History paintings with more than a hint of sadness from French artist Jean-André Rixens (1846-1925). Studied art at the École supérieure des beaux-arts de Toulouse. Knew Auguste Rodin.

"La Mort de Cléopâtre." 1874.
“La Mort de Cléopâtre.” 1874. Oil on canvas. History painting. Signature and date on the bottom right: “A. Rixens 1874.” Collection of the Musée des Augustins de Toulouse. In the public domain in the United States because the artist has been dead over 70 years. via https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Death_of_Cleopatra_by_Rixens.jpg
"La captivité des juifs à Babylone." 1873.
La captivité des juifs à Babylone.” 1873. Oil on canvas. History painting. Photo credit: Marie-Laure Pellan. Image © Musée de Saint-Gaudens et du Comminges. Fair use license. via https://musees-occitanie.fr/musees/le-musee-arts-et-figures-des-pyrenees-centrales/collections/peintures-de-j-a-rixens/jean-andre-rixens/super-flumina-babylonis/