Becca Saladin is an American graphic designer and the creator of Royalty Now, a project in which she attempts to reimagine famous historical figures as modern-day individuals. In only a year and a half, the project has gained over 262k followers, and I’m confident you’ll join them once you see the artist’s incredible work.
She claims to have been interested in art and history since she was a child. “The first history book my father ever read to me was a fictionalized young adult version of Anne Boleyn’s story. After that, I became obsessed with Tudor history,” the artist told Bored Panda in an interview. “I was also a big fan of Pompeii, Egyptian mummies, and anything else that made me feel like I was a part of history. That, I believe, is why I enjoy creating recreations so much.”
Becca was inspired to start Royalty Now after seeing Anne Boleyn’s portrait. She looked at her portrait one day and imagined how she would look today, as the paintings weren’t very realistic. She saw someone similar to Tudor wives and Roman statues on Reddit and decided to recreate the portrait herself. “I’ve always admired Photoshop and how powerful it is, so I decided to try and recreate some of my own and just kept going,” Becca explained.
We’ve previously featured some of Becca’s work here and here, and she’s back with a new batch of pieces – see them all in the gallery below!
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#1 Nefertiti
Image source: Royalty Now
The grace and beauty of this bust of Nefertiti (believed to have been sculpted during her lifetime) are legendary. Nefertiti was a queen who lived between 1370 and 1330 BC. She was an Egyptian queen and the wife of Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten. Akhenaten is known for converting Egypt from a polytheistic to a monotheistic society (worshipping only the sun god, Aten).
#2 Ludwig Van Beethoven
Image source: Royalty Now
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827, pictured here at 49 years old in 1820) requires little introduction. His music is some of the most performed classical music globally, and he is a well-known composer and pianist. His work is representative of both the classical and romantic periods of classical music. At the age of 21, he moved to Vienna and established himself as a virtuoso. Beethoven’s work is generally divided into three periods: early, middle, and late. The Early period can be seen as him honing his craft.
In contrast, the Middle period demonstrates individual deviations from Mozart’s Classical styles. His deafness worsens during the Late Period (which lasts until his death in 1827). Still, it is widely regarded as his most innovative period. His late string quartets of 1825–26 are among his final achievements, written in his last years. He died in 1827 after a few months of bedridden illness. Beethoven’s works are still famous in the classical music world.
#3 Cyrus The Great
Image source: Royalty Now
Cyrus II of Persia established the Achaemenid Empire, which spanned modern-day Iran, Egypt, Turkey, and parts of Afghanistan and Pakistan at its peak. Cyrus expanded his Empire by conquering neighbouring lands throughout a 30-year reign. Cyrus is known for respecting the customs and religions of each land he conquered, which was unheard of at the time. This policy proved to be a highly successful model for establishing governments that maintained control of the territories even after his armies had left. He is a well-known human right, military strategy, and political figure. Cyrus is even mentioned in the Old Testament (Hebrew Bible). He is a cult figure for modern Iranians, and his tomb is a gathering place for those who revere him. Although he is said to have died in battle, his Empire’s influence continues to this day.
#4 Marie Antoinette
Image source: Royalty Now
#5 Elizabeth I
Image source: Royalty Now
#6 Catherine Of Aragon
Image source: Royalty Now
This portrait is disputed to be her (it may, in fact, be Mary Rose Tudor)
#7 Yoruba Ruler – Bronze Ife Head
Image source: Royalty Now
Although it is unknown who this sculpture depicts, this famous Bronze Head from Ife, also known as the Ife Head, is one of eighteen copper alloy sculptures discovered in 1938 at Ife in Nigeria, the Yoruba people’s religious and former royal centre. It was most likely made in the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries AD, before any European contact with the local population, and is thought to represent a Yoruba ruler. The sculptures’ realism is astounding, and they are among the few photorealistic depictions of African art.
The Ife Head was most likely commissioned by King Obalufon II, whose bronze likeness shares stylistic similarities with this piece. Since Ife-made glass beads have been found all over West Africa, these bronze heads are evidence of additional trade. The intricate work depicts what appear to be tribal markings on the face. I researched and discovered that similar tribal markings can still be seen in some parts of Africa. However, this practice is becoming increasingly rare, so I didn’t include him in my illustration.
#8 Queen Nzinga
Image source: Royalty Now
In the 17th century, in modern-day Angola, Nzinga was the Queen of the Kingdoms of Ndongo and Matamba. Her father, born into the ruling family in 1583, educated her in military and political tactics from an early age. While her older brother was in charge of the Kingdoms, he asked Nzinga to serve as his ambassador to Portugal. The Portuguese had begun to colonize and infringe on their native land. After her brother died, Nzinga took over the kingdoms when the African slave trade was experiencing unprecedented growth. The Portuguese persisted in stirring up trouble and breaking treaties, stealing slaves and other valuables. Nzinga was a brilliant and cunning leader who exploited the Europeans’ allegiances to her advantage. She was able to defeat the Portuguese and drive them out by forming an alliance with the Dutch. She also established a safe haven for fugitive slaves in her kingdom. Her reign lasted 37 years, and she is still remembered in Angola as a legendary figure.
#9 Erzsébet Báthory
Image source: Royalty Now
Countess Elizabeth Báthory (Erzsébet Báthory) was a Hungarian noblewoman who lived from 1560 to 1614. She has been dubbed the most prolific female serial killer in history (at least in documented cases). t). Between 1590 and 1650, she was accused of torturing and murdering hundreds of young girls and women. 10. More than 300 witnesses and survivors, as well as numerous bodily evidence, corroborated her sadistic murders. Eyewitnesses said they saw her savagely beating, mutilating, burning, freezing, and starving girls to death. Th. Because of her family’s status, she was not executed but instead imprisoned in Cachtice Cast for the rest of her life. Báthory has been the subject of legend (albeit unsubstantiated) throughout history, claiming that she bathed in virgin’s blood. Her legacy is undeniably alive in today’s popular cult. Ure.
#10 George Washington
Image source: Royalty Now
Washington was the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was an American politician, military general, statesman, and founding father. Before becoming president, Washington was a crucial figure in the country’s Revolutionary War. For his varied leadership during the early days of the new nation, Washington has been dubbed the “Father of His Country.” Washington owned slaves and supported measures passed by Congress to protect slavery to maintain national unity. During times of violent conflict, he attempted to assimilate Native Americans into the Anglo-American culture, but he faced indigenous resistance. Many scholars and polls rank him among the most significant US presidents. He has been memorialized by monuments, art, geographical locations, stamps, and currency.
#11 Aristotle
Image source: Royalty Now
Aristotle (384-322 BC), one of the most famous thinkers of all time, made significant contributions to human knowledge. His influence extends to logic, biology, ethics, aesthetics, and other fields. We don’t have any contemporary descriptions of his colouring. Still, we do have several surviving busts of his appearance – which necessitates guessing at his hair and eye color, which are unknown. This work is a Roman copy of the Greek original and can be found in the Uffizi gallery. Plato was Aristotle’s teacher, and he spent 20 years at Plato’s Academy as a student and later as a teacher. Only 31 of his approximately 200 works have survived. Because of their jumbled and dense structure, it’s thought that the surviving writings were intended to be lecture notes for his teaching rather than finished works. For many years after his death, his writings were lost. It wasn’t until 300 years later (in 30 BC) that Andronicus of Rhodes gathered and edited Aristotle’s works. Aristotle is still regarded as one of the most influential thinkers of all time, making significant contributions to history.
#12 Lady Jane Grey
Image source: Royalty Now
When Jane was executed in 1554, she was only 17 years old. She was known as “The Nine Days’ Queen” because she ruled England and Ireland from July 10 to July 19, 1553. Before his death, Edward VI named his Protestant half-sister Jane and her descendants as his heirs, excluding his Catholic half-sister Mary from the succession. Jane’s great-grandfather was King Henry VII, putting her in the running as a legitimate heir. Unfortunately, Edward died before his succession change could be ratified by Parliament, putting it on shaky legal ground. Due to the slow speed of news travel, Mary was unaware of the change until Jane was already on the throne. Mary quickly raised an army and marched on London as Jane was awaiting coronation, seeing Jane as a usurper. Jane was eventually deemed too dangerous to the crown to live after Mary I was installed as Queen on July 19. Jane and her husband, Lord Guildford Dudley, were both executed on February 12, 1554. Jane’s death was a great tragedy because she was regarded as one of the most learned young women of her time.
#13 Mary Boleyn
Image source: Royalty Now
Mary Boleyn was known as the Boleyn family’s beauty. Before her younger sister Anne married Henry VIII, she had an affair with him.
#14 Jane Seymour
Image source: Royalty Now
#15 Mumtaz Mahal
Image source: Royalty Now
Mumtaz Mahal, the chief wife of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, was the Empress consort of the Mughal Empire from 1628 to 1631. She is best known for being the woman for whom the Taj Mahal was constructed as a tomb. The monument is regarded as a symbol of unwavering love and devotion. It is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Mumtaz (born Arjumand Banu Begum) was born into a Persian noble family in 1593. At the age of 19, she was betrothed to Shah Jahan. The couple had 14 children, the last of whom was the cause of Mumtaz’s death. I’m working from a 17th-18th century likeness because there are no known contemporary portraits of Mumtaz. Mumtaz lived a luxurious lifestyle that was unheard of at the time. She was given a sizable stipend for clothing and travel. She was, however, more than a historical footnote – she was Shah Jahan’s trusted advisor and confidante. He would forgive enemies and even commute death sentences on her advice. She advocated for the destitute throughout the Empire and was a patron of the arts and culture.
#16 Suleiman The Magnificent
Image source: Royalty Now
Suleiman I, also known as Suleiman the Magnificent in the West and Kanunî Sultan Süleyman in his homeland, was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire for the longest time, reigning from 1520 to 1566. The Ottoman state ruled over at least 25 million people during his reign, which many scholars regard as the Empire’s pinnacle. Suleiman and his army were a formidable force; soon after taking the throne, he launched campaigns against Christian powers in Europe and the Mediterranean. Suleiman’s reforms to the Empire included significant changes to society, education, taxes, and the law.
#17 Toussaint L’ouverture
Image source: Royalty Now
Toussaint L’Ouverture was a Haitian general and the most well-known leader of the Haitian Revolution (1743–1803). L’Ouverture was a slave in Saint-Domingue (later Haiti) until he was 33 years old. The French Revolution inspired free people of colour in Saint-Domingue to seek more rights and equality beginning in 1789. L’Ouverture joined the rebellion and rose quickly through the ranks to become General. He gradually established control over the island of Saint-Domingue, allied with the French. In 1801, he proposed an independent constitution for the colony, which named him as Governor-General for Life, against Napoleon Bonaparte’s wishes, causing a great deal of friction. The French invited him to a parley in 1802, and he was arrested under false pretenses. He died in 1803 after being deprived of food and water in a French jail cell. Even though L’Ouverture died before the revolution’s final stages, his achievements laid the groundwork for the black army’s complete victory. The French were forced to withdraw from Saint-Domingue after suffering massive battles against the Haitian military and contracting yellow fever. The Haitian Revolution continued under L’Ouverture’s lieutenant, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, who declared independence on January 1, 1804, establishing Haiti as a sovereign state.
#18 Henry Viii
Image source: Royalty Now
#19 Dido Elizabeth Belle
Image source: Royalty Now
Dido was born into slavery in the West Indies to a woman named Maria Belle in 1761. Sir John Lindsay, a British naval officer, had an illegitimate daughter named Elizabeth Belle. It’s safe to assume Lindsay and Maria Belle’s relationship was not mutually beneficial, but the details are lost to history. Lindsay and Dido returned to England after the war in 1765. Lindsay gave Dido to his uncle and aunt, William and Elizabeth Murray, the count and countess of Mansfield, to raise.
Along with their niece and Dido’s cousin, Lady Elizabeth Murray, the Murray family raised Belle as an educated woman. In the full version of the portrait, Elizabeth and Dido are shown together as relatives but not on equal footing. The social customs of Mansfield’s household are a little hazy. Belle did not eat with the Mansfields’ guests when they were entertaining. According to a 2007 exhibit at Kenwood, she was treated as “a loved but poor relation” who didn’t always dine with guests. After that, he said, Belle joined the ladies in the drawing-room for coffee.
On the other hand, other historians believe she was treated equally because of the opulence of her allowance and wardrobe. Dido was given responsibilities such as managing parts of the household and assisting her uncle with correspondence because of her intelligence. Belle’s story is a fascinating look into how race and illegitimacy were dealt with in 1700s England.
#20 Cleopatra
Image source: Royalty Now
