I honestly love how some historic Catholic art goes about depicting pre-Christian figures, especially when they completely misrepresent the actual historic figures to do add a moral to the piece.
This is Alexander the Great by the Master of the Griselda Legend (c. 1494 - 1495), in which the artist clearly recognises that Alexander was a total diva, but also felt the need to imply in the Latin that he was a good moral lad because he was chaste and 'cast out' lust from his heart. There's nothing about him doing other virtuous things, like, y'know, the subject of the actual painting. Just the whole 'casting out lust' thing.
(Alexander had three wives at the same time, and a further male 'closest friend'. So chaste.)
Details below the cut~
Title: Alexander the Great
Collection: National Inventory of Continental European Paintings
Museum: The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Birmingham
Artist: Master of the Griselda Legend (Italian painter, active late 15th-early 16th centuries)
Earliest Date: about 1494
Latest Date: about 1495
Description: Alexander of Macedon (356-326 BC) is shown as a youthful warrior posed on a pedestal. This is one of a series depicting virtuous men and women of antiquity which decorated a palace in Siena. The inscription underlines the moral: 'I, Alexander, who conquered the whole world with my own strength, shook off the flames of desire [also translatable as lust.] from my heart. It is of no avail to rejoice in the outward triumphs of war if the mind lies sick and rages within'. The small scenes in the distance illustrate Alexander's virtuous behaviour towards the family of Darius whom he had defeated in battle [which the inscription neglects to mention in favour of him being chaste].
Inscription: 'ALEXANDER/QUI PROPRIUS TOTUM SUPERAVI VIRIBUS ORBEM/EXCUSSI FLAMMAS CORDE CUPIDINEAS/NIL IVAT EXTERNIS BELLI GAUDERE TRIUMPHIS/SI MENS AEGRA IACET INTERIUS QUE FURIT'
Subject: figure (Alexander the Great)
Measurements: 105.4 x 50.8 cm (arched top)
Material: Oil and tempera on panel (hardwood {poplar})
