Hussaria portal posted amazing new and detailed pictures of the Polish XVII (17th) century canvas by Szymon Boguszewicz- painted to the orders of Grand Hetman Stanislaw Zolkiewski http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanis%C5%82aw_%C5%BB%C3%B3%C5%82kiewski - depicting the famous battle of Klushino http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kluszyn . The painting itself is located in the Roman Catholic Church in Olesko (now Ukraine) and dedicated people from the hussaria portal went there and took pictures of this miltiary history masterpiece.
The detailed individual photos of this huge painting can be viewed and observed on the hussaria portal http://www.hussar.com.pl/galerie-zdjeciowe/bitwa-pod-kluszynem-obraz .
God willing, I am going to make detailed drawings of the hussar companions, kozak lighter cavalry, and battled flags; and also the opposing Muscovite-Western mercenary army soldiers.
See for example this fragment where hussar banner is charging the fence and mercenary regiments behind that famous obstacle:
http://www.hussar.com.pl/panel/uploads/2010/04/csc_1377.jpg
Great many thanks
ps
small woarking sketch showing jumping the Klushino field fence
Quality of photos is great but it clearly shows that painting was made in middle of 17th century. Unfortunately it cannot be used as example as how de la Gardie's soldiers looks like, as it shows infantry rather from 'Deluge' period than those from Karl IX's reign. Also Swedish cavaly on paitings is equipped far better than original soldiers from that period.
ReplyDeleteRegards
Micha
That is a very interesting observation - and worth pondering about the time frame this painting was created. But if Lvovian (lwowski) artist Boguszewicz was in fact the painter (by the way he was Armenian) and he died after 1644 and before 1652 (eg this article says he died circa 1644 http://www.sztuka.pl/index.php?id=111&tx_ttnews[cat]=135&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1523&tx_ttnews[backPid]=749&cHash=051bbfe5da ), then the troops painted in the canvas may represent perhaps several decades of military development, and the painting might have been ordered closer to hetman Zolkiewski's death in 1620, but finished in the 1630s, after the Swedish and Muscovite wars of the 1620s and 1630s?
ReplyDeleteIn any event a great deal of military history-related information in this artwork
Western troops from painting are really odd bunch. Cavalry looks like well equipped cuirassiers from 1620's or beginning of 1630's (when Swedes didn't have many units of those), infantry lacked armour and helmets and looks like Karl X Gustav's ones. In all I enjoy picture, especially due to great quality of photos but it is certain that we cannot use it to describe Swedish 'varvade' units that were present at Kluszyn.
ReplyDeleteBTW - in relation of English cavalrymen serving in one of 'British' company of reiters were had information, that when those units were en route to de la Gardie's army they've defeat contingent of 700 'Polanders', capturing 'sconce furnished vs not onely with great store of riches, but also with number of Polish Horses; and as many armes as sereud to arme fiue hundred men'. Maybe that could be idea for Your new drawing Dario ;) Scots or Englishemen on Polish horses, with some Western and some Eastern equippment :)
Regards
Michal
hi MIchal,
ReplyDeleteyou are absolutely right and rightfully cautions about the seriously over-armed and over-armoured Western mercenary cavalry in this painting.
As per your great anecdote regarding "English' cavalrymen and their success over some Polish troops - yes! this story is a great idea for a drawing or two, so time allowing some concept sketches will come out of your proposed story - eg a kilt wearing Scottish rider on a Polish horse and tack, with a tuck (estoc), warhammer under his saddle, wearing a delia and drinking from a Gdansk-made vodka bottle - got to research this :)
Please, just no kilt :) Scots that were serving in de la Gardie corps arrived to Russia via Stockholm and Finland, it was long Swedish traditions to give them some proper, 'continental' clothes ;) although quite often from the cheapest Scottish kersey.
ReplyDeleteBear also in mind, that Scots were forbidden to take their weapons when going abroad, they can only keep their daggers and sometimes bows. Problem is that Scottish/English units serving in Swedish army before Gustav II Adolf are not as good researched as those from 'Lion of the North' period. I wrote wee note about them on my blog ;) as imho it is very interesting subject.
Another great but bit tragic idea for drawing or two - Polish infantrymen serving in Swedish army at battle of Kircholm. There were two companies of those poor 'draby', imagine them being smashed to pieces by husaria, both sides swearing in same language ;)
Regards
Michal