Scenes of Violent Battle Trivia Quiz

Answer: Battle of Quebec

The term "French and Indian War" is mostly used in the United States. It is usually called "The Seven Years' War" in Europe and much of Canada and Guerre de la Conquête ("War of the Conquest") in Quebec.

James Wolfe (1727-1759) was a British officer noted for his service in King George's War/The War of the Austrian Succession and the French and Indian War. He was involved in the 1758 siege of the Fortress of Louisbourg, it was as second-in-command of the British forces. At the Battle of Quebec, also known as the Battle of the Plains of Abraham, he was the British commander. Because of the cliffs near Quebec, it was thought to be a very difficult city to capture. After his death, Wolfe was known as the "Hero of Quebec" by the British since this battle was seen as key to British conquest of Canada from the French.

Anglo-American Benjamin West (1738-1820) painted this oil on canvas painting which is found in the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa. West poses the young Wolfe (only 32 at his death) in a pose similar to that of Christ in many religious themed pictures. The picture shows West's interpretation in several aspects such as the lack of historic evidence that the other specific people in the picture were actually present at Wolfe's death.

Answer: Winter

The crossing of the Delaware River by George Washington and the Continental Army took place on the evening of December 25-26, 1776. The painting shows large chunks of ice in the river, which is confirmed by historical evidence. The painting also shows Washington standing in the front half of the boat, which some consider unlikely to have happened since it would have made rowing and balancing the boat more difficult. Other historians mention that Washington and others would have wanted to avoid sitting in the icy water that would likely have been in the bottom of the boats.

Emanuel Leutze (1816-1868) created this oil on canvas painting that resides in New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art. In Leutze's painting, he tries to represent a cross-section of the population of the United States, including men of African and Native American descent.

Answer: Hannibal and Charlemagne

The other names inscribed on the rocks are Hannibal, an ancient Carthaginian general who fought the Roman Republic, and Charlemagne, first emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, two men who were also known for military exploits that would have them cross the Alps.

This painting goes by several other titles including "Napoleon at the Saint-Bernard Pass" and "Bonaparte Crossing the Alps". The painting shows Napoleon in a very heroic and dramatic pose riding a horse which has reared up on its hind legs while Napoleon points forward with his right hand and looks directly at the viewer. Behind Napoleon can be seen several soldiers and cannon.

Jacques-Louis David (1748-1825) is also known for his paintings of events from the French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars, as well as various classical subjects. While David made several copies of this painting, the original is at the Château de Malmaison, Rueil-Malmaison.

Answer: Texas

The painting is located in the south foyer of the Texas State Capitol Building in Austin. The painting shows the aftermath on the day after the battle, April 21, 1836, as Mexican General Antonio López de Santa Anna has been brought before the wounded and reclining Texas General Sam Houston to offer his surrender. Over 30 other historical people can be seen in the painting including scout Erasmus "Deaf" Smith who is shown with his hand behind his ear. This battle is generally considered the conclusion of the Texas Revolution.

William Henry Huddle (1847-1892) created the work, which stands 95 inches high by 137.5 inches wide. In addition he also painted a portrait of Davy Crockett which is on display in the Capitol as well as official portraits for several Texas governors in the late 1800s.

Answer: Scotland

The soldiers depicted in the painting are members of the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders Regiment of Foot. Their kilts are very visible. The painting depicts an event during the battle when members from the Highland Regiment held firm (with support) against a larger group of Russian soldiers.

Robert Gibb (1845-1932) was a Scottish painter who was known for painting several battle scenes including "The Thin Red Line" and "Schoolmates". The painting is held at the National War Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Answer: It is displayed in a circle

This type of painting, called a cyclorama, has to be seen to be believed. It is enormous at 42 feet high by 377 feet long. Groups of visitors are allowed to travel to an upper room where the painting is displayed in moderately low light. Interpretive personnel use more focused light to point out highlights on the work. The scene represents Pickett's Charge on the third day (July 3, 1863) of the battle.

Paul Philippoteaux (1846-1923), leading a team of assistants that included his father, created "The Battle of Gettysburg" (1883) over a period of about 18 months. Before this he had traveled to Gettysburg and with the aid of a photographer took extensive photographs of the battlefield site. When originally displayed, it was surrounded with physical artifacts such as stone walls, trees, and fences. The painting toured in several locations nationwide before moving to Gettysburg in 1912.

Answer: The Franco-Prussian War

Alphonse de Neuville (1835-1885) was known for painting many military scenes. He served as a member of the French National Guard during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. The painting shows an attack by Prussian soldiers on a French village. The painting is meant to emphasize French resistance, rather than Prussian victory.

The Second Schleswig War (1864) was fought between Denmark and Prussia. The Austro-Prussian War (1866) was between those two countries, with the Third Italian War of Independence an off-shot of that war.

Answer: Mustard Gas

The painting shows a group of soldiers who were caught in a mustard gas attack assisting each other in traveling to a dressing station. Sargent had spent time at the Western Front in 1918 to help his composition of the painting. The soldiers in the painting are in small groups in a line and many have bandages wrapped around their eyes.

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was one of several artists commissioned to created works for a Hall of Remembrance. The British Royal Academy of Art later voted it painting of the year in 1919. The painting is held at the Imperial War Museum in London. It stands 91 inches high and 240 1/2 inches wide. Some historians have draw comparisons between Singer's word and Pieter Bruegel's 1568 painting "The Parable of the Blind"

Answer: Pablo Picasso

In a sense this is a current events painting in that the bombing of Guernica took place on April 26, 1937. In the Spanish Civil War between the Nationalists and the Republicans, Guernica was seen as a stronghold of the Republicans. Upon request by the Spanish Nationalists, air forces from Germany and Italy bombed the city for two hours.

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), though born in Spain, lived most of his adult life in France. The initial commission--to create a mural for the Spanish Pavilion at the 1937 World's Fair in Paris actually was received in January 1937. Once he heard word about the bombing, however, Picasso, strongly moved the news, determined to make the bombing the focus of his work. The painting is very large, measuring 11 feet, 5 inches, by 25 feet, 6 inches. Several images can be seen in the work, including screaming women, a horse, a bull, and flames. Many art historians consider "Guernica" one of the strongest anti-war statements in the history of art. The painting is held at the Museo Reina Sofía in Madrid.

Answer: Lebanese Civil War

The full title of the painting is "The Vortices of Wrath (Lebanon 1977)". The painting measures 120 inches by 299 inches. With strong brush strokes and color, the paining is focused on a multi-limbed figure suspended in chains and barbed wire. A large number of Kanso's paintings deal with the themes of war and violence.

Nabil Kanso (born 1946) is a Lebanese-American painter who moved to New York City in the 1960s.