Cesare Bartolena (May 27, 1830 – May 14, 1903) was an Italian painter, mainly of military or battle scenes.
He was born in Livorno. He was a pupil of Enrico Pollastrini, and attended the Academy of Fine Arts, Florence. In 1848, he volunteered in battles for Italian independence. He was among the artists who frequented the Caffè Michelangiolo in Florence. There he met his contemporary battle painter Giovanni Fattori. Bartolena also painted some religious pieces.
Along with the French photographer Alphonse Bernoud, Cesare opened a photography studio, but it failed, placing the now elder painter in precarious financial straits. He resumed painting, mainly small paintings. His grandson Giovanni Bartolena was also a painter in Livorno. Among Cesare's works are: