French Guard Barbarossa Sappeur - part 1

[viltianus]

I've painted a Verlinden's Dutch Sappeur bust, but in French colours. I dream about "Barbarossa", orange-beard soldier, and Dutch painting scheme - white and red - do not fit to my idea. Then I done a small painting conversion...

 

[viltianus]

And more photos

 

[vergilius]

very good !

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hello Katarzyna,
If I am not wrong, you painted a graduate sapper of the Imperial Guard, but there are some mistakes to modify, while the painting in general is nice. I try to explain, following the uniform, from top to bottom
The grenade on the top of the headgear is gold, not white.
The cord is mixed red ang gold, as the tassels
The mixing of colours on the epaulettes was not so regular, the fringes were more mixed.
The rolled overcoat on the haversack has to be dark blue, not grey
The ribbon of the queue was black, not red.
The colour of the coat has to be more and more dark, not so clear
The rounded gold badge on the sleeves, above the axes, is to get away, it did not exist
The gold edging on the belts has to be removed, they were entirely white, with a visible stitching, as in all the Guard belts generally
I think it's all, I'm sorry to give you these bad notices

Best regards
MdM

 

[viltianus]

Marcello - THANKS!
Yes, you're right, I'm not a specialist in napoleonic uniforms. In painting my sappeur I based on Knoetel's picture from his "Imperial Guard" book. And I know other artists draw some details differently.
But, e.c., grenade on headgear I always seen in white!
About mixing colours - yes, I never seen authentic colours. I mixed them from my old ink printer printout.
Roller overcoat I saw in grey, in all pictures.
My next napoleonic figure will better, I think, thanks for your considerations.
And, Marcello, don't worry about bad notice - I like sincere opinions. I know I'm not specialist in these epoque, and once again - I'm very grateful to you

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Katarzyna,
Some riflextions for you. The grenade on the top of the bearskin colpack was white for soldiers, both in the Line and Guard troops, but your man is painted as a graduate sapper, a sergeant, then the grenade is gold.
The rolled overcoats were grey for the Line Corps, dark blue for the Guard.
About mixing, I said the position of the colours, not the mixing when you painted. Therefore I mean that the fringes of the epaulettes were not so separated in regular stripes of red and gold, but they were really confused because the movement of the man make a continue over positioning of the fringes. Oh, I don't know if my bad English can give you my idea.
So, for example, also the cords of the headgear were formed by three wires of red and gold wool, then you don't see a clean distinction of the two colours, but a mixing of all.
Best regards
MdM

 

[ivopreda]

hi Friends, sometime a picture explain better than many words. a Rousselot drawing for the guard Grenadier sapper of the imperial guard.

cordially

Ivo Preda

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Ciao Ivo,
This is the mixing of gold and red! Katarzyna will be very glad to know how bad is my English :lol:
This is a little cousin of yours

Ciao
Marcello

 

[viltianus]

Thanks, friends!
Yes, there are my mistakes. I seen the red and gold mixing on pictures, but I never seen it really and I don't know what is it (and how to paint it, of course ) Now, for the next napoleonic bust, I will paint it better.
And about english... Sorry. This is not my native language, and I know I use pidgin english rather

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Katarzyna,
I told of my English, not yours. About your bust, I said some advice on the uniform, not on the painting, that is a good job. As I said often in this site, I think that many modelers pass so much time to study an anatomy for sculpting a figure, or to study new techniques of painting, shades, colours, but a bit of time to study the historical side of a figure. Well, I think that if anyone makes an historical figure, he is obliged to study the uniform and his various elements. So, when you'll paint next nap subject, I suggest you to read some serious reference before, the painting is already good.
Speaking of your bust, rolled overcoat and grenade are easy to correct, the colour of the uniform is a little more difficult, but it has to be dark blue- The tassel of the colpack is rather good, for the cord you can paint the wires red and gold alternate, and for the epaulettes I suggest to paint before all red, and after make tiny stripes of gold above, giving the aspect of gold fringes positioned above the red ones.
best wishes
Marcello

 

[Sambaman]

Katarzyna,
over all I think you did a good job on this guy. I have this piece in my gray army as well and it's great to see someone elses version. I really appreciate the other's comments and will certainly benefit from their expertease. I notice the fringe on one of your appaulettes is broken. I have the same damage to mine that I'll have to fix! Thanks for sharing. The color of the beard is unique and an interesting touch!

Jay H.
OKC

 

[marcellin de marbot]

Hi Katarzyna,
After the drawings, some photos that say more than words, as said Ivo Preda.
Best wishes
Marcello