1. Copying kits is a crime that hurts original artists & producers. Help support your favorite artists by buying their original works. PlanetFigure will not tolerate any activities related to recasting, and will report recasters to authorities. Thank you for your support!

WIP Critique Comandant Brescia Garde d'Honneur 1812

Discussion in 'vBench (Works in Progress)' started by ACCOUNT_DELETED, Mar 15, 2013.

  1. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    I felt like doing a Napoleonic so I dug this figure out of the grey army. It's Tercio's large scale Officer of the Honour Guards of Napoleon's Royal Italian Guard.

    A few years ago, I had the opportunity to buy an original letter signed by the Emperor for a good price from an autograph dealer who specialised in non-military documents. I lucked out as the letter was to Prince Eugene dated June 20, 1805. Napoleon usually signed "N" or "Nap" except when writing to royalty - and as Eugene was Viceroy, he gets a "Napole."

    This turned out to be the letter sent with Napoleon's decree setting up the Royal Italian Guard. So it is a really interesting and rare historical piece. In it, Napoleon instructs Eugene on various minute details, including suggesting that the Brescia Company of the Garde d'Honneur be commanded by a certain M. Martinengo.

    20/06/1805 Lettre de Mantoue, au prince Eugène Mon Cousin, je vous envoie mon décret sur la formation de la garde royale; vous pouvez le faire imprimer et publier. Le ministre de la guerre ordonnera que ceux qui voudraient y entrer se fassent inscrire chez le préfet de leur département. En même temps vous me présenterez quatre commandants pour le corps et douze capitaines pour les vélites, en vous étudiant à choisir des hommes ayant de la fortune, de la popularité et de l'influence. Vous enverrez à Paris ce qui est nécessaire pour compléter la garde de ligne; à mon arrivée, je l'organiserai moi-même. Quant au reste, vous enverrez de la gendarmerie, et vous ferez ce que disposera le ministre de la guerre. Il me semble que M. Martinengo, qui a servi, qui de tout temps a été attaché, et qui vient de commander la garde d'honneur de Brescia, pourrait commander la compagnie de Brescia. Vous ferez le règlement pour les masses et le casernement; vous en ferez faire la revue, et vous me ferez connaître ce que cela coûtera. Vous réglerez aussi les uniformes; les gardes d'honneur auront le plus riche, ensuite les vélites. Vous ferez un règlement pour le service : vous êtes en état de le faire mieux qu'un autre. Vous réglerez le service dans le palais et pour les escortes, en donnant le premier poste aux gardes d'honneur, le second aux vélites et le troisième aux gardes de ligne. Si les inscriptions volontaires ne sont pas suffisantes, on pourrait revenir sur les remplacements de la conscription de 1804; ce qui va venir des conscriptions de 1805 et 1806 compléterait seulement les compagnies. Sources : La Correspondance de Napoléon 1er avec l'aimable autorisation de Robert Ouvrard du site histoire.empire.org

    20/06/1805 Décret sur l'organisation de la Garde royale
    TITRE I : Dispositions générales
    Article I : la Garde royale sera composée de :
    1 corps de Gardes d'Honneur
    1 corps de Vélites
    1 corps de Garde de ligne.
    TITRE II : Des Gardes d'Honneurs
    Article 2 : il sera formé dans notre Royaume d'Italie, 4 compagnies de Gardes d'Honneur qui porteront les noms suivants :
    - 1ère Cie de Milan
    - 2ème Cie de Bologne
    - 3èmc Cie de Brescia
    - 4ème Cie de la Romagne
    Article 3 : chaque compagnie sera composée de 100 hommes dont 60 à cheval et 40 à pied.
    Article 4 : ces compagnies seront formées des frères,fils, pefit-fils, neveux et petit-neveux et cousins des membres des trois collèges et des jeunes gens de la conscription,fils ou neveux des plus imposés des départements.
    Article 5 : La compagnie de Milan sera composée des jeunes gens des départements de l'OLONA,de l'AGOGNA,du LARIO et de l'ADDA. La compagnie de Bologne sera composée des jeunes gens des départements du RENO, du CROSTOLO, du PANARO et du MINCIO. La compagnie de Brescia sera farmée des jeunes gens des départements du SERIO, de l'ALTO PO, de la MELLA et de l'ADIGE. La conpagnie de la Romagne des jeunes gens des départements du RUBICONE et du BASSO PO.
    Article 6 : Jusqu'à ce ces compagnies soient au complet,aucun frère,fils, petit-fils,neveu, petit-neveu ou cousin des membres des trois collèges ou fils ou neveu des plus imposés des départements qui les uns ou les autres se trouveraient de la conscription ne seront admis à se faire remplacer.
    Article 7 : Ces compagnies feront le service auprès de la personne du Roi.
    Article 8 : Deux ans de service dans ces compagnies donneront le grade de sous-lieutenant.
    Article 9 : Tous ceux qui y seront admis devront avoir un revenu de 1200 livres de Milan ou de leurs biens propres ou en une pension assurée par leurs parents, tous les trimestres à la caisse de la compagnie et seront soldés aux gardes tous les mois à raison de 100 livres par mois.
    Article 10 : Il sera fourni aux gardes à cheval, un cheval harnaché et des rations pour la nourriture du cheval. Les hommes tant à pied qu'à cheval recevront pour la nourriture et les vêtements un prêt de 30 livres par mois. L'armement et les casernements seront fournis par les magasins royaux.
    TITRE III : Des Vélites Royaux
    Article 11 : Il sera formé 12 compagnies de Gardes Vélites composant 3 bataillons de 4 compagnies.
    Article 12 : Les bataillons de Vélites royaux feront le service auprès de la personne du Roi; pendant la paix ils seront employés à la garde des palais et pendant la guerre à la défense de sa personne.
    Article 13 : Chaque département fournira une compagnie à l'exception du CROSTOLO qui sera à cet effet réuni au PANARO et de l'ADDA qui sera reuni au LARIO.
    Article 14 : Les compagnies de l'OLONA, de l'AGOGNA, du LARIO et de l'ALTO PO formeront le Premier Bataillon,les conpagnies du PANARO, du BASSO PO, du RENO et du RUBICONE le Deuxième Bataillon; les compagnies du SERIO, de la MELLA, de l'ADIGE et du MINCIO le Troisième Bataillon.
    Article 15 : Chaque compgnie sera composée de 100 hommes dont 3 officiers, 4 sergents et 8 caporaux.
    Article 16 : Les masses de boulangerie, d'habillemcnt, de chauffage et autres seront les mêmes que celles de la Garde royale de ligne à pied. La solde sera de 10 sols de Milan par jour.
    Article 17 : Les parents de chaque Vélite leur assureront annuellement une somme de 200 livres de Milan qui sera versée dans les caisse du corp. Cette somme sera distribuée aux vélites par portions de 5 jours en 5 jours en forme de supplément de prêt.
    Article 18 : Le remplacement pour la conscription ne sera permis dnas les départements que lorsque les compagnies de Vélites de ces départements seront complètes.
    Article 19 : Après deux ans de service les Vélites royaux auront le rang de sergent, ils en porteront la distinction et pourront entrer dans
    ce grade dans les troupes de la ligne.
    TITRE VI : Des Gardes de la Ligne
    Article 20 : Les Gardes de la Ligne seront composées de :
    - un escadron de 4 compagnies de dragons. Chaque compagnie sera de 100 hommes dont 60 à cheval et 40 à pied. Le corps sera commandé par un colonel.- un régiment d'infanterie de 2 bataillons, le premier de 5 compagnies de grenadiers et le deuxième de 5 compagnies de chasseurs. Chaque compagnie sera de 100 hommes.
    - une compagnie d'artillerie légère. Cette compagnie sera de 64 hommes.
    Les Gardes de la ligne n'auront qu'un seul Conseil d'administration.
    Article 21 :Tous les individus existants dans la Garde royale actuelle y conserveront leur grade et leur droit.
    Article 22 :Le corps de la Garde de la ligne sera désormais recruté parmi les hommes des corps de la Ligne qui auront 5 ans de service et qui se seront distingués par leur tenue, leur conduite et leur bravoure
    Article 23 : Excécution...

    Based on that letter, I am painting my officer as Martinengo. I had to add an epaulette from Aves on his right shoulder. No other changes. I am painting him in acrylics and inks. What you see below is about 3 hours work started this morning.

    Cheers

    Colin

    Image4.jpg Image31.jpg Image1.jpg
  2. mil-mart A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Colin , that's a impressive looking figure and you've made a great start, I know you said large scale but how large.
    Btw a nice bit of history , will be following.(y)

    Cheers Ken
    crf likes this.
  3. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Great start Colin, I'm with Ken... what's the scale of this fig? The face and helmet look great. Can't wait to see more progress on this one.

    Let me get this straight... You have a letter written by Napoleon? An actual letter from the Emperor to Prince Eugene? WOW!!! One day I have gotta see your collection... A guided tour through the Oakville Military Museum, if you will.

    Carry on my friend

    The other Colin
    crf likes this.
  4. Wings5797 A Fixture

    Country:
    France
    Brilliant start Colin.
    I will follow your progress closely, so frequent updates please.
    Cheers,
    Keith
    crf likes this.
  5. tiberius57 A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Following closely! Nice start! (y)
    Zeno
    crf likes this.
  6. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Tercio was one of the Italian firm EMI's brands. I got this 90mm about 10 years ago and just undercoated it. It's a nice sculpt by Oscar Ibanez I believe. A nice figure with some imposing character. The Gardes d'Honneur were palace troops made up of the sons of the gentry. But they were pretty effective on campaign too. Many of Faber du Faur's prints showing Prince Eugene's Corps during the 1812 campaign show these men in their distinctive helmets.

    Yes Colin, I do have the good fortune to own this letter. I don't get to look at it much as its in the bank although I have a nice scan on the wall in the hall with some other copies of Napoleonic signatures. It would have been dictated by Napoleon to a private secretary - I think I ID'd the handwriting on this one as Meneval. Napoleon signed. If you recall the film Waterloo, he often dictated multiple letters at once. You can tell what a control freak he was by looking at this correspondance. He was in charge of a European empire and yet took time to direct specific uniform details, minute matters of organisation, and the CO of a squadron sized unit.

    Here's a low quality scan of the letter for interest.

    img094_post.jpg img095_post.jpg

    Colin
  7. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    That's freaking awesome!!!!
    crf likes this.
  8. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    It actually isn't worth a fortune. Napoleon signed a lot of paper that has survived to this day. But this is certainly worth more than I paid given the content and important tie to a very famous part of the Grande Armee and his Garde.

    Believe it or not, you will pay a lot more for some sports cards or one of Princess Di's Christmas cards....strange world.

    Here's a cool pic I found of Napoleon and Meneval in action.

    napoleon-bonaparte-secretaire-meneval.jpg

    Colin
    captnenglish and tiberius57 like this.
  9. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great figure and background content Mon amie

    Ron
    crf likes this.
  10. ChaosCossack A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Value is measured in content not coin... In my eyes anyway.

    You have something very valuable here.
    captnenglish and crf like this.
  11. Richie A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi Colin,
    A great piece of history and background story and I have to side with Colin, it's not always the monetary value. I am certain many a Napoleonic enthusiast will be translating that document now, nothing like first hand accounts and information. Love what you have done after only 3 hours work(y)
    cheers
    Richie
    Wings5797 and crf like this.
  12. Gellso A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Great start....lovely metals.

    Gells
    crf likes this.
  13. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Thanks Richie - I can save the trouble. Here's my translation:

    My Cousin, I send my Decree to you on the formation of the Royal Guard; you can print it and publish it. The Minister for War will order that those who would like to join should register with the Prefect of their Department. At the same time, you will present to me four commanders for the Corps and twelve captains for the Velites, choosing men of fortune, popularity and influence. You will send to Paris those who are necessary to supplement the guard of the line; upon arrival I will organize them myself. As for the remainder, you will send them to the gendarmerie and you will do what will be laid out by the Minister of War. It seems me that Mr. Martinengo, who has been useful, who for a long time has been attached, and who has just commanded the Brescia Guards of Honour, could command the Brescia Company. You will rule on the quartering of the troops; you will carry out a review, and will make known me to what that will cost. You will also rule on the uniforms; the Guards of Honour will have the richest, then the Velites. You will make regulations for service within the palace and on escort, by giving the primary posts to the Guards of Honour, the second to the Velites and the third to the guard of the line. If voluntary enlistment is not sufficient, one could reconsider drawing replacements from the conscription of 1804; those who will come from the conscriptions of 1805 and 1806 will only be used to fill in the companies.

    Napoleon
  14. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Played with his helmet some more this morning. I found these interesting paints in the local art store in Stratford and they work rather well. "Liquid Metals" by Sargent Art. They are acrylics and have the benefit of not drying quickly. I wonder how long they will list? Doesn't really matter as it was $7 for the lot. The 6 paint bottles are fixed to the tray making mixing a bit of an adventure. I used these for his helmet, combined with some Liquitex raw umber ink washes. I may still add some powders.

    P1010018a.jpg P1010019a.jpg

    Here is what he looks like this morning, shot with my lesser quality camera. I started his plume and am using Liquitex Professional Acylics for that as I want a heavier semi-gloss finish and these are very thick opaque paints. Undiluted, one can almost impasto them.

    P1010004a.jpg P1010009a.jpg P1010011a.jpg P1010012a.jpg

    Colin
    Joe55, Lasalle, mil-mart and 2 others like this.
  15. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Here's a shot I found of the instruction sheet and disassembled figure, as well as a print of the unit.

    1_1caa3b0f412a311b812ccc2f197e5b14.jpg

    knoe03_29.jpg

    Colin
    Lasalle, ChaosCossack and tiberius57 like this.
  16. billyturnip A Fixture

    Country:
    England
    A very interesting thread and a good start on the paint work. (y)

    Roger.
    crf likes this.
  17. tiberius57 A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    crf likes this.
  18. Aveleira A Fixture

    Country:
    Portugal
    Looking good!!! I'm following the work ;)

    Regards
    Pedro
    crf likes this.
  19. ACCOUNT_DELETED A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    Yes Zeno they are water based acrylics. Clean up is very easy. They also seem to blend well. So far I like them rather a lot. The silver will need some powder to enhance the shine a bit. BTW - I see they are available locally at Curry's Art Store's on-line catalogue for about $6.

    It's nice to see the figure is still available as its a good one. But 80 Euro before shipping seems rather pricey for a 90mm in my books. But then I have not bought a 90mm metal figure for a long time. Perhaps it's the going rate now.

    Colin
    tiberius57 likes this.
  20. housecarl Moderator

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Lovely work Colin.
    The letter is excellent,
    Carl.(y)

Share This Page

planetFigure Links

Reviews & Open Box
Buy. Sell & trade
Articles
Link Directory
Events
Advertising

Popular Sections

Figure & Minis News
vBench - Works in Progress
Painting Talk
Sculpting Talk
Digital Sculpting Talk
The Lounge
Report Piracy

Who we are

planetFigure is a community built around miniature painters, sculptors and collectors, We are here to exchange support, Information & Resources.

© planetFigure 2003 - 2022.