Greetings.
A while ago I was asked to make a short talk at work about art that has inspired me…
There were no restrictions as to whether it was historical or fantasy… it was about what inspired me…
Baron Louis Francois Lejeune…
I’ve always loved his work… There is so much to see in every painting… Lejeune was a serving officer in Napoleons Army and was at a number of the battles portrayed in his pictures….
Although only in the French language I am fortunate to be surrounded buy French colleagues… So if I need any help it is very close…
I would love have a nice sized copy of The Battle of Moscow/ Borodino on my wall…
Pretty pictures and not toys…I know.
Shiny things next time…
All the best. Aly
I, too, have always admired Lejeune's works.
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed a joy to behold Jonathan…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Thanks Aly for bringing this to my attention - order placed. It looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteRichard
It’s a pleasure Richard…
DeleteThe only other book I have found on line is Lejeune’s autobiography
All the best. Aly
A splendid looking tome, there is nothing like finely executed art work to inspire ones own creativity.
ReplyDeleteVery true Phil…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
The sort of paintings you could spend a long time picking out the details and 'mini stories'
ReplyDeleteYou certainly get your money’s worth from the good Baron…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Great book - I managed to nick my mother's paperback copy when we cleared her house. Doesn't this include his painting of a scene from the Siege of Saragossa, including himself lying wounded in front of the monastery? Now that really would be a worthy conversation piece to hang on his wall!
ReplyDeleteYes…
DeleteA half naked wounded Adonis… Just what you need above the fireplace 😁
All the best. Aly
Very nice art and nothing wrong with a post of "pretty pictures " Aly...that is what a lot if our posts are anyway...what Stew would dall "peanut butter and jelly " 😍
ReplyDeleteIf we didn’t have all the pretty pictures…we might not have all the pretty toys ….
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Aly, as someone with little interest in the Napoleonic period, the only one that inspires me is the Battle of the Pyramids......
ReplyDeleteNeil
The Battle of the Pyramids is worthy inspiration indeed Neil…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Aly, I remember that Borodino picture from Monty’s History of Warfare book in the 60s - although for some reason it stuck in my mind as Austerlitz - it was a great inspiration for wargaming back then!
ReplyDeleteAlong with the Charge of the Royal Scots Greys the Borodino pictures is one of my earliest memories of Napoleonic military art.
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Books are always a good thing to talk about. Something that provides a resource and is fun to look at.
ReplyDeleteVery true indeed Joe…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
A nice book! Are the French🇫🇷infiltrating GW now though?
ReplyDeleteWe are a truly international department
DeleteFrance, Germany, Italy, Spain, Slovenia, Sweden, Latin America and even Yorkshire…
Getting things translated has never been easier …
All the best. Aly
Hello there Aly,
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful looking book and I remember seeing the Borodino picture in a ‘Great Battles’ style title and being properly inspired by it.
Wargaming is a hugely visual hobby and books like this are our inspiration.
All the best,
DC
I used to have a Great Battles book with the Borodino picture on the cover… I think it had a lot of popularity in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s
DeleteAll the best. Aly
That vignette of the grenadier about kick the spluttering shell into the water in front of the Russian prisoners (lower right hand corner of the Borodino painting) has been imprinted as a signpost image of Napoleonics for me.
ReplyDeleteThat is always the vignette that comes to mind when I think of that picture… I must try and recreate it some time.
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Thanks for pointing out the author and the book: we should have seen reproductions of some paintings, but we had not linked them to the artist's name. Yes, art is a great source of inspiration for painting miniatures, especially for the Napoleonic period. The fact that the painter was an eyewitness makes it a very valuable source!
ReplyDeleteIt’s a pleasure…
DeleteLejeune’s artwork is indeed inspiring… The fact that he was actually at some of the battles he portrays does ind make him a valuable resource…
All the best. Aly
Hi Aly, Looks very impressive this is the first time I see this painting. Quinn
ReplyDeleteLejeune had a fairly long life and produced a lot of beautiful paintings… Not all of them military… His landscapes are also very pretty.
DeleteAll the best. Aly
Lovely.
ReplyDeleteIndeed 😁
DeleteNow THAT is art! :)
ReplyDeleteIt certainly is Ross…
DeleteAll the best. Aly
I've always really liked Lejeune's Battle of Marengo and what to identify all the characters - does your book name them? I especially want to know who is the guy front and centre. I'll send an image of the ones I've identified so far.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a cracking painting…
DeleteI will take the book into work next week and see if my French colleagues can find any names in the chapter on Marengo.
All the best. Aly
Nothing like a grand artwork book that is for sure, love his Marengo, a push for me to paint Austrians that is for sure
ReplyDeleteCheers
Matt
My big problem is that when I look at any of the paintings I want to start collecting the appropriate miniatures 😁
DeleteAll the best. Aly
The image of his that I have always found intriguing in the Boridino painting, lower right where the grenadier looks like he is trying to push that shell with the burning fuse into the puddle. You almost can feel his anxiety.
ReplyDeleteYes that is also one of my favourite vignettes…
DeleteA bowel watering moment indeed 😳🤣…
All the best. Aly