History painting

History painting is an artistic genre characterised by its idealised depiction of a moment in a story usually taken from Greek or Roman mythology or the Bible,^[1] presented in “an elevated and morally edifying manner”.^[2] Once considered to be the highest form of art, the term is derived from the Italian istoria (“story”), and essentially means “story painting”.^[1]

History painting can be distinguished from historical painting by the latter’s depiction of an actual historical event, the public appetite for which became “voracious” during the 19th century.^[3] The English artist Sir Joshua Reynolds (1723–1792) suggested that history painting ought to be renamed poetical painting, “as it undoubtedly is”.^[4]