Official Art

 



(Neoclassicism, Romanticism and Art Styles in 19th century - Art Map)



 
 




 

 
 

Gustave Dore

 

born Jan. 6, 1832, Strasbourg, Fr.
died Jan. 23, 1883, Paris


French printmaker, one of the most prolific and successful book illustrators of the late 19th century, whose exuberant and bizarre fantasy created vast dreamlike scenes widely emulated by Romantic academicians.

In 1847 he went to Paris and from 1848 to 1851 produced weekly lithographic caricatures for the Journal pour Rire and several albums of lithographs (1847–54). His later fame rested on his wood-engraved book illustrations. Employing more than 40 woodcutters, he produced over 90 illustrated books. Among his finest were an edition of the Oeuvres de Rabelais (1854), Les Contes drolatiques of Balzac (1855), thelarge folio Bible (1866), and the Inferno of Dante (1861). He also painted many large compositions of a religious or historical character and had some success as a sculptor; his work in those media, however, lacks the spontaneous vivacity of his illustrations.
 
 
 

The History of the Crusades
 
 
 
The Holy Sepulcher
Defended by thousands of Crusaders,
the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is worshipped by European pilgrims.
 
Crusade against the Moors of Granada
The Saracens are clearly defeated in the battle of Navas de Tolosa in Spain.
 
The Childrens’ Crusade
50,000 French and German children launch their own crusade, singing “Lord Jesus, restore to us your holy cross!”
 
A friendly tournament
The Crusaders and the infidels witness two horsemen sparring in a friendly duel.
 
For the defense of Christ
A soldier and his family affirm their vow to defend Christ in the fierce battles of the Crusades.
 
St. Francis of Assisi endeavors to convert the sultan
On a mission from God, St Francis of Assisi tries to persuade
Sultan Melik-al-Kamil to embrace the teachings of Christianity.
 
The baptism of infidels
Successfully converting several infidels, the Christian missionaries cleanse the infidels in a baptism ceremony.
 
The departure of Thibault
Thibault IV, King of Navarre, promotes the Crusades, intriguing the French nobility with his Christian songs.
 
The Crusaders’ machinery of war
The Crusaders prepare the war machine, a catapult, for hurling large stones against enemy walls.
 
Gaining converts
A devout Crusader preaches to some infidels, hoping to convert them to the Christian religion.
 
The true cross
The Crusaders are roused by the sight of the true cross.
 
Benediction

Amid the melée, the Crusaders assemble for a moment of prayer.
 
A sandstorm disperses the Syrian army
Unable to combat a sandstorm, the Syrian army is dispersed.
 
Louis IX before Damietta
After leaping courageously into the sea in the attack on Damietta,
St Louis and his army pause to offer thanks to God.
 
“Te Deum” after victory
Adopting a mosque as their church, the army leaders sing psalms praising God for their victory.
 
The Crusaders on the Nile
And epidemic of disease ravages the Crusaders as the dead contaminate the living.
 
A message from the East
In a garden, women and children are interrupted by a message from the East.
 
St. Louis a prisoner in Egypt
While a prisoner in Egypt, Louis IX maintains a calm demeanor and a courageous spirit. 
 
The prisoners of Minich arrive in Cairo
Spared by the sultan, the chained prisoners are marched to Cairo. 
 
Christian cavaliers captive at Cairo
An old Saracen questions the prisoners about the Christian beliefs. 
 
Death of Almoadam
Almoadam, first slashed by Bendocdar’s sword, is struck down by nine Mamelukes in the Nile. 
 
The emir’s head shown in the seraglio
The head of an emir is displayed to the inhabitants of the sultan’s harem. 
 
The Sultana Chegger-Eddour and the Emir Saif-Eddin
After being offered the hand of Sultana Chegger-Eddour,
the Emir Saif-Eddin is horrified at finding the sultana’s dead husband lying at her feet. 
 
A celestial light
A celestial light illuminates the unburied bodies of the soldiers who died at Sefed. 
 
The Cruelties of Bibars
Bibars revels in describing this ruthless butchering of Christian knights at Antioch.