The men on this list are of many kinds, some heroes, some villains, but they all left (some still leave) huge marks on the trails of history. These are not the kind of people you'd expect to actually pick up a paint brush. But they have, and here are their works.
This painting from over a decade ago, was made for an auction to raise money for children with cancer. It was sold alongside other paintings, but this one is considered somewhat of a record breaker. It was sold for an astonishing final price of 37,000,000 rubles, which were, back then, worth 1,147,000 USD.
The painting, titled "Pattern", depicts a festive view of a snowy landscape seen through cabin windows. In a painfully ironic case of history repeating itself, according to The Guardian, this painting was created "just days before Russia's bitter gas row with Ukraine erupted, which saw Putin turn off Europe's gas" (Source).
Art critics were careful with their choice of words, describing this painting as simple yet remarkable for a beginner. The gallery owner who bought the painting said her motive was rarity - this could be the first and last painting of its kind.
George W. Bush, present day/Source
Bush's artistic inclination was kept secret for a long time, and was first revealed to the public only when a hacker leaked his paintings to the internet. It turned out that this abrupt outing had a positive outcome: the former US president has since showcased several exhibitions at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas.
He was diligent about his painting hobby, practicing daily and even taking private lessons. Bush once shared in an interview that part of his inspiration for pursuing painting was Winston Churchill, another painter-world leader featured in this article.
Among his most prominent exhibitions are "The Art of Leadership: A President's Personal Diplomacy", depicting portraits of world leaders, and the more recent "Out of Many, One: Portraits of America's Immigrants", which was exhibited in 2021. Below you can see both early works and some more recent paintings.
There is a clear distinction between Bush's early and late works. As the years progressed, the color palette expanded and he took on some more challenging subjects, moving from animals and psychological self portraits to political portraiture. However, his distinctive brushstrokes remained consistent: thick, bold, yet visibly blended on the canvas.
George W. Bush, at the beginning of his artistic journey
Self portrait/Source
Portrait of the Dalai Lama from the "Art of Leadership" exhibition/Source
A wall in the "Art of Leadership" exhibition/Source
Part of "Portraits of Courage: A Commander in Chief's Tribute to America's Warriors"/Source
Those interested in history may already be familiar with Hitler's artistic efforts before he got into politics. More precisely, he applied and was rejected twice by the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna. He was suggested taking on architecture instead, but as we all know - he never traveled down that road. After being rejected by the academy and before pursuing a historic career in politics, Hitler sold some watercolor paintings and postcards to make a modest living.
Surprisingly, his style was elegant, serene, and pleasant, with subjects such as natural landscapes and still life. His still life is characterized by vivid, lively colors, and vigorous brush strokes. In contrast, his landscape and architectural art is much more detailed and meticulous, with a narrow and natural color palette.
The Courtyard of the Old Residency in Munich (1914)
Munich Royal Hofbräuhaus (1913 – 1914)
Vienna State Opera House (1912)/ Source
Mother Mary with the Holy Child Jesus Christ (1913)/Source
Schloss Belvedere/Source
Neuschwanstein Castle/Source
Neuschwanstein Castle, (different version)/Source
Michaelerplatz, Vienna, Austria/Source
Winston Churchill is one of Britain's most renowned leaders, known for leading his nation to victory in World War II. After having taken an active part in the fighting, Churchill took up painting during World War I as a means to escape the woes and pains of war memories. Almost all of his subjects are escapist; he primarily painted natural open landscapes he saw during vacations in France, Morocco, and Egypt.
Churchill's paintings have an immense soothing effect on the viewer. The color palette is both natural and enhanced at the same time, and the compositions are eternally balanced. To look at one of his paintings is to be supported by it. Churchill has a talent for atmospheric lighting in his paintings - just by looking at them, you can get an accurate feel of what the weather was like from his point of view.
Cork Trees Near Mimizan/Source
Daybreak at Cassis, 1920/Source
The Blue Room at Lympne/Source
Marlborough Tapestries at Blenheim/Source
Racecourse, nice (1921)/Source
The Harbour at St.Jean Cap Ferrat (1921)/Source
At the Pyramids/Source
Eisenhower's first encounter with the world of artistic creation was before his presidential career. As he watched artist Thomas E. Stephens paint a portrait of his wife, his curiosity was piqued. He started painting with a painting kit sent to him by Stephens. Unlike Bush and Carter, Eisenhower was painting during his presidency, rather than after it.
Eisenhower also claims to be influenced and inspired by Winston Churchill's painting habit. Both took up painting as a means to alleviate stress, but Eisenhower never thought much of the artistic process. He wasn't interested in creating psychological pieces, and never for a moment considered himself an artist. This was not a humble state of mind, but simply sober self-awareness. He painted for the sake of painting, for the enjoyment of the process itself, with no special regard to the final outcome.
As told by Richard Cohen, a Washington Post reporter who covered Eisenhower's 1967 exhibition in New York, Eisenhower was very much aware that he was no Monet or Picasso. When the reporter tried to strike up a conversation about the symbolic meaning of a rather simple natural landscape painting, Eisenhower famously replied: “Let’s get something straight here, Cohen. They would have burned this [expletive] a long time ago if I weren’t the president of the United States.” (Source)
In my personal opinion, Eisenhower was underestimating his artistic skill. While the level of his technique is debatable, you can see an obvious effort to blend colors and create complex pallettes on each canvas. To see more of the former president's works, click here.
Portrait of Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery (1952) 
Telegraph Cottage, Eisenhower's WWII residency
Mamie Eisenhower (1953) by Thomas E. Stephens, the portrait that started it all/Source
Queen Victoria/Source
Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain during the colonial era, and is known to have had a remarkably long reign. During her reign, she paid much attention to supporting art. Many young artists, British and Scottish alike, made their debut at the annual Royal Academy exhibition. She would support the artistic scene by attending certain exhibitions and lending works to others.
Queen Victoria took painting lessons herself starting at the age of eight years old. She would continue to make watercolor paintings and pencil sketches of her family members, of domestic scenes, and of natural landscapes. These were kept secret until they were leaked to the public by a journalist some time in the 1940s. The queen took said reporter to court for this scandal. However, long after she was no more, in 2012, the public could take a peek at the queen's works again. This was when they were auctioned at Dominic Winter Book Auctions.
Unlike the rest of the leaders on this list, Edi Rama was a prolific artist way before he got into politics, with exhibitions in New York, France, Berlin, Brazil, and Venice. When he pursued a career in politics, he was wise enough to find a way to integrate art into politics, which is a form of art in and of itself, when done right.
To tackle anarchy and poverty in Albania's capital, he started painting buildings. When city budgets are so low as to be nonexistent, the use of color becomes a political tactic. As a painter, Rama understood the power of color to evoke hope. He knew that beauty could inspire a feeling of safety.
This tactic quickly proved effective, as crime rates dropped and people paid their taxes. Listen to this inspiring 15-minute talk about the power of color to change reality.
Source/Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
His Royal Highness King Charles the Third started painting back in the early 1970s. While he considers himself an amateur, he is serious about his painting hobby, having taken lessons with some of Britain's most successful artists.
For his artistic endeavors he uses strictly watercolors, for the speed of finish they offer. The king finds that painting lends itself willingly as an expressive medium, in a way photography cannot. It cultivates a therapeutic stillness of the mind, a calming focus that leads to relaxation. His favorite subjects are natural open landscapes and family owned estates.
His Royal Highness first started exhibiting works in 1977. His largest exhibition to date was at the beginning of 2022, where he showcased 79 works in the Garrison Chapel in London. In terms of monetary proceeds, King Charles is considered among the most successful artists in the UK, but all profits from his art are donated to charity.
The king's works have been featured on several UK Royal Mail stamps, as well as on a 1997 ski pass for Klosters resort in Switzerland. But much like former US president Dwight Eisenhower, King Charles remains modest about his artistic achievements: “I am under no illusion that my sketches represent great art or a burgeoning talent,” says the text on the walls of his Garrison Chapel exhibition. “They represent, more than anything else, my particular form of ‘photograph album’ and, as such, mean a great deal to me.”
Castle Mey
Source/Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Balmoral Castle
Source/Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Source/David Cheskin: PA Images via Getty Images
Lochnagar from the Gelder Cottage
Source/Andrew Matthew:PA Images via Getty Images
King Charles painting in the garden of Imperial Palace in Kyoto
Source/Tim Graham/Getty Images
Huna Mill, Scotland/Source
A landscape by Prince Charles of Haughs in Glen Callater of Scotland
Source/The Prince's Foundation
Balmoral Castle in Scotland/Source
View in South of France
Source/courtesy Richard Ivey
H/T: BoredPanda, ArtNet
