A military history of the 17th century and the 18th century
Thursday 23 August 2018
Grenadier officers
This is a call to any sculptors reading this. There aren't any grenadier officers out there in 28mm for the late 17thc. So here's Francis Hawley the man who led the Grenadiers at Phillip's Norton. Note no sword.
Looks as if Ralphus were right. First, the original painting is not a full-length portrait. Second, there is no sword belt in the original. No sword belt, no scabbard, no scabbard, no sword.
...or he took it off for the painting..?? Unlikely I know but it just seems unusual for an officer, and therefore gentlemen at the time, not to have a sword.. he does however have a plug bayonet on his belt, and that may lend weight to the thing hanging over his shoulder in this picture being a musket or carbine...?? Fascinating stuff... :o)
Well, yes, the "thing" hanging over his shoulder in the reconstruction(!) may well be the butt of a fusil and it's actually quite likely that grenadier officers carried fusils when in action (not shown in the original painting though as no carrying strap is visible - perhaps he's just put it aside or thrown away...'?). I don't think he would have put aside a sword if he had carried one. Rather, he may not have carried a sword in battle because he would have felt bothered by it? But still would have carried one on other ocassions, as befits an officer and gentleman... :-)
I may be wrong - but what's that thing hanging down from the back of his coat - looks like a sword scabbard to me??
ReplyDeleteWarfare miniatures produce a very nice grenadier officer
ReplyDeleteCould be an axe?
ReplyDeleteBenjamin - I thought afterwards.. might it be the barrel of a musket/carbine??
ReplyDeleteLooks as if Ralphus were right. First, the original painting is not a full-length portrait. Second, there is no sword belt in the original. No sword belt, no scabbard, no scabbard, no sword.
ReplyDeletehttp://warsoflouisxiv.blogspot.com/2016/06/francis-hawley.html
...or he took it off for the painting..?? Unlikely I know but it just seems unusual for an officer, and therefore gentlemen at the time, not to have a sword.. he does however have a plug bayonet on his belt, and that may lend weight to the thing hanging over his shoulder in this picture being a musket or carbine...?? Fascinating stuff... :o)
ReplyDeleteWell, yes, the "thing" hanging over his shoulder in the reconstruction(!) may well be the butt of a fusil and it's actually quite likely that grenadier officers carried fusils when in action (not shown in the original painting though as no carrying strap is visible - perhaps he's just put it aside or thrown away...'?). I don't think he would have put aside a sword if he had carried one. Rather, he may not have carried a sword in battle because he would have felt bothered by it? But still would have carried one on other ocassions, as befits an officer and gentleman... :-)
ReplyDeletehttps://warsoflouisxiv.blogspot.com/2009/07/equipment-of-grenadiers.html
ReplyDelete