It has been a while since Game of Thrones ran its course. Are you re-watching it during lockdown? Have you ever wondered where the creators get their inspiration?
Of course, they start with the books, but how do you transpose a written description of a character into a fully-fleshed person with a specific hairstyle, clothes, and way of moving?
Answer: imagination!
Yes I thought so but imagination must be fed, and there is no better food for it than art.
Let us see together how art inspired Game of Thrones creators!
You can also add your own views on were you think the creators got inspiration from.

1 Is Georgiana Burne-Jones Catelyn Stark?
In the 1st painting you can see Georgiana's portrait by Edward, with their two children in the background. Georgiana’s face is solemn, serious, and focused but also ready for action. Dressed in a serious dark dress, with only a tiny decorative collar, she is all business. Not only her dress and hairstyle but also her attitudes seem to be reflected in the character of Catelyn Stark.

2 Jorah Mormont as The Man With(out) the Golden Helmet
The similarity here is striking. Iain Glen as the GoT’s Ser Jorah Mormont bears an uncanny resemblance to the Man with the Golden Helmet. A painting controversially attributed to Rembrandt.
Just look at the nose, the set mouth, and eyes. Just as Ser Jorah, the painting has an interesting history.

3 Sansa Stark as Ophelia?
Ophelia by John William Waterhouse is certainly dramatic on its own. Ophellia's eyes looks beyond reality, long parted with anything resembling common sense. She runs through the wild meadows gathering flowers and looking for her lost love or maybe running away from the pain it is causing her.
Her distress is obvious. Sansa Stark embodies the GoT’s damsel in distress, and her image is closely inspired by the pre-Raphaelite paintings.

4 Caligula in Joffrey Baratheon or better put Joffrey in Caligula
In this case, the similarity seems to go beyond pure looks. Caligula was the third Roman emperor, ruling from 37 to 41. Although he was born Gaius Caesar, after Julius Caesar, he acquired the nickname “Caligula” (meaning “little [soldier’s] boot,” the diminutive form of caliga) from his father’s soldiers during their campaign in Germania. There are few sources about the reign of Caligula, but he is described as a noble and moderate emperor during the first six months of his rule. After this, the focus is upon his cruelty, sadism, extravagance, and sexual perversion, presenting him as an insane tyrant. These sources may be questionable, but during his brief reign, Caligula certainly worked to increase the unconstrained personal power of the emperor. Sounds vaguely familiar…

5 Brienne of Tarth as GoT Joan of Arc?
Millais has captured in this portrait the historical moment when Joan of Arc is encouraged by Saints Michael, Margaret, and Catherine to lead the battle against the English. As we all know, it didn’t end well for her, despite her trusting look towards the heavens.
Brienne of Tarth is the woman warrior of GoT. She is at the same time very similar to Joan of Arc and very different from her. Brienne focuses on the warrior side of her nature, her feelings a risk to herself and those she cares about. As Joan is trusting, Brienne is strong but lacks hope and she knows honor, justice, suffering, and despair. Both of them have to fight with being ridiculed and not taken seriously.

6 Desperate was Jon Snow
Jon Snow, as we know, knows nothing. Yet, as he comes back to life, his face always echoes desperation even in his love making scenes. As if he knows over and over again, he will lose everything that is dear to him.

7 Tyrell Exploring the Soul of a Rose
Clearly, the creators of GoT had a book of John William Waterhouse’s works at hand. Here, we can see Margaery Tyrell copying a pose of Waterhouse’s model from The Soul of the Rose. Waterhouse’s title is loosely derived from Chaucer’s dream-poem, Romaunt of the Rose, itself adapted from the 13th-century French romance: Roman de la Rose by Guillaume de Lorris. The narrator embarks on a pilgrimage with the god of love, who leads him to a rose symbolizing perfect love. The Soul of the Rose was painted when Waterhouse was in his creative maturity; an artist established with patrons and public alike, who pursued his unique vision whilst adapting to modern style.

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