Contending Collection

Village green cricket, Tilford, Surrey, England, UK

Deux meres ( Two Mothers ), 1888. Artist: Leon-Maxime Faivre
Deux meres ( Two Mothers ), 1888. From the Musee d Orsay, Paris

Beach volleyball game, late afternoon, Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa, Africa

The Battle of San Romano, 1432 (c1435-1440). Artist: Paolo Uccello
The Battle of San Romano, 1432 (c1435-1440). The Battle of San Romano was fought between the armies of Siena and Florence

Chuck Wagon Race, Calgary Stampede, Alberta, Canada

Hippos fighting, Hippopotamus amphibius, in Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga, South Africa

"Pyrrhus the First"and "Sir Tatton Sykes"contending for the Derby Stakes at Epsom (engraving)
1101924 " Pyrrhus the First" and " Sir Tatton Sykes" contending for the Derby Stakes at Epsom (engraving) by Herring

Achilles contending with the river (colour litho)
3634341 Achilles contending with the river (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Achilles contending with the river)

Achilles contending with the Rivers (engraving)
973689 Achilles contending with the Rivers (engraving) by Flaxman, John (1755-1826) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Achilles contending with the Rivers)

Battle of Castillon, 1453 (19th century). Artist: Charles Philippe Auguste Lariviere
Battle of Castillon, 1453 (19th century). A battle in the Hundred Years War in which the French and Breton army defeated the English under John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury

The Legend of Saint Romuald, 16th century. From the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow, Russia

Two Actors in a Play, 1700-1705. Torii School, Japan. From a private collection

Actors as Sumurai, 18th century. Artist: Shunsho
Actors as Sumurai, 18th century

A Village Bullfight, c1812-1814. Artist: Francisco Goya
A Village Bullfight, c1812-1814. From the Royal Academy of San Fernando, Madrid, Spain

Theatrical Pleasures Plate 2 Contending Seat
Artokoloro

Rivals contending for a beauty. Print shows two men arguing with each other over which one has the right to claim the affections of the woman seated behind them. Date 1727, printed later

Cortes Dissolved
In the face of turmoil between contending parties, general Pavia, captain-general of Madrid, sends in his troops to forcibly dissolve the Cortes : Serrano will be president

Brawl at Madrid
All Spain is divided as to which of the contending regimes should prevail : this brawl in the Cafe de Paris, Madrid, is characteristic of things throughout the country

Polo players in the birthplace of polo, Chitral, Pakistan, Asia

The birthplace of polo, Chitral, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan, Asia

Royal Lakes annual boat race, Yangon, Myanmar, Asia

Competitors in the annual City to Surf race at the finish in Bondi, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Pacific

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Contending, a timeless pursuit that transcends boundaries and eras. From the serene Village Green Cricket in Tilford, Surrey, England to the exhilarating Beach Volleyball game on sandy shores; competition fuels our spirits. In Leon-Maxime Faivre's masterpiece "Deux meres (Two Mothers)", we witness the eternal struggle of maternal love contending with societal expectations. Meanwhile, Paolo Uccello's captivating artwork "The Battle of San Romano" showcases warriors locked in fierce combat, their strength and determination contending for victory. From Chuck Wagon Races at Calgary Stampede in Alberta, Canada to hippos fiercely fighting for territory; nature itself is not exempt from this primal urge to contend. Even in Epsom's Derby Stakes engraving "Pyrrhus the First" and "Sir Tatton Sykes" find themselves vying for glory on the racetrack. Achilles too knows well what it means to contend - whether it be with rivers or formidable opponents like Hector. His struggles are immortalized through vivid lithographs and engravings that depict his unwavering resolve amidst adversity. History bears witness to countless battles where nations clashed - such as Charles Philippe Auguste Lariviere's depiction of the Battle of Castillon in 1453 or The Legend of Saint Romuald from the 16th century. These events remind us that even civilizations have contended against one another throughout time. Even mythical heroes like Hercules face their own trials as seen in Vicenzo di Raffaello de Rossi's painting depicting him contending against Diomede. Their clash symbolizes not only physical strength but also an inner battle between good and evil. Contending is woven into our very fabric as humans - driving us forward towards greatness or pushing us beyond our limits, and is a testament to our resilience, ambition, and desire for growth. So let us embrace these moments when we contend, for they shape us into the best versions of ourselves.