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Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

'Just' paintings, but Adam was an eyewitness who made sketches at the time. Interesting to study in many respects, not least to note how the French/Italian troops are standing while firing.







On a related note, I am currently working through Boycott-Brown's "Road to Rivoli" (and other works) to extract details for scenarios for 1796-7. The Austrians deployed grenz ahead of their line troops all the time (not to mention quite often being in a less formed state in general due to the nature of the terrain).

Regards,
James

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

While their accuracy is always a cause for concern, what with it being artwork, these are nontheless some wonderful paintings.

Interesting looking at the skirmish going on in the top picture.
The 2 men knelt behind the caisson & the men in the undergrowth/bushes are how I would expect a volitigeur/Jager to operate.....providing such cover exists of course.
The stance of some of the French/Italians stood in the open does however look suspect, with some odd twists of torso to how they are standing. How that would affect the balance when using a musket I'm not sure but I can't imagine it helping.
What does look undeniable is there are clearly bayonets fixed.

But as paintings taken at face value, they are really wonderful pieces.

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

I'm looking at a loose firing line there with the standing soldiers in the 'rear rank' taking half a step to the side to clear their file partner (the man in front) when they fire. Exactly they way they were trained to do. Looks kind of awkward from this angle, but it really isn't when viewed from the front. http://bowlesfamilyhistory.ca/images/NewModelPoster-JohnBowles_small.jpg

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https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/62609125/french-drill-manual-1791

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

I figured that was what the intention was from the artist. As you say, a loose file with some standing off from their partner so as not to commit "friendly fire"!

Just seems some of the men are contorted in some odd angles when looking at their torso to their legs. May just of been the artists style.
Probably is his style when I see he has made the mistake of making some of his horses have the bizarre gait of having both front legs outstretched & both rear legs outstretched at the same time!! An equine version of the splits!! Whereas he is clearly trying to illustrate the horse galloping.

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

Thank you STRELETS for these very good masters, once again!
Could you Please keep the Bayonet on the rifles of these very good looking Russians?
That would be fantastic.
And other poses protecting from cavalry charges.
Best regards.
Patrice

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

This is the representation of the Battle of Smolensk that I was trying to find online. It's reproduced in one of Michael Glover's books that I have. Highly stylised but a great representation of the opposing skirmish lines and other formations. Just like Albrecht Adam's paintings, the French are shown deployed in their lines of attack. I like the large, Russian regimental square too.

Roger, you'll appreciate the level of training of the lancers' horses to get them to gallop with such wonderful parade-ground symmetry!

Re: Have a nice week-end—skirmish combat

😂 yes those are some very interesting horses he has done there!!!! Oh dear!!!

Its certainly a very busy painting, but the style is not my cup of tea. I much prefer the style of the previous examples. Ok maybe they had some odd horses galloping too, & some men twisted in some strange poses, but the overall way he has carried out the painting is more pleasing.

Re: Have a nice week-end!

It’s definitely nice to see those Russians. Although the muskets are a little on the chubby and short side as mentioned previously. AndI would also like to see a bayonet. The kneeling figures back foot is a little flat too which must be quite uncomfortable.
I just hope the Austrian jaegers will see the light of day also along with some Hungarian troops in action. Also firing lines for all the current released nationalities.
I would also have liked to see that polish artillery set. Maybe one day fingers crossed.

Re: Have a nice week-end!

Good choice for the Italians...even if i'm not a great fan of so many steel helmets and shorts in N. Africa and, obviously, East africa...except maybe during the last period such as the Tunisia Campaign..the sculpting and choice of poses is very good...but, above all, the inclusion of a FIAT early type, water-cooled HMG, even if not the most appropriate MG for Western Desert Italians, would be extremely useful for easy conversions (mostly head swaps a some putty) for WW1 Italians, Eritrean and Lybian Askaris, Bersaglieri and Alpini for both World Wars..and, probably, with some minor putty additions and head swaps also for Lybia 1912. Generic or easy convertible Italian artillery crews bodies are also in need..