ALY MORRISON'S "BUTTERFLY" ADVENTURES IN THE WORLD OF WARGAMES AND TOY SOLDIERS

Sunday 10 March 2019

Shiny Napoleonics... A bit of inspiration.

When one thinks of inspiration for Shiny Napoleonics , the obvious place to go would be to those wonderful figures from Peter Gilders collection that I first saw in Military Modelling way back in 19 something or other...


This piece of inspiration comes from an altogether different source ...


When I was doing a bit of internet research for the Royal Scots Greys I came across this image...




Ensign Ewart of the Royal Scots Greys capturing the Eagle of the French 45th Regiment of the Line at the Battle of Waterloo.


This is a porcelain miniature by the military artist/sculptor Michael Sutty... I know this piece rather well because for many years it was on display in an Edinburgh shop called Jenners...
I remember being mesmerized by it ... not just by the sculpting but also by the subtlety of the painting...the contrast between the matt finish of the horse and combatants and the gloss of the leather and metal... and the smoothness of that matt finish.


This is everything I aim for in my miniature painting and I think I have been trying to capture this  style from the moment I picked up a paint brush.


Here are some more example's of his beautiful work.











Thank you Michael Sutty...




I have also realized that whether I am painting for gloss or for matt I paint pretty much in the same way... it is just the varnish that is different.


All the best  Aly





14 comments:

  1. These are beautiful pieces, indeed!

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    1. They are indeed... and they fetch a fair price these days...

      All the best. Aly

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  2. Wonderful pieces. I've dabbled a bit in military porcelain figs, although nothing so grand. They certainly do provide inspiration, though!

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    1. I can’t imagine myself buying one ... but they are very nice to look at...

      All the best. Aly

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  3. Very nice version of a very famous event - if you know Jenner's Aly you probably also know there is an Edinburgh pub called the Ensign Ewart - or used to be. If I am not mistaken, I think when he captured this Eagle - the 45eme Regt I believe - he was actually Sgt Ewart - the exalted commissioned rank was part of the recognition for his gallant act!

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    1. Hi Keith...
      I do indeed know the Ensign Ewart...although I prefer the Deacon Brodies which is a bit further down the hill... ;-)
      They still have the Eagle in the Greys museum in the Castle...

      All the best. Aly

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    2. Ah yes - spent a few afternoons/evenings in there too - he is the guy "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" was based on I think...?

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  4. I'm not usually a fan of porcelain figures because they're often lacking in the crisp detail I like. Not these though. Wonderful stuff.

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    1. The pictures really don’t do them justice... the colours are vibrant.

      All the best. Aly

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  5. Splendid uniforms and colors!!

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    1. They are very beautiful...
      And inspiring.

      All the best. Aly

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  6. Inspiration comes from all sorts of areas, even these ceramics can do the job.

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    1. The Scots Greys are still one of my favourite regiments...
      Whenever I am back in Edinburgh I always try to get a visit to their museum.

      All the best. Aly

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  7. Really nice ceramic sculptures and splendid painting!
    Best Iain

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