AN INTERESTING PAINTING

[kahnjar1]

Further to my first post above, I attach here, for the benefit of those who do not like to open links, another version of The Cossacks by the same artist, which to my mind is not anywhere near as interesting in terms of weapons etc. Also a portrait of the artist Repin himself.
Stu

[Ibrahiim al Balooshi]

This is a hugely interesting subject of which I know absolutely nothing. It would be good to expand into the detail ...This artwork is fascinating and a great way to portray the weapons...I note it even became a postcard! Whilst I press into search on library and hit the web~
Here's another.

Ibrahiim al Balooshi.

[spiral]

Somewhere on this forum from many years ago with many great paintings mostly by a French artist.

One was an old Arab warrior at rest with his hookah, with yataghan & shamshir featured.

Sadly I cant recall the artist name or the thread. {Different computer files lost...}

Spiral

[Norman McCormick]

Hi,
Here are some more, prints, paintings etc.
Regards,
Norman.

[Norman McCormick]

And again.

[Norman McCormick]

Again.


P.S. A search for Orientalist Paintings will bring up images from this artistic movement many with images of weapons.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by spiral

Somewhere on this forum from many years ago with many great paintings mostly by a French artist.

One was an old Arab warrior at rest with his hookah, with yataghan & shamshir featured.

Sadly I cant recall the artist name or the thread. {Different computer files lost...}

Spiral

I wonder if it might be in Elgood's book on Islamic firearms, there is some great art in there.
It seems often overlooked how important art can be in the study of weapons, and I think the late Nick Norman proved that beautifully in The Rapier and the Smallsword" . Here he used period portraiture to illustrate and assess dates and periods for many hilt forms and pommels .

While it seems that portraits typically offer reasonably reliable images as subjects usually wore their own arms, as with most art a degree of caution must be observed. Artistic license is virtually inherent and in many cases of dramatic illustration there can be certain latitude expected, case in point of course Rembrandt's Biblical works using Indonesian keris etc.
In much the same way many classical paintings in Italy with Biblical subjects used contemporary arms and armour.

By the same token, Ariel makes very good points about the various hosts of Cossacks, and along with not being an 'ethnic' group, but assemblages of various ethnicities, they indeed used a wide variety of personally favored arms.

Excellent image on that postcard Ibrahiim!!! I often forget that Cossacks were often in boats and ships in addition to their prowess of course on horseback . I think some of the most impressive exhibitions of their riding skills are with the 'djigtovka'(?) as I believe some scenes in the classic movie epic "Taras Bulba" showed. Naturally, all manner of exception can be taken with the better part of the movie, but I think the riding was authentic.

[Jim McDougall]

We crossed posts Norman, WOW!! there are some fantastic illustrations!!!!

[Norman McCormick]

Originally Posted by Jim McDougall

We crossed posts Norman, WOW!! there are some fantastic illustrations!!!!

Hi Jim,
Thanks, I find these illustrations/paintings helpful in understanding how weapons were worn and seeing the accessories carried in support e.g. powder horns etc. As always these types of images can be subject to artistic license but if you look at a lot of different ones you can usually get a good general idea of what is in all probability correct.
My Regards,
Norman.

[Jim McDougall]

Originally Posted by Norman McCormick

Hi Jim,
Thanks, I find these illustrations/paintings helpful in understanding how weapons were worn and seeing the accessories carried in support e.g. powder horns etc. As always these types of images can be subject to artistic license but if you look at a lot of different ones you can usually get a good general idea of what is in all probability correct.
My Regards,
Norman.

Absolutely excellent point Norman!!! As with most research, several concurrences usually will strengthen the proof factor. Most importantly as you well note, these works offer fantastic context to the weapons we collect and study, as well as perspective into those who used them.

All the best,
Jim

[spiral]

Heres some of the paintings I was thinking of...

linky

The "living" quality of the art is amazing!


Also One of my favourites by Gerome...{bad photo sadley...}

No one still living can paint like these men did .... sadley the Same as many other lost craft skills we admire on this forum including including jewellery & steel forging metal working skills.. {IMHO] { I realise not everyone agrees...}

Spiral