In the previous post, I asked you to identify the last mini I had painted. Fire at Will answered very swiftly: the mini represents a Spanish Guerilla leader by Qualitycast - a metal mini.
But who is this man ? His name is José de Espin, one of the leaders in the guerilla band of Don Juan Martin. He's been portrayed by Denis Dighton (a contemporary English painter) in 1813 in the picture below:
This image is the source for the plate below, taken from Uniforms of the Peninsular Wars 1807-14 by Michael Chappell.
Strangely, the blue jacket of the original picture was changed to green in this book, hence the color chosen for my mini - I didn't look for the original picture before painting, I should. So remember: primary sources first !!
Maudlin had proposed Juan Martin Diez, an important Spanish leader nicknamed El Empecinado (meaning the Undaunted). Looking at his portrait and historical background, it was not far from the right answer !
But who is this man ? His name is José de Espin, one of the leaders in the guerilla band of Don Juan Martin. He's been portrayed by Denis Dighton (a contemporary English painter) in 1813 in the picture below:
This image is the source for the plate below, taken from Uniforms of the Peninsular Wars 1807-14 by Michael Chappell.
Strangely, the blue jacket of the original picture was changed to green in this book, hence the color chosen for my mini - I didn't look for the original picture before painting, I should. So remember: primary sources first !!
Maudlin had proposed Juan Martin Diez, an important Spanish leader nicknamed El Empecinado (meaning the Undaunted). Looking at his portrait and historical background, it was not far from the right answer !
Votre Mini ressemble beaucoup la peinture du livre. Pour moi c'est bon en vert!
RépondreSupprimerMerci Maudlin. Le vert est une notion très relative :)
SupprimerGreat! Very, very interesting!
RépondreSupprimerThank you Michal.
SupprimerAre you sure the coat in the painting is not dark dark green? It looks green to me. Anyway, beautifully painted miniature!
RépondreSupprimerThere's another contemporary painting by the same author which shows another guerillero with a green jacket, not the same color as this one :) But it's not a proof, I agree.
SupprimerI find so nice that you are interested in this very first national resistors against Napoleon rather than the usual Wellington British contingent :)
RépondreSupprimerIt's a good reason to paint very unusual subjects - and it's much funnier than painting a regiment with the very same color scheme (although I like to see huge units in uniform, strange, isn't it ?).
SupprimerAh, mystery solved! I love the illustrations in Michael Chappell's book - so full of character! It's a great reference.
RépondreSupprimerThat's an interesting book, and I also admire Mike Chappell's illustration, great source of inspiration.
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