Lecture 1: Introduction to History Painting

The video duration is approximately unknown. This section of the course focuses on "history painting," a core category in the history of Western art, tracing its six-century artistic lineage. The content background ranges from the Renaissance to the 19th century, systematically reviewing how history painting has long occupied the top tier of the artistic hierarchy with themes from mythology, the Bible, and ancient and modern epics. The key highlight is clarifying the definition and evolution of history painting—it is not only a collection of narrative images but also a visual carrier of power, faith, and aesthetic concepts. The lecture will reveal the cultural logic and creative paradigm behind it. Suitable for beginners in art history, art students, and viewers interested in the Western painting tradition. Viewing suggestion: It is recommended to accompany it with images of related masterpieces for a better understanding, such as David's "The Oath of the Horatii" or Ingres' "The Oath of Anarchy," which can help to intuitively feel the compositional tension and symbolic language of history painting.