The artwork titled “Guarded by Rough English Soldiers,” created by Howard Pyle in 1904, belongs to the Romanticism art movement and is classified as an illustration.
The artwork depicts a poignant scene illuminated with a sense of historical tension and drama. At the center of the composition is a young woman, clad in a flowing white garment, her hand gently resting against what appears to be a religious icon on the wall. Her posture conveys a sense of lament or reverence. She is flanked on either side by two forlorn figures, presumably the ‘rough English soldiers’ mentioned in the title. One soldier, dressed in a red cap and vigilant stance, appears to be watching over her with a protective or scrutinizing gaze. Another soldier, seated with a more introspective demeanor, rests his head on his hand, his expression contemplative and somber. The dim and muted tones, punctuated by the contrast of reds and whites, evoke a sense of melancholy and introspection. The overall composition and the emotional weight carried by the figures align with the Romanticism movement’s emphasis on deep emotional experience and historical themes.