Amazing talent, amazing art, pure passion and dedication made manifest.
"Charles Martel at the Battle of Tours, 732 A.D."
Oil on canvas
This moment defined the history of Western Civilization. In 732 A.D. the armies of Islam's Umayyad dynasty controlled all of North Africa and had conquered Christian Spain. Their armies invaded southern France next, threatening to overwhelm all of Western Europe. Charles Martel was the Mayor of the Palace for the Frankish kings. He was a seasoned warrior and battlefield commander. In response to the Islamic invasion, he marshalled an army of experienced Frankish infantry & cavalry and intercepted the Muslim forces near Poitiers. The Battle of Tours (Poitiers) was decisive. The Franks withstood repeated Umayyad cavalry charges and then broke through in their own counterattack devastating the enemy and halting the Islamic incursion into Europe. Not since 480 B.C. had Western Civilization been in such peril. This painting captures that great victory. It took 10 months to complete.