Constantine Palaeologus Haranguing the Defenders of Constantinople 

This wood engraving, created by Gustave Doré, depicts Constantine Palaeologus, the last Byzantine emperor, addressing the defenders of Constantinople. The scene, set within the fortified city, shows the Emperor standing on a balcony, delivering an inspiring speech to a crowd of soldiers, many of whom are shown with somber expressions. Doré's masterful use of line and detail gives a sense of both the grand scale of the event and the palpable tension of the situation, emphasizing the impending fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks. The engraving, likely drawn from historical accounts, serves as a powerful illustration of the final moments of a historical empire, capturing the desperate hope and grim reality of the situation.