Instagram artist Becca Saladin transforms famous names from the past into modern-day people — and the results are stunning.
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44 Colorized Portraits That Reveal Historical Figures As They Truly Were
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1 of 45King Henry VIIIKnown as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history’s most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 2 of 45Anne BoleynOne of King Henry VIII’s six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 3 of 45Queen Elizabeth IInstagram/@royalty_now_ 4 of 45MozartInstagram/@royalty_now_ 5 of 45Richard IIIInstagram/@royalty_now_ 6 of 45Joan of ArcDespite having led France through the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men’s clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 7 of 45’Girl with a Pearl Earring’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 8 of 45Queen VictoriaIt was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 9 of 45George WashingtonAs the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 10 of 45Thomas JeffersonFrom running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_ 11 of 45Leonardo da VinciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 12 of 45Elizabeth of YorkInstagram/@royalty_now_ 13 of 45Catherine HowardMarried to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king’s second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 14 of 45HatshepsutInstagram/@royalty_now_ 15 of 45Jose de San MartinInstagram/@royalty_now_ 16 of 45Elizabeth BathoryKnown as the “Blood Countess” because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 17 of 45Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint GeorgesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 18 of 45Catherine the GreatThough she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country’s borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 19 of 45Queen Catherine de’ MediciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 20 of 45Catherine of AragonInstagram/@royalty_now_ 21 of 45’The Mona Lisa’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 22 of 45CleopatraHow Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch’s tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 23 of 45Emperor AugustusInstagram/@royalty_now_ 24 of 45Abraham LincolnThe 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 25 of 45Napoleon BonaparteThe death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 26 of 45Louis XVInstagram/@royalty_now_ 27 of 45Julius CaesarInstagram/@royalty_now_ 28 of 45Alexander the GreatAccording to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great’s death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it’s believed that the king simply wasn’t dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 29 of 45Agrippina the YoungerInstagram/@royalty_now_ 30 of 45NefertitiQueen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 31 of 45Madame du BarryInstagram/@royalty_now_ 32 of 45Jane AustenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 33 of 45Grace KellyInstagram/@royalty_now_ 34 of 45Eleanor of ToledoInstagram/@royalty_now_ 35 of 45Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 36 of 45Queen Isabella of SpainInstagram/@royalty_now_ 37 of 45Empress Elizabeth of AustriaInstagram/@royalty_now_ 38 of 45Queen Mary IMary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 39 of 45Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 40 of 45Bull “Mahta Tatanka” BearInstagram/@royalty_now_ 41 of 45BeethovenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 42 of 45AristotleInstagram/@royalty_now_ 43 of 45Anne Of ClevesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 44 of 45Pharaoh AkhenatenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View Gallery
Royals of the past often conjure an image of stuffy paintings, hollow facial expressions, and painfully stiff poses. But artist Becca Saladin is hoping to change that.
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44 Colorized Portraits That Reveal Historical Figures As They Truly Were
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1 of 45King Henry VIIIKnown as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history’s most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 2 of 45Anne BoleynOne of King Henry VIII’s six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 3 of 45Queen Elizabeth IInstagram/@royalty_now_ 4 of 45MozartInstagram/@royalty_now_ 5 of 45Richard IIIInstagram/@royalty_now_ 6 of 45Joan of ArcDespite having led France through the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men’s clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 7 of 45’Girl with a Pearl Earring’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 8 of 45Queen VictoriaIt was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 9 of 45George WashingtonAs the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 10 of 45Thomas JeffersonFrom running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_ 11 of 45Leonardo da VinciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 12 of 45Elizabeth of YorkInstagram/@royalty_now_ 13 of 45Catherine HowardMarried to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king’s second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 14 of 45HatshepsutInstagram/@royalty_now_ 15 of 45Jose de San MartinInstagram/@royalty_now_ 16 of 45Elizabeth BathoryKnown as the “Blood Countess” because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 17 of 45Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint GeorgesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 18 of 45Catherine the GreatThough she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country’s borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 19 of 45Queen Catherine de’ MediciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 20 of 45Catherine of AragonInstagram/@royalty_now_ 21 of 45’The Mona Lisa’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 22 of 45CleopatraHow Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch’s tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 23 of 45Emperor AugustusInstagram/@royalty_now_ 24 of 45Abraham LincolnThe 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 25 of 45Napoleon BonaparteThe death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 26 of 45Louis XVInstagram/@royalty_now_ 27 of 45Julius CaesarInstagram/@royalty_now_ 28 of 45Alexander the GreatAccording to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great’s death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it’s believed that the king simply wasn’t dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 29 of 45Agrippina the YoungerInstagram/@royalty_now_ 30 of 45NefertitiQueen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 31 of 45Madame du BarryInstagram/@royalty_now_ 32 of 45Jane AustenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 33 of 45Grace KellyInstagram/@royalty_now_ 34 of 45Eleanor of ToledoInstagram/@royalty_now_ 35 of 45Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 36 of 45Queen Isabella of SpainInstagram/@royalty_now_ 37 of 45Empress Elizabeth of AustriaInstagram/@royalty_now_ 38 of 45Queen Mary IMary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 39 of 45Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 40 of 45Bull “Mahta Tatanka” BearInstagram/@royalty_now_ 41 of 45BeethovenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 42 of 45AristotleInstagram/@royalty_now_ 43 of 45Anne Of ClevesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 44 of 45Pharaoh AkhenatenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
44 Colorized Portraits That Reveal Historical Figures As They Truly Were
Where Are Their Kids? The Living Descendants Of Famous Historical Figures
21 Historical Figures You Didn’t Know Had Serious Mental Disorders
1 of 45King Henry VIIIKnown as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history’s most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 2 of 45Anne BoleynOne of King Henry VIII’s six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 3 of 45Queen Elizabeth IInstagram/@royalty_now_ 4 of 45MozartInstagram/@royalty_now_ 5 of 45Richard IIIInstagram/@royalty_now_ 6 of 45Joan of ArcDespite having led France through the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men’s clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 7 of 45’Girl with a Pearl Earring’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 8 of 45Queen VictoriaIt was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 9 of 45George WashingtonAs the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 10 of 45Thomas JeffersonFrom running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_ 11 of 45Leonardo da VinciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 12 of 45Elizabeth of YorkInstagram/@royalty_now_ 13 of 45Catherine HowardMarried to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king’s second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 14 of 45HatshepsutInstagram/@royalty_now_ 15 of 45Jose de San MartinInstagram/@royalty_now_ 16 of 45Elizabeth BathoryKnown as the “Blood Countess” because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 17 of 45Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint GeorgesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 18 of 45Catherine the GreatThough she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country’s borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 19 of 45Queen Catherine de’ MediciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 20 of 45Catherine of AragonInstagram/@royalty_now_ 21 of 45’The Mona Lisa’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 22 of 45CleopatraHow Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch’s tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 23 of 45Emperor AugustusInstagram/@royalty_now_ 24 of 45Abraham LincolnThe 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 25 of 45Napoleon BonaparteThe death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 26 of 45Louis XVInstagram/@royalty_now_ 27 of 45Julius CaesarInstagram/@royalty_now_ 28 of 45Alexander the GreatAccording to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great’s death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it’s believed that the king simply wasn’t dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 29 of 45Agrippina the YoungerInstagram/@royalty_now_ 30 of 45NefertitiQueen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 31 of 45Madame du BarryInstagram/@royalty_now_ 32 of 45Jane AustenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 33 of 45Grace KellyInstagram/@royalty_now_ 34 of 45Eleanor of ToledoInstagram/@royalty_now_ 35 of 45Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 36 of 45Queen Isabella of SpainInstagram/@royalty_now_ 37 of 45Empress Elizabeth of AustriaInstagram/@royalty_now_ 38 of 45Queen Mary IMary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 39 of 45Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 40 of 45Bull “Mahta Tatanka” BearInstagram/@royalty_now_ 41 of 45BeethovenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 42 of 45AristotleInstagram/@royalty_now_ 43 of 45Anne Of ClevesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 44 of 45Pharaoh AkhenatenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
44 Colorized Portraits That Reveal Historical Figures As They Truly Were
Where Are Their Kids? The Living Descendants Of Famous Historical Figures
21 Historical Figures You Didn’t Know Had Serious Mental Disorders
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1 of 45King Henry VIIIKnown as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history’s most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 2 of 45Anne BoleynOne of King Henry VIII’s six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 3 of 45Queen Elizabeth IInstagram/@royalty_now_ 4 of 45MozartInstagram/@royalty_now_ 5 of 45Richard IIIInstagram/@royalty_now_ 6 of 45Joan of ArcDespite having led France through the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men’s clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 7 of 45’Girl with a Pearl Earring’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 8 of 45Queen VictoriaIt was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 9 of 45George WashingtonAs the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 10 of 45Thomas JeffersonFrom running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_ 11 of 45Leonardo da VinciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 12 of 45Elizabeth of YorkInstagram/@royalty_now_ 13 of 45Catherine HowardMarried to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king’s second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 14 of 45HatshepsutInstagram/@royalty_now_ 15 of 45Jose de San MartinInstagram/@royalty_now_ 16 of 45Elizabeth BathoryKnown as the “Blood Countess” because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 17 of 45Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint GeorgesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 18 of 45Catherine the GreatThough she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country’s borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 19 of 45Queen Catherine de’ MediciInstagram/@royalty_now_ 20 of 45Catherine of AragonInstagram/@royalty_now_ 21 of 45’The Mona Lisa’Instagram/@royalty_now_ 22 of 45CleopatraHow Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch’s tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 23 of 45Emperor AugustusInstagram/@royalty_now_ 24 of 45Abraham LincolnThe 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 25 of 45Napoleon BonaparteThe death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 26 of 45Louis XVInstagram/@royalty_now_ 27 of 45Julius CaesarInstagram/@royalty_now_ 28 of 45Alexander the GreatAccording to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great’s death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it’s believed that the king simply wasn’t dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 29 of 45Agrippina the YoungerInstagram/@royalty_now_ 30 of 45NefertitiQueen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 31 of 45Madame du BarryInstagram/@royalty_now_ 32 of 45Jane AustenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 33 of 45Grace KellyInstagram/@royalty_now_ 34 of 45Eleanor of ToledoInstagram/@royalty_now_ 35 of 45Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 36 of 45Queen Isabella of SpainInstagram/@royalty_now_ 37 of 45Empress Elizabeth of AustriaInstagram/@royalty_now_ 38 of 45Queen Mary IMary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 39 of 45Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_ 40 of 45Bull “Mahta Tatanka” BearInstagram/@royalty_now_ 41 of 45BeethovenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 42 of 45AristotleInstagram/@royalty_now_ 43 of 45Anne Of ClevesInstagram/@royalty_now_ 44 of 45Pharaoh AkhenatenInstagram/@royalty_now_ 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 45King Henry VIIIKnown as much for breaking with the Catholic Church as he was for his string of controversial divorces, King Henry VIII is perhaps one of English history’s most famous rulers.Instagram/@royalty_now_
2 of 45Anne BoleynOne of King Henry VIII’s six wives was Anne Boleyn, pictured here, and she became the first British queen to be beheaded after she fell out of favor with him.Instagram/@royalty_now_
3 of 45Queen Elizabeth IInstagram/@royalty_now_
4 of 45MozartInstagram/@royalty_now_
5 of 45Richard IIIInstagram/@royalty_now_
6 of 45Joan of ArcDespite having led France through the Hundred Years’ War, Joan of Arc was executed following a sham trial for wearing men’s clothing.Instagram/@royalty_now_
7 of 45’Girl with a Pearl Earring’Instagram/@royalty_now_
8 of 45Queen VictoriaIt was unlikely that Queen Victoria ever take the British throne, but she did — and reigned for 63 years, during which six attempts were made on her life, all of which she survived.Instagram/@royalty_now_
9 of 45George WashingtonAs the first president of the United States, George Washington is shrouded in myth. One is that he had wooden teeth, but in reality, he wore dentures made of animal and human teeth — which he acquired from his slaves.Instagram/@royalty_now_
10 of 45Thomas JeffersonFrom running a child slave operation to nearly causing an economic depression, there are many facets of Thomas Jefferson that the history books would rather forget. Instagram/@royalty_now_
11 of 45Leonardo da VinciInstagram/@royalty_now_
12 of 45Elizabeth of YorkInstagram/@royalty_now_
13 of 45Catherine HowardMarried to the incorrigible King Henry VIII, Catherine Howard became the king’s second wife to be beheaded when he heard a rumor that she cheated on him.Instagram/@royalty_now_
14 of 45HatshepsutInstagram/@royalty_now_
15 of 45Jose de San MartinInstagram/@royalty_now_
16 of 45Elizabeth BathoryKnown as the “Blood Countess” because of her alleged penchant for killing female servants in cruel and unusual ways, Elizabeth Bathory was sentenced to house arrest for the remainder of her life for these crimes in 1614.Instagram/@royalty_now_
17 of 45Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint GeorgesInstagram/@royalty_now_
18 of 45Catherine the GreatThough she led Russia to victory in several wars, expanded the country’s borders, and ushered in an age of art and culture, Catherine the Great was subject to vitriolic rumors by patriarchs who wanted to disempower her.Instagram/@royalty_now_
19 of 45Queen Catherine de’ MediciInstagram/@royalty_now_
20 of 45Catherine of AragonInstagram/@royalty_now_
21 of 45’The Mona Lisa’Instagram/@royalty_now_
22 of 45CleopatraHow Cleopatra died remains as elusive as the monarch’s tomb as modern researchers claim the story of her suicide by asp may have been a myth — and that her enemy Octavian may have had something to do with it.Instagram/@royalty_now_
23 of 45Emperor AugustusInstagram/@royalty_now_
24 of 45Abraham LincolnThe 16th president of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, was more than an honest attorney from Kentucky, in fact, he was a nationally recognized wrestling champ.Instagram/@royalty_now_
25 of 45Napoleon BonaparteThe death of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte remains somewhat mysterious, but some historians posit that he was murdered via poisoned cologne.Instagram/@royalty_now_
26 of 45Louis XVInstagram/@royalty_now_
27 of 45Julius CaesarInstagram/@royalty_now_
28 of 45Alexander the GreatAccording to the texts of ancient Greeks, Alexander the Great’s death was a historically confounding one — as his body took unusually long to decompose. According to modern researchers, however, it’s believed that the king simply wasn’t dead yet.Instagram/@royalty_now_
29 of 45Agrippina the YoungerInstagram/@royalty_now_
30 of 45NefertitiQueen Nefertiti of ancient Egypt was renowned for her beauty, but the monarch also held unprecedented power in the empire.Instagram/@royalty_now_
31 of 45Madame du BarryInstagram/@royalty_now_
32 of 45Jane AustenInstagram/@royalty_now_
33 of 45Grace KellyInstagram/@royalty_now_
34 of 45Eleanor of ToledoInstagram/@royalty_now_
35 of 45Benjamin FranklinBenjamin Franklin was the richest person in America by 1785, and he refused to patent his inventions so that others could tinker and improve upon them for free.Instagram/@royalty_now_
36 of 45Queen Isabella of SpainInstagram/@royalty_now_
37 of 45Empress Elizabeth of AustriaInstagram/@royalty_now_
38 of 45Queen Mary IMary I, otherwise known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary held the English throne for just five years between 1553 and 1558. Known for burning hundreds of Protestants to death, she herself suffered an untimely demise when she succumbed to an unknown illness at the age of just 42.Instagram/@royalty_now_
39 of 45Marie AntoinetteMarie Antoinette is one of the most reviled female monarchs in history for her extravagance while her constituents struggled to make ends meet.Instagram/@royalty_now_
40 of 45Bull “Mahta Tatanka” BearInstagram/@royalty_now_
41 of 45BeethovenInstagram/@royalty_now_
42 of 45AristotleInstagram/@royalty_now_
43 of 45Anne Of ClevesInstagram/@royalty_now_
44 of 45Pharaoh AkhenatenInstagram/@royalty_now_
45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View Gallery
Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View Gallery
Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View Gallery
Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today View Gallery
Here’s How Historical Figures Would Look If They Lived Today
View Gallery
By way of her Instagram account, @royalty_now_, Saladin is blending history with modern style by artfully bringing ancient royals, iconic politicians, and other famous figures from the past into the 21st century. Gone are the lace collars, pallid complexions, and dated costumes.
In their place, Saladin adorns the historic figures with couture and gives them blowouts, making them nearly unrecognizable were they not pictured side-by-side with their historically accurate counterparts.
While the Instagram account that houses Saladin’s images is an enjoyable trip through history, the photos are much more than a delight for Saladin; they’re a passion project come to life.
How “Royalty Now” Started
Instagram/@royalty_now_Anne Boleyn reimagined as a woman in 2020.
In an interview with All That’s Interesting, Saladin explained how she began the stunning project. “I’m passionate about both art and history,” Saladin said. “Art and graphic design are my professions, but history has always been my hobby. It’s the perfect [combination] of those two passions.”
For Saladin, that passion started out of curiosity and a little time on Photoshop.
“My favorite historical person is Anne Boleyn. Everyone who is a fan of Tudor-era history knows that Anne was known for her charm and wit, yet the historical portraits we have of her are flat and lifeless,” Saladin said.
“I was bored one day with access to Photoshop (a dangerous thing) and I decided to see what she looked like with modern hair and makeup. It gave so much more life to her, and I was able to relate to her better as a human instead of just as a historical figure. After that, I decided to start the Instagram to share that work.”
Her account has already amassed more than 300,000 followers. “It’s been an interesting journey because the Instagram was fairly small, still growing at a steady pace, and then a few weeks ago it kind of skyrocketed. It’s nice to know that people are really interested in my work and now they are finding it and being able to access it.”
How The Account Is Evolving
When diving into a new project, Saladin enlists help from her followers for some inspiration.
“The first step is choosing a subject — first that was entirely decided by me and now it’s kind of a group effort between my followers and I,” Saladin said.
“I do draw some inspiration from current figures, but my goal is to make the images immersive (and I’m getting better at that as I continue) so it’s not just a guessing game of who that figure ’looks like,’ but more of an immersive experience.”
Saladin also loves when people suggest new material for her, as she views it as a learning experience and an exercise in inclusivity.
She said, “I think that’s great because I’m American, and in American schools, we learn a lot about British and other European figures, but not as much about the rest of the world. I’m now endeavoring to create more rulers from other cultures, which I think is really important.”
Instagram/@royalty_now_What Queen Elizabeth I might have looked like today.
Rather than draw on similarities between modern-day figures and the historical greats she likens them to, Saladin hopes her followers can see the new life that she breathes into history.
As for being recognized for her fame, perhaps by a member of modern-day royalty, that hasn’t happened yet. And, as far as Saladin is concerned, that’s just fine.
She said, “The goal for a while has been to make them more and more immersive so I would actually be disappointed if this happened now.”
Though she hasn’t had any shoutouts from real royalty, the number of people who share her passions are enough for Saladin, and an indication that she’s nowhere near finished. Hopefully, she’ll be publishing her creations for years to come.
“I’m thankful for all the support and excitement surrounding it,” she said of the attention her account is receiving. “I can’t wait to continue to create!”
Next, check out some historical photos brought to life in stunning color. Then, take a look at what your favorite dead rockstars would look like today if they hadn’t died young.
