Completed Critique Teutonic Knight - The Transylvanian Episode 1211-1225

[tiberius57]

Dear Friends,
Finished this awesome figure sculpted by Mike Blank for FeR Miniatures and found an interesting historical context for the presentation.

At the beginning of the XII century, the Kingdom of Hungary faced many issues in Transylvania with the invading Cumans. In 1211 King Andrew II invited the Teutonic Knights to assist in defending the SE Transylvanian mountain passes against them. In return, the Order received Burzenland (German) – Tara Barsei (Romanian) which lies within the southern Carpathian mountain ranges.
The military campaign against the Cumans was successful, reducing the threat, however, the Teutonic Knights disregarded the rights of the local bishopric and angered the Hungarian nobility. Led by Bela, the heir to the throne, the nobility pressed the need to expel the knights. In 1217, King Andrew II left the kingdom to lead the Fifth Crusade. After his return, he found out that the Grand Master of the Order Hermann Von Salza attempted to loosen the Order’s ties to the Hungarian Crown by drawing closer to the Papacy. King Andrew II, using his military power, expelled the Order from the kingdom in 1225 ending the Orders Transylvanian episode.

For more historical details on the Transylvanian Episode, please follow the link bellow.
http://department.monm.edu/history/urban/books/PrussianCrusade2.htm
Here are the final photos.
Thanks for watching and your thoughts are much appreciated.
Cheers,

Zeno

 

[Colin_Fraser]

Very nice job Zeno. Great basing and whites. My only reservation is the high contrast highlighting on the folds of his (leather?) undercoat and pants....it's a little too stark for my taste. Shield and flesh look great too.

 

[ChaosCossack]

Bravo Zeno! Fantastic work on both the figure and the base. The precarious balance of the bit of ground gives the impression of a high mountain pass. Whites and flesh are awesome, Colin might be right about the ultra highs on the gambison... doesn't look bad, just maybe a step or two too high for dirty linen. Just an opinion of course.

As always your historical backstory is very illuminating.

Top to bottom, great job!

The Other Colin

 

[Martin64]

As always your groundwork is very inspiring. The figure is nicely painted - the whites on his clothing are handled perfect IMHO - I have just some slight reservations about the pose that cannot be remedied by your awesome paintwork: In my eyes this knight has to lean on a wall / tree / support with his left ellbow to keep his balance the way he puts the weight of his upper torso backwards on his left leg. But that is of course an issue of the sculpt.
Great work on your behalf!
Here is another link about the history of the Teutonic order: http://www.imperialteutonicorder.com/id26.html
All the best!
Martin

 

[Huw63]

Nice execution but I do feel that the leatherwork is too light. Love the groundwork and the historical context.

Cheers

Huw

 

[user 5827]

Ciau my friend..

Great painting Zeno, face is very good....great job on the shield also....

Talk to you later on

Best regards

R

 

[pmfs]

Hi Zeno!


Wonderful job all round.
As Colin wrote, great work on he base and white colour.
Reading the history note is very importante to situate the action.


Cheers,
Pedro.

 

[Wings5797]

Very good painting Zeno.
Well presented Mate.
Keith

 

[bwildfong]

Another winner Zeno - you keep going from strength to strength! The whites are really well done and the groundwork really complements the figure well. Nice job overall!
Cheers,
Brian

 

[John Bowery]

Zeno,
Definately an eye popping figure and great whites.
Cheers
John

 

[Paul Kernan]

No surprises here....wouldn't expect anything less

 

[megroot]

Perfect work

Marc

 

[Tommi]

Fantastic all round result, very nice work on the whites

Tommi

 

[Kisifer]

A real beauty there. Nicely done Zeno.

Xenofon

 

[tiberius57]

Thank you dear friends for the likes and for the great feedback. Very much appreciated!
I'm glad that you like it!
Cheers,
Zeno

 

[smudger1960]

Excellent work Zeno,love the whites and leather

 

[Edorta]

Superb, Zeno. The treatment of the white tones, light and shadowing, is very precise and real, nice setting with the natural ground work, I love it.
Congratulations.

Military miniatures painted by Eduardo Garcia

 

[tiberius57]

Thanks Brian and Eduardo! Very much appreciated!
Cheers,
Zeno