vincenzo Vela, 1866 - 1866, From the collection of: Museo Vincenzo Vela
This piece is a plaster sculpture of French leader Napoleon Bonaparte sitting at his throne during what is said to be his final moments while in exile before his death in the early 1820s. He appears to be holding a map on his lap as if he is planning some kind of return to power. This is considered to be one of the most accurate depictions of Bonaparte.The emphasis of this piece is without a doubt focused on his face. In fact, it has been said that the details in the intensity of his stare was so spot-on that Napoleon III tried to get the French state to bring it to France from Switzerland.
The Emperor, Hans von Aachen, c. 1600, From the collection of: Skokloster Castle
This is an oil on canvas portrait of Rudolf II, the Holy Emperor of the Roman Empire from 1576 to 1612. Rudolf II was highly interested in the occult and was often wearing dark clothing. The darker color scheme in this picture helps to depict a powerful but mysterious person. Rudolf II was a controversial character who’s legacy has been perceived differently by many historians.
Alexander I - Tsar, 1808/1809, From the collection of: Museo Napoleonico
This is a sculpture of Alexander I, who was the Emperor of Russia from 1801 to 1825. He reigned during the period of what is known as the “Napoleonic Wars”. The black and gold base of the bust contrasting with the bright white of the sculpture really portray a bold image of a proud leader.
Emperor Babur, late 19th century, From the collection of: Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
This picture is a drawing that was drawn with ink and gold on paper. The image depicts Emperor Babur, who conquered Central Asia in the early 1500s and started the Mughal Dynasty. He appears to be sitting in a meditation style stance with the sun drawn behind his head, which commonly symbolizes knowledge and wisdom. The calm and smooth lines help to show that Emperor Babur was seen as a wise ruler amongst his people.
Trajan, From the collection of: Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
This is a marble statue of Trajan, who some consider to be one of the most successful emperors of Rome due to his part in military expansion and social welfare. He reigned from 98 AD to 117 AD and was declared “Optimus Princeps” or “The Best Ruler”. This statue shows Trajan dressed in a business style of clothing displaying himself as a trusted leader. The proportions of this sculpture are very well balanced, resulting in an almost symmetrical figure which can symbolize Trajan’s stature as a well trusted leader.
Portrait of the The Meiji Emperor, Maruki Riyō (1854-1923), 1888, From the collection of: Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art
This piece is a photographic print of a drawing of Emperor Meiji, who was the Emperor of Japan from 1867 to 1912. In this image Meiji sits in a noble stance dressed in military clothing. The black, white, and gold color scheme is often used when showing figures of power. While the eye is naturally drawn to the white figure on the table, the image helps move the eye towards Meiji’s clothes and the medals that he is wearing, which show that he was a decorated veteran and a strong militant leader.
The Emperor D. Pedro II, Petrópolis, RJ. Brazil, Pacheco, Joaquim Insley, circa 1883, From the collection of: Instituto Moreira Salles
Shown here is a carbon print photograph of Dom Pedro II, the last ruler of the Brazilian Empire whose reign lasted almost sixty years. The use of negative space in the upper portion of the photograph helps draw the eye to the subject's head, which makes him the first thing the viewer sees. Then as we start to see the plants and interesting nature surrounding him, we start to realize that the use of emphasis and movement in this picture depicts Pedro II as a very important person.
This piece is a marble sculpture of Roman Emperor Caracalla, who ruled from 211 AD to 217 AD. This piece is meant to depict Caracalla’s intimidating and violent personality. The emphasis on his raised brow and overall focus on his facial expression really shows the display of a man whose rise to power was credited to his strength and projection.
The favourites of the Emperor Honorius, J. W. WATERHOUSE, c.1883, From the collection of: Art Gallery of South Australia
This is an oil on canvas painting of Honorius, ruler of the Roman Empire from 395 AD to 408 AD. The painting shows Honorius sitting at his throne feeding some birds while what appears to be his followers stand nearby in praise. Honorius’ slouched position along with his contrasting colors in comparison to the rest of the picture shows that he was somewhat disconnected from the people that he lead.
This last piece is a portrait of Chinggis Khan, better known as Genghis Khan. Genghis Kahn was the founder and leader of the Mongolian Empire, which was one of the largest empires in the entire world. In this picture he is depicted in a neutral attitude, sitting in a peaceful stance while still having an intimidating look in his face. The almost gold looking, yellow colors at this time was often used to symbolize royalty and power; and the use of negative space and slightly less saturated colors shows simplicity, which could imply that Genghis Khan was basic and used common sense in his dealings.
Credits: All media
This user gallery has been created by an independent third party and may not represent the views of the institutions whose collections include the featured works or of Google Arts & Culture.
