Jasper Francis Cropsey, (artist), American, 1823 - 1900, The Spirit of War, 1851, oil on canvas, overall: 110.8 x 171.6 cm (43 5/8 x 67 9/16 in.), framed: 151.8 x 211.5 x 17.2 cm (59 3/4 x 83 1/4 x 6 3/4 in.), In, The Spirit of War, a rugged mountain landscape provides the backdrop for a medieval wartime scene, all bathed in an eerie, fiery light: knights on horseback ride into battle, a distant settlement burns, and a mother and child cower on the ground. A medieval castle rises from the jagged rocks, its looming tower framed by gathering storm clouds that portend destruction. The artist himself described the fraught scene as 'promising naught but the uncertain and gloomy future of warlike times.' By contrast, its companion piece, The Spirit of Peace, (Philadelphia, Woodmere Art Museum), shows an Arcadian landscape with tiny figures engaged in various pastoral pursuits. The center of the composition is anchored by a circular temple containing symbols of peace. Clear skies, the soft light of sunset, and placid waters convey tranquility and prosperity. Praised for their narrative clarity and displaying Cropsey's fondness for detailed nature studies, the allegorical pair went on to become the most exhibited of his works..