American civil war (1861-1865)

In this bloody civil war or secession killed about 970,000 of which 620,000 were American soldiers. Thus disappeared about 3% of the population of the states involved in the conflict.


Nesta sangrenta guerra civil ou de Secessão morreram cerca de 970.000 Americanos dos quais 620.000 eram soldados. Desapareceu deste modo aproximadamente 3% da população dos Estados envolvidos no conflito.

Winslow Homer (1836-1910)-'the war for the Union. A bayonet charge. 1862'-wood engraving Harper's Weekly

Winslow Homer (1836-1910)-'a rainy day in camp (camp near Yorktown)'-1871 Private collection

Winslow Homer (1836-1910)-'Thanksgiving in camp'-wood engraving-1862 Harper's Weekly

Edwin Austin Forbes (1839-1895)-'scene behind the breastworks on Culps Hill, morning of July 3rd 1862'-oil on canvas Washington-Library of Congress

Edwin Austin Forbes (1839-1895)-'the battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863)'-drawing Washington-Library of Congress

First opium war 1839-1842 (Primeira guerra do ópio)

From 1820 the British bought to China via the port of Canton, silk, porcelain and tea. In exchange they began the introduction of opium of poppy crops that they owned in India. Due to the input of 450 tonnes in 1835, the Chinese government banned the importation of this drug. The Anglo-Chinese war ended with the Treaty of Nanking. Some sketches were provided to the English artist Thomas Allom (1804-1872) by Lieutenant Royal Navy White.


A partir de 1820 os Ingleses compravam à China, através do porto de Cantão, seda, porcelanas e chá. Em troca iniciaram a introdução de ópio das culturas de papoilas que possuíam na Índia. Em virtude da entrada de 450 toneladas em 1835, o governo Chinês decretou a proibição da importação desta droga. A guerra Anglo-Chinesa terminou com o Tratado de Nanquim. Alguns esboços foram fornecidos ao pintor inglês Thomas Allom (1804-1872) pelo Tenente White da Marinha Inglesa.

(Thomas Allom and Georg Newenham Wright; China: in a series of views displaying the scenery, architecture and social habits of that Ancient Empire drawn from original and authentic sketches, Fisher, Son & Co, London [1843])

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'opium smokers'-steel engraving (G. Peterson)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'attack to Chuenpee (24 March 1842)'-steel engraving (H. Adler)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'British encampment'-steel engraving (J. C. Bentley)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'capture of Ting hai'-steel engraving (E. Brandard)

Thomas Allom (1804-1872)-'H M ships Imogene and Andromache passing the batteries of Bocca-Tigris'-steel engraving (W. Floyd)

Austrian-Turkish War (1683) - Guerra Austro-Turca (1683)

A Holy League with the participation of Polish, Austrian and German troops was created for the defense of Austria against the Ottoman Empire. Vienna was under siege for two months until the arrival of the Poles. Jan Sobierski, king of Poland, took command of the defending army. The grand vizier Kara Mustafa Pasha Merzifonlu (1634-1683) led the 90,000 Ottoman troops. When the battle in the mountains of Vienna (Kahlenberg) finished, Sobierski met Leopold I in Schwechat. He offered the victory to the Pope while paraphrasing Julius Caesar “venimus, vidimus et Deus vicit”. With this victory the Habsburgs gained remarkable predominance in Central Europe.


Para a defesa da Áustria contra o Império Otomano criou-se a Liga Santa na qual participaram tropas Polaco-Austro-Alemãs. Viena esteve sitiada dois meses até à chegada dos Polacos. Jan Sobierski, rei da Polónia, assumiu o comando do exército defensor. Dirigia os 90.000 soldados Otomanos o Grão-vizir Merzifonlu Kara Mustafa Pasha (1634-1683). Finda a batalha nas montanhas de Viena (Kahlenberg), Sobierski encontrou-se com Leopoldo I em Schwechat. Ofereceu a vitória ao Papa e parafraseou Júlio César «venimus, vidimus et Deus vicit». Com esta vitória os Habsburgos ganharam grande predominância na Europa Central.

Franz Geffels (1635-1699)-'Vienna battle at the Kahlenberg 1683'-oil on canvas Wien-Historisches Museum der Stadt Wien (Karlplatz)

Juliusz Kossak (1824-1899)-'Schlacht bei Wien 1683, unter dem Kommando von König Johann II Sobieski von Pole. Im Hintergrund stift Klosternenburg' 'Battle of Vienna in 1683, under the command of King John II Sobieski of Poland. In the background pin Klosternenburg '-oil on canvas-1882

Józef Brandt (1841-1915)-'leaving Vienna or return from Vienna 1683'-oil on canvas

Jan Matejko (1838-1893)-'Sobieski sending message of victory to the Pope'-oil on canvas

Arthur Grottger (1837-1867)-'Sobieski meeting Leopold I after battle of Vienna, September 12, 1683'oil on canvas-1859 Lviv-Art Gallery

Poland at war (Polónia em guerra)

In 1600-1611 there was a war that pitted Poland against Sweden. The battle which stands out is the battle of Kircholm (1605) on the outskirts of Riga. In 1621, the Poles together with the Lithuanians were at war with the Turks of the Ottoman Empire, especially in the battle of Khotyn or Chocim in Moldova.


Em 1600-1611 houve guerra que opôs a Polónia à Suécia, da qual se destaca a batalha de Kircholm (1605) nos arredores de Riga. No ano de 1621, os Polacos conjuntamente com os Lituanos, estiveram em guerra com os Turcos do Império Otomano, designadamente na batalha de Khotyn ou Chocim, na Moldávia.

Pieter Snayers (1592-1667)-'in a battle of Kircholm. 1605'-oil on canvas-ca 1620 Sassenage (France)-Château

January Suchodolski (1797-1875)-'after the battle of Kircholm'-1858-oil on canvas

Jósef Brandt (1841-1915)-'battle of Khotyn (Moldavia). 9 October 1621'-oil on canvas

Julius Fortunat Kossak (1824-1899)-'defending the Polish banner at Khotyn'-watercolour-1892 Warsawa-Muzeum Wojska Polskiego

Franciszek Smuglewicz (1745-1807)-'the death of Jan Karol Chodkiewicz (ca 1560-1621)'-1806-oil on canvas

Great Northern War (1700-1721)

This long war was fought between Sweden and a coalition involving nearby countries and principalities: Norway, Russia, Denmark, Saxony, Prussia, and Hanover. The Tsar Peter I of Russia participated in many battles personally.


Esta longa guerra ocorreu entre a Suécia e uma coligação em que participaram países e principados da região: Noruega, Rússia, Dinamarca, Saxónia, Prússia, Hanover. O Czar Pedro I da Rússia participou pessoalmente em várias batalhas.

Alexander Kotzebue (1815-1889)-'battle of the Narva (1700)'-oil on canvas

Alexander Kotzebue (1815-1889)-'the storm of the Swedish fortress Noteburg in October 1702 by Russian troops with Tsar Peter I'-oil on canvas-1846

Unknown (18th century)-'battle of Kliszow (1702)'-oil on canvas

Louis Caravaque (1684-1754)-'Peter the Great on a horse in the battle of Poltava'-oil on canvas

Jean Marc Nattier (1685-1766)-'battle of Lesnaya (1708) (was one of the decisive)'-oil on canvas-1717

Guerras Greco-Persas (Greco-Persian wars)

Na 1ª Guerra ocorreu a 'batalha de Maratona' (Setembro de 490 aC). Conta Heródoto (séc. V aC) que os Gregos venceram os Persas de Dario I ao impedirem o ataque da cavalaria Persa. Milcíades terá enviado Fidipides a Atenas, o qual depois de percorrer os 42 km, gritou 'vencemos!' e caíu morto de cansaço. Da II Guerra destaca-se a batalha do desfiladeiro das 'Termópilas'. Indica Dionísio de Halicarnasso (séc. I aC) que se realizou no verão de 480 aC. Cerca de 300 Espartanos comandados pelo rei Leónidas lutaram contra milhares de Persa e foram vencidos. O 'combate naval de Salamina' teve lugar a 20 de Setembro de 480 aC. Xerxes derrotado por Temístocles partiu para a Ásia Menor.


The 'Battle of Marathon' took place in War I (September 490 BC). According to Herodotus (5th century BC) the Greeks defeated the Persians of Darius I because they prevented the attack of the Persian cavalry. Miltiades sent Phidipides to Athens, who after covering the 42 km, shouted "we won!" and fell tired to death. War II is famous for the battle of the gorge of 'Thermopylae'. Dionysius of Halicarnassus (Ist century BC) refers it was held in the summer of 480 BC. About 300 Spartans led by King Leonidas fought against thousands of Persian and were beaten. The 'naval battle of Salamis' took place on 20 September 480 BC. Xerxes defeated by Themistocles left to Asia Minor.

Brian Palmer-'battle of Marathon'-oil on canvas

Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825)-'the battle of Thermopylae'-oil on canvas-1814 Paris-Musée du Louvre

Howard David Johnson (1954- )-'the battle of Thermopylae'-oil on canvas

Fernand-Anne Piestre Cormon (1834-1874)-'the victory of Salamis'-oil on canvas

Wilhelm von Kaulbach (1805-1874)-'the sea battle near Salamis'-oil on canvas-1868 München-Senatsaal

União Soviética na II Grande Guerra (1941) (Soviet Union in World War II 1941)

Quando os militares da Europa Ocidental invadem a Rússia diz-se que o Inverno é um dos seus melhores generais do país ocupado. Os militares de ambas as partes sofreram muito em 1941 com as baixas temperaturas, como assinalam diversos pintores da União Soviética.

They say that when the militaries of Western Europe invaded Russia, winter was one of his best generals of the occupied country. The military of both sides suffered greatly in 1941 with the low temperatures, as several Soviet Union painters pointed out.

M. Samsonov-''sister-1941

B. Tarelkin-'comrades'-1941

V. Bogatkin-'on approaches to Moscow'-1941

N. Prisekin-'our cause is just'-1941

F. Usipenko-'enemy has been stopped'-1941

Guerra dos Cem Anos (Hundred years' war)

Eduardo III de Inglaterra (Plantageneta) considerou-se herdeiro do trono de França por sua mãe ser irmã de Carlos IV (último Capeta) em 1328. Os franceses alegaram que a linha sucessória seguia a via masculina e proclamaram rei Filipe de Valois. Os ingleses saíram vencedores nas batalhas de Crécy (1346) e Poitiers (1350). Foram derrotados em Castillon (1456). Calais rendeu-se em 1558.

Edward III of England (Plantagenet) considered the heir to the throne of France by his mother being the sister of Charles IV (last Capet) in 1328. The French argued that the line of succession followed the way male and proclaimed King Philip of Valois. The British went out winners in the battles of Crecy (1346) and Poitiers (1350). Were defeated at Castillon (1456). Calais surrendered in 1558.

Unknown-Battle of Sluys (1340)-miniature Paris-BNF (Ms Français 2643, folio 72-Jean Froissard; Chronicles)

Unknown-Battle of Crécy (1346)-miniature Paris-BNF (Ms Français 2643, folio 165v-Jean Froissard; Chronicles)

Unknown-Battle of Poitiers (1350)-miniature Paris-BNF (Ms Français 2643-Jean Froissard; Chronicles)

Unknown-Battle of Patay (1429)-miniature Paris-BNF (Jean Chartier; Chroniques de Charles VII- 1428)

Charles-Philippe Larivière (1798-1876)-Battle of Castillon (1450)

Guerra Russo-Turca de 1877-1878 (Russo-Turkish war)

Permite alguma percepção sobre o difícil equilíbrio político dos Balcans entre os blocos religiosos: Ortodoxos (Rússia) e Muçulmano (Turquia). Esta foi uma de várias guerras entre os mesmos contendores. Começa com a revolta na Bósnia e Herzegovina no Verão do ano anterior contra a espoliação pelo Império Otomano. Esta despertou ambição dos vizinhos: Rússia representada pelo Príncipe Alexander Gorchakov e da Áustria-Hungria do conde Andrassy, para anexar territórios. Levou à independência dos Principados da Sérvia, Montenegro e Roménia submetidos aos Otomanos. A Rússia pretendia uma saída para o Mar Mediterrâneo. Começou por afundar os navios Otomanos que circulavam no Danúbio e colocou minas no rio.

Allows some insight into the difficult political balance of the Balkans between the religious block: Orthodox (Russia) and Muslim (Turkey). This was one of several wars between the same adversaries. It begins with the revolt in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the summer of last year against dispossession by the Ottoman Empire. This aroused the ambition of neighbors: Russia represented by Prince Alexander Gorchakov and Austria-Hungary of Count Andrassy, in annexing territories. Led to the independence of the principalities of Serbia, Montenegro and Romania submitted to the Ottomans. Russia wanted an outlet to the Mediterranean Sea. He began by sinking ships circling the Ottomans and placed mines in the Danube river.

Ivan Konstantinovich Aivazovsky (1817-1900)-'capture of the turkish military transport messina by the steamer Russia on the Black Sea on the 13th December of 1877 year'-oil on canvas-1877

Konstantin Yegorovich Makovsky (1839-1915)-'the Bulgarian martyress'-oil on canvas-1877

Nikolai Dmitriev-Orenburgsky (1838-1898)-'Russian crossing the Danube on 15 June 1877'-oil on canvas-1883

Pavel Osipovich Kovalevsky (1843-1903)-'fight near Ivanovo Chiflik on 2nd October 1877'-oil on canvas-1877

Nikolai Dmitriev-Orenburgsky (1838-1898)-'capture of Grivitsa strongpoint near Plevna by Romanians on 30th August 1877 (III battle)'-oil on canvas-1885